REGLAN LITIGATION DESIGNATED A MASS TORT IN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

The Honorable Judge Sandra Moss of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has designated the Reglan® litigation a "mass tort." I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Judge Moss concerning the mass tort system. My article was published in The Verdict, a publication of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. http://sheller.com/uploads/Homolash_PTLA_article_on_Judge_Moss.pdf
I serve on the association's Future Leaders' Committee, a small group of attorneys thought to be the future leaders of the organization.

The anti-nausea medication Reglan®, or metoclopramide, is prescribed to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as acid reflux, diabetic gastroperesis and nausea. Reglan® increases stomach and small intestine contractions and can be prescribed to children, adults and pregnant women.

The Food and Drug Administration has only approved Reglan® for short term use, however, a third of its users are on the drug for a year or longer and are classified as long-term users. A number of serious side effects have been associated with continuous use of Reglan® including dangerous neurological conditions.

Patients taking Reglan® can develop the condition known as tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological condition that causes the patient to suffer from jerky and involuntary movement in the face, lips, tongue, mouth, and sometimes other parts of the body. Tardive dyskinesia is often incurable and can permanently debilitate the patient.

I have experience representing individuals suffering from tardive dyskinesia in other drug injury litigations which will benefit you greatly in the Reglan litigation.

If you or someone you know have taken Reglan® and are now suffering from severe neurological conditions such as tardive dyskinesia please contact me at chomolash@sheller.com or 215-790-7379 today.

Reglan Linked to Serious Side-Effects

Reglan (metoclopramide) is a prescription drug used to treat certain gastrointestinal conditions such as diabetic gastric stasis and gastric reflux, or heartburn. Reglan is a dopamine antagonist that increases lower esophageal sphincter pressure and improves gastrointestinal emptying.

Reglan, manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation, was FDA-approved for short-term treatment only after other methods of treatment have failed. However, evidence shows that one-third of patients are prescribed Reglan for longer than 12 weeks, which is against FDA recommendations.

Some of the more serious Reglan side effects are:

- Tardive dyskinesia - involuntary muscle movements, usually in the face and tongue, but sometimes in the trunk or extremities or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
- Parkinson's-like symptoms - slow movements, rigidity, and tremors
- Akathesia - a severe anxiety and inability to sit still
- Suicidal Tendencies and other mental depressions
- Seizures and convulsions

Some of these side effects progressively worsen and may eventually become irreversible. The label on Reglan does advise of these side effects but states that the incidence is rare. Yet studies have shown that the use of Reglan can cause Tardive dyskinesia in as many as 27% of its long-term users.

I am currently evaluating Reglan cases. If you or someone you know has experienced adverse side-effects from the use of Reglan similar to those listed above, please call me at (215) 790-7379. Evaluation of your case is free. Waiting too long may compromise your legal rights.