Metoclopramide, also marketed under the name Plasil, is a remedy indicated for the relief of nausea and vomiting of surgical origin, caused by metabolic and infectious diseases, or secondary to medications. In addition, this medication can also be used to facilitate radiological procedures that use x-rays in the gastrointestinal tract.
Metoclopramide can be purchased in pharmacies in the form of tablets, drops or solution for injection, for a price that can vary between 3 and 34 reais, depending on the pharmaceutical form, packaging size and the choice between the brand or the generic. This medicine can only be sold on presentation of a prescription.
How to take
The metoclopramide dosage can be:
- Oral solution: 2 teaspoons, 3 times a day, orally, 10 minutes before meals; Drops: 53 drops, 3 times a day, orally, 10 minutes before meals; Tablets: 1 10 mg tablet, 3 times a day, orally, 10 minutes before meals; Solution for injection: 1 ampoule every 8 hours, intramuscularly or intravenously.
If you intend to use metoclopramide to perform a radiological examination of the gastrointestinal tract, the health professional should administer 1 to 2 ampoules, intramuscularly or in the vein, 10 minutes before the beginning of the examination.
Possible side effects
Some of the most common side effects that may occur during treatment with metoclopramide are drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms, parkinsonian syndrome, anxiety, depression, diarrhea, weakness and low blood pressure.
Who should not use
Metoclopramide should not be used in people who are hypersensitive to any of the components in the formula and in situations where stimulation of gastrointestinal motility is dangerous, such as in cases of bleeding, mechanical obstruction or gastrointestinal perforation.
In addition, it should also not be used in people with epilepsy, who are taking medications that can cause extrapyramidal reactions, people with pheochromocytoma, with a history of neuroleptic or metoclopramide-induced dyskinesia, people with Parkinson's disease or with a history of methemoglobinemia.
This medicine is also contraindicated for children under 1 year of age and is not recommended for people under 18, pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding, unless directed by the doctor.
Common Questions
Does metoclopramide make you sleepy?
One of the most common side effects that can occur with the use of metoclopramide is drowsiness, so it is likely that some people who take the medication will feel sleepy during treatment.
What are extrapyramidal effects?
Extrapyramidal symptoms are a set of reactions in the body, such as tremors, difficulty walking or staying calm, a feeling of restlessness or changes in movement, which arise when an area of the brain responsible for coordinating movements, called the Extrapyramidal System, is affected, whatever happens due to side effects of drugs, such as metoclopramide or being a symptom of some diseases.
Learn how to identify these side effects.
