Abstract

Eleven cases of tardive dyskinesia associated with metoclopramide have been reported to the Swedish Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee from 1977 to 1981, 10 of which developed during the past three years. All patients were women, with a mean age of 76 years. Median duration of treatment before the onset of symptoms was 14 months. Calculated from total drug sales and prescription statistics the incidence of tardive dyskinesia during treatment with metoclopramide was estimated to be one in 2000-2800 treatment years. Extrapolation of data on long term treatment (more than six months) of patients aged 70 years or more, from a survey based on individual prescriptions yielded an incidence of more than one in a 1000 patients. Long term treatment with metoclopramide is accompanied by a substantial risk of developing tardive dyskinesia especially among elderly people.