Metoclopramide – characteristics, indications and contraindications

Metoclopramide, also known as metoclopramide or metoclopramide, is an antiemetic drug that stimulates the peristalsis of the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is intended to be taken by people over 15 years of age and, in the case of adolescents, over 61 kg of weight. Why is it necessary to be careful with this drug and when is it prescribed by a doctor?

Metoclopramide – drug characteristics

Metoclopramide can only be obtained with a prescription and therefore with a prescription. The active substance in this product is metoclopramide, which affects the motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract, thereby accelerating the gastric emptying process. After taking a dose, it takes up to 30 minutes to start working. However, Metoclopramide is not a drug recommended for the treatment of disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, but only as a preventive measure against nausea and vomiting.

Metoclopramide – indications

The indications for use of metoclopramide are primarily as a drug preventing nausea and vomiting, so it is most often prescribed to patients suffering from motor dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, hiatus hernia, reflux, heartburn, and gastritis.

Other indications for the use of Metoclopramide are a set of symptoms or individual symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, intestinal motility disorders, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or gastric insufficiency. Very often, Metoclopramide is prescribed to patients suffering from side effects such as vomiting and nausea during cancer chemotherapy treatment.

Contraindications to the use of Metoclopramide

First of all, contraindications to the use of Metoclopramide are hypersensitivity to metoclopramide hydrochloride or other substances contained in the drug. In addition, it cannot be taken by people suffering from: phaeochromocytoma, epilepsy, depression or renal dysfunction. Other contraindications to taking Metoclopramide are arterial hypertension, heart failure, liver cirrhosis, acute abdominal diseases, gastrointestinal bleeding, Parkinson’s disease, mechanical bowel obstruction, perforation and gastrointestinal fistulas.

During treatment with Metoclopramide, you cannot take anticholinergics, opioids, barbiturates, drugs that inhibit the activity of the nervous system, paracetamol, digoxin, tetracycline, cyclosporine or levodopa. All these substances affect the action of Metoclopramide and cannot be combined with each other.

Metoclopramidum in pregnancy

Metoclopramide must not be used during pregnancy. Although it actually has an antiemetic effect and prevents nausea, which can appear during pregnancy and be unpleasant, unfortunately this drug cannot be taken by pregnant women or breastfeeding women. This is because the medicine passes into the fetus or it will be given to a newborn baby along with the milk of a nursing woman.

Dosage and doctor’s recommendations

Metoclopramide is dispensed with a prescription, so your doctor will determine the dose. However, it is assumed that, unless otherwise prescribed by a doctor, adults can take the drug 10 mg up to 3 times a day, but not exceeding the dose of 30 mg a day and not using it for more than 5 days. In turn, adolescents aged 15 to 18 years and weighing at least 61 kilograms can also take 10 mg up to 3 times a day, with the maximum dose being 0,5 mg per kilogram of body weight daily. In adolescents, it is also not allowed to use this drug for more than 5 days.

In addition, Metoclopramide should be used at equal intervals between doses every 6 hours. Even if you vomit between doses, this may remove the dose from your body.

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.