Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Metoclopramide as follows:
- Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication. Taking the medication at regularly spaced intervals help maintain appropriate blood levels of Metoclopramide needed to derive the beneficial effects. Do not change the dose and frequency on this medication without consulting your doctor.
- Metoclopramide, being a prokinetic agent, can increase the motility of the bowels and consequently, result in diarrhea. Compliance with fluid and electrolyte resuscitation recommendations can help prevent fluid and electrolyte deficits and accompanying side-effects. The diarrhea can be self-limiting and resolve in due course of time. If you experience any unresolved and continuing diarrhea with Metoclopramide intake, report it to your physician or other health care personnel, to accommodate any appropriate changes in your plan of care. Also, taking Metoclopramide with a small snack can help avoid the nausea and other unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms
- Metoclopramide intake can induce some dizziness and results in sleep. Starting Metoclopramide on a low dose and gradually increasing it to the desired dose can help accommodate to the dizzy symptoms. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until they are used to the side effects caused by Metoclopramide.
