Reglan (metoclopramide)
Also marketed as Gimoti. An approved treatment for Gastroparesis.
The same compound appears under different names depending on the context. Here is how to identify Metoclopramide wherever you encounter it, plus the key facts at a glance.
- Generic name
- Metoclopramide
- Brand names
- Reglan, Gimoti
- Drug class
- Prokinetic (dopamine D2 receptor antagonist)
- How it's taken
- For diabetic gastroparesis, Reglan tablets are 10 mg up to 4 times a day, 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, for 2 to 8 weeks depending on response, with a maximum of 40 mg a day; doses are lower for older adults, people with kidney or liver problems, people who process the drug slowly (CYP2D6 poor metabolizers) and people taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, and treatment should not go beyond 12 weeks.
Metoclopramide is the only FDA-approved drug for gastroparesis, approved for adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis and sold as Reglan tablets, generics and, since 2020, Gimoti nasal spray. It carries a boxed warning for tardive dyskinesia.
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Where Metoclopramide fits
The 2022 American College of Gastroenterology guideline calls metoclopramide the only FDA-approved medication for gastroparesis and gives it a conditional recommendation[5]. Domperidone is the other prokinetic many patients ask about, but it is not FDA-approved.
How Metoclopramide works
Metoclopramide blocks dopamine-2 receptors and stimulates movement of the upper digestive tract, which helps the stomach empty, though the label says its exact mechanism has not been fully established[1].
Mechanism: Dopamine-2 receptor antagonist that stimulates movement of the upper digestive tract
Side effects and safety
- Movement side effects. Tardive dyskinesia, other extrapyramidal symptoms and neuroleptic malignant syndrome; avoid in Parkinson's disease.
- Mood. Depression and suicidal thoughts; the label says to avoid use in people with them.
- Blood pressure and fluid. High blood pressure and fluid retention.
- Hormones. Raised prolactin levels.
- Alertness. Can impair the ability to drive or operate machinery.
Reglan carries a boxed warning that metoclopramide can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement disorder that can be irreversible, with risk rising the longer and the more it is taken, and treatment longer than 12 weeks should be avoided; the label's contraindications also rule it out for anyone with a history of tardive dyskinesia[1]. Other label warnings include other movement side effects, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, depression and suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure, fluid retention, raised prolactin and impaired ability to drive. The most common side effects, in about 10% of people, are restlessness, drowsiness, fatigue and lassitude. Gimoti's most common side effects are taste changes, headache and fatigue[2].
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect and when to seek medical attention.
Taking Metoclopramide
For diabetic gastroparesis, Reglan tablets are 10 mg up to 4 times a day, 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, for 2 to 8 weeks depending on response, with a maximum of 40 mg a day; doses are lower for older adults, people with kidney or liver problems, people who process the drug slowly (CYP2D6 poor metabolizers) and people taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, and treatment should not go beyond 12 weeks[1]. Gimoti is 1 spray of 15 mg in 1 nostril 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, up to 4 sprays a day; it is not recommended as a first treatment for people 65 and older, or for people with moderate or severe liver or kidney impairment or who take strong CYP2D6 inhibitors[2].
Availability and cost
Generic versions may be available at a lower cost. Ask your pharmacist.
Development history
Explore Gastroparesis trials
Other Gastroparesis treatments
Metoclopramide in Trial Friend News and Guides
Common questions about Metoclopramide
▸What is Metoclopramide (Reglan)?
Metoclopramide is the only FDA-approved drug for gastroparesis, approved for adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis and sold as Reglan tablets, generics and, since 2020, Gimoti nasal spray. It carries a boxed warning for tardive dyskinesia.
▸How does Metoclopramide work?
Metoclopramide blocks dopamine-2 receptors and stimulates movement of the upper digestive tract, which helps the stomach empty, though the label says its exact mechanism has not been fully established[1].
▸What are the side effects of Metoclopramide?
Reglan carries a boxed warning that metoclopramide can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement disorder that can be irreversible, with risk rising the longer and the more it is taken, and treatment longer than 12 weeks should be avoided; the label's contraindications also rule it out for anyone with a history of tardive dyskinesia[1]. Other label warnings include other movement side effects, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, depression and suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure, fluid retention, raised prolactin and impaired ability to drive. The most common side effects, in about 10% of people, are restlessness, drowsiness, fatigue and lassitude. Gimoti's most common side effects are taste changes, headache and fatigue[2].
▸How is Metoclopramide taken?
For diabetic gastroparesis, Reglan tablets are 10 mg up to 4 times a day, 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, for 2 to 8 weeks depending on response, with a maximum of 40 mg a day; doses are lower for older adults, people with kidney or liver problems, people who process the drug slowly (CYP2D6 poor metabolizers) and people taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, and treatment should not go beyond 12 weeks[1]. Gimoti is 1 spray of 15 mg in 1 nostril 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime, up to 4 sprays a day; it is not recommended as a first treatment for people 65 and older, or for people with moderate or severe liver or kidney impairment or who take strong CYP2D6 inhibitors[2].
▸Is Metoclopramide FDA approved?
Yes, Metoclopramide (Reglan) is FDA approved (1979) for the treatment of Gastroparesis.
Sources and references
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the public sources listed below. Click any reference to open the original document.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed · 2026-02. REGLAN (metoclopramide) tablets prescribing information. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de55c133-eb08-4a35-91a2-5dc093027397
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed · 2026-02. GIMOTI (metoclopramide) nasal spray prescribing information. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=95269b1f-779c-4ca0-9f86-e74e677f9900
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reglan, NDA 017854. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=017854
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gimoti, NDA 209388. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=209388
- American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2022-08-01. ACG Clinical Guideline: Gastroparesis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9373497/