Reglan Drug Interactions
The effects of Reglan can change if a patient takes other drugs or products at the same time. This can increase the risk for serious side effects and can reduce the effectiveness of a medication.
These drug interactions may not always occur, but patients should discuss other medications that they are taking with their doctor in order to address any potential Reglan side effects before they occur.
The highest risk for drug interaction involves patients on chronic treatment for a movement disorder, such as dystonia or Parkinson’s disease. Take note that the primary adverse effect of Reglan is tardive dyskinesia (disorder characterized by uncontrollable, repetitive movements).
Some other medications that may interact with Reglan include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Antidepressants & Antipsychotics such as Abilify, Seroquel, and Zyprexa
- Antispasmodics (drugs that contain hyocyamine, scopolamine and atropine)
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral)
- Diabetes medications
- Digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOI medications (Marplan, Nardil, Azilect, Parnate, Zelapar, Emsam)
- Narcotic analgesics
- Parkinson’s disease medications (Levodopa)
- Seizure medications
- Substances or medications that cause drowsiness, such as tranquilizers, sleep medications, narcotics, alcohol)
- Tetracyclines
Most of these drugs have side effects that are also common to Reglan. When taken along with Reglan, these side effects become more pronounced. Reglan may also alter the metabolism or absorption of some drugs such as cyclosporine and Parkinson’s disease medications, requiring dosages to be adjusted if concurrent use is needed. It is important for patients to discuss with their physician all the medications they are taking to prevent unwanted drug interactions.
In addition, patients taking insulin particularly diabetics may need to adjust their insulin dosage because of the effects of Reglan on the gastrointestinal system.
Over-the-counter medications
As much as possible, you should avoid taking over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or even herbal products while on Reglan. This includes Tylenol. Some OTC drugs may contain active ingredients that can interact with Reglan. You must discuss with your healthcare provider any OTC drugs that you normally take.
This is not a comprehensive list of Reglan drug interactions. Therefore, you should contact your physician before taking any chemical product or medication to avoid potential health risks.
