Br Med J (Clin Res Ed)  1985;291:930-932 (5 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.291.6500.930

Extrapyramidal reactions with metoclopramide.

D N Bateman, M D Rawlins, J M Simpson

The epidemiology of extrapyramidal reactions to metoclopramide was studied by examining reports in the Adverse Reactions Register of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines and comparing these with prescribing figures by general practitioners in the United Kingdom for metoclopramide (Maxolon). In the period 1967-82 there were an estimated 15.9 million prescriptions and 479 reports of extrapyramidal reactions (455 of dystonia-dyskinesia, 20 of parkinsonism, and four of tardive dyskinesia). When corrected for prescribing rates the relative risk of dystonia and dyskinesia was 1.8 in female compared with male patients (95% confidence interval 1.4-2.2). The overall reporting rate for dystonia and dyskinesia was 28.6/million prescriptions but was significantly more common in young adults (p less than 0.0001) and especially girls and women aged 12-19 (190.7 reports/million prescriptions). By contrast parkinsonian reactions were significantly more common in the elderly (p less than 0.0001).


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • TOUSI, B. (2008). Movement disorder emergencies in the elderly: Recognizing and treating an often-iatrogenic problem. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 75: 449-457 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Dingli, K., Morgan, R., Leen, C. (2007). Acute dystonic reaction caused by metoclopramide, versus tetanus. BMJ 334: 899-900 [Full text]  
  • Sweeney, B. J., Edgecombe, J., Churchill, D. R., Miller, R. F., Harrison, M. J. G. (1994). Choreoathetosis/Ballismus Associated With Pentamidine-Induced Hypoglycemia in a Patient With the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Arch Neurol 51: 723-725 [Abstract]  
  • Ganzini, L., Casey, D. E., Hoffman, W. F., McCall, A. L. (1993). The Prevalence of Metoclopramide-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia and Acute Extrapyramidal Movement Disorders. Arch Intern Med 153: 1469-1475 [Abstract]  
  • Sewell, D. D., Jeste, D. V. (1992). Metoclopramide-Associated Tardive Dyskinesia: An Analysis of 67 Cases. Arch Fam Med 1: 271-278 [Abstract]  
  • Miller, L. G., Jankovic, J. (1989). Metoclopramide-Induced Movement Disorders: Clinical Findings With a Review of the Literature. Arch Intern Med 149: 2486-2492 [Abstract]  
  • Brower, R. D., Dreyer, C. F., Kent, T. A. (1989). Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Child Treated With Metoclopramide for Chemotherapy-Related Nausea. J Child Neurol 4: 230-232  
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ