Side Effects of Reglan in Infants

Reglan is a prescription medication that is used off-label for gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants. The Academy of Pediatrics reports that it is prescribed over seven million times a year for infants and children.

• Reglan effects on infants.

Function

• Reglan has been shown to help infants with gastroesophageal reflux by reducing the symptoms of pain, vomiting, and poor weight gain.

Significance

• Reports completed by the Academy of Pediatrics failed to adequately determine exact side effects due to limited studies, small sample sizes, and a general lack of consistency.

Effects

• Reglan has been reported to cause irritability, drowsiness, emesis and apnea in infants taking the medication.

Tardive Dyskinesia

• The most serious side effect reported with Reglan use in patients is tardive Ddyskinesia, a movement disorder that causes involuntary and repetitive movements. It is often irreversible.

Warning

• On February 26, 2009, the Federal Drug Administration announced Reglan would now be labeled with a black box warning due to tardive dyskinesia being associated with long-term and high-doses of this medication.