Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Reglan as follows:
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Reglan use can rarely result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea, especially when taken on empty stomach. Taking dose of reglan with a snack can help avoid the unpleasant nauseating sensation with the medication.
- Reglan, 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 reglan intake, report it to your physician or other health care personnel, to accommodate any appropriate changes in your plan of care.
Endocrine side-effects
- Reglan use for prolonged periods can result in increased secretion of the hormone prolactin from the pituitary gland.
- Increased prolactin secretion in males can result in reduced body & facial hair, growth of breast tissue, reduced sexual interest, and impotence.
- Increased prolactin secretion in premenopausal females can reduce estrogens and interfere with ovulation. This can result in reduced menstruation or absent menstruation, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, reduced sexual interest, and infertility.
- Excessive prolactin secretion with women in general can result in excessive growth of breast tissue, milk production without pregnancy, and increased risk for losing bone density & osteoporosis.
