Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide is an anti-sickness medicine used to stop nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick), including the sickness that can come with a migraine. The MHRA has restricted its dose and duration to reduce the risk of serious neurological side effects, so it is prescribed for short-term use only.
- Generic name
- Metoclopramide
- Active ingredient
- Metoclopramide (variants: metoclopramide hydrochloride)
- Product type
- Small-molecule medicine
- Drug class
- Dopamine antagonist anti-sickness medicines
- Brand names
- UK Maxolon
- Routes
- Oral, Intravenous, Intramuscular
- Dosage forms
- Tablet, Solution, Injection
- Monitoring
- The NHS says treatment is usually for a short time because longer use can cause side effects. The MHRA limits its use to short-term treatment.
Availability by country
| Country | Status | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Prescription only | UK |
Legal status differs between countries and can change; each row cites the document it was taken from and applies only to the country named.
What it is used for
- Stopping nausea and vomiting.
- Treating the sickness that can happen during a migraine.
- In children aged 1 to 18 the MHRA says it is used only as a second-line option, for preventing delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and for treating established nausea and vomiting after surgery.
How it works in the body
NHS formularies list metoclopramide together with domperidone, which the MHRA describes as a dopamine antagonist with anti-sickness properties. The retrieved NHS and regulator pages do not describe its mechanism in more detail.
Common side effects
- The NHS says the most common side effects are feeling sleepy (drowsy) and diarrhoea.
- The NHS also lists low mood or depression among the common side effects.
- Leaflets say it may affect vision and the ability to drive or use machines.
Serious: seek help
- The NHS says the most common serious side effect is uncontrollable movements, such as tics, tremors, muscle stiffness and spasms.
- The MHRA says the risk of acute neurological effects is higher in children than in adults.
- In an emergency the route to care is 999 or A&E; for an urgent concern that is not an emergency it is NHS 111 or a same-day GP appointment, and for routine questions a GP appointment or a pharmacist.
Cautions and interactions
- The NHS says metoclopramide suits most adults and children aged 1 year or over.
- Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and a past allergic reaction to it are listed by the NHS as reasons it may not suit someone.
- Formularies list gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation or bleeding as reasons not to use it, and say it is not used in children under 1 year.
- The NHS asks people taking medicines for Parkinson's disease such as levodopa, medicines that cause drowsiness such as diazepam or amitriptyline, or other anti-sickness medicines to speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.
- The NHS says some herbal remedies and supplements can make the side effects of metoclopramide worse.
- The NHS does not recommend drinking alcohol with it because this increases the risk of side effects.
Interactions
Check interactions
Taking Metoclopramide with other medicines? Add them to the checker to see what the official sources say about each pair: the mechanism, general management and monitoring, never a bare "safe".
Interactions documented in the official sources cited on each card. The list covers the medicines represented on this site and is not exhaustive; how the interaction data is compiled.
No pair records for this medicine are in the sources currently represented by Anatomy Nexus. Absence from this list does not mean no interaction exists.
What is metoclopramide used for?
The NHS describes metoclopramide as a prescription-only medicine that stops nausea and vomiting. It is also prescribed for the sickness that can happen during a migraine. The NHS says it suits most adults and children aged 1 year or over. NHS formularies list gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation or bleeding as reasons not to use it.
The MHRA restriction on short-term use
The MHRA reviewed the neurological risks of metoclopramide and restricted its dose and duration of use, to reduce the risk of serious neurological side effects. The review confirmed known risks such as short-term movement disorders (extrapyramidal disorders) and tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that can persist. As a result it is prescribed only for short-term use, and the NHS says it is usually prescribed for a short time because side effects can occur with longer use. The risk of acute neurological effects is higher in children than in adults, and the MHRA says it is not used in children under 1 year.
Side effects and when to get help
The NHS lists drowsiness and diarrhoea as the most common side effects. The most common serious effect is uncontrollable movement such as tics, tremors, muscle stiffness and spasms. The NHS advises getting medical help straight away, from a doctor or NHS 111, if muscles or eyes start moving in an unusual or uncontrolled way; in an emergency the route is 999 or A&E.
Other medicines and who needs extra care
The NHS asks people to check with a doctor or pharmacist before combining metoclopramide with Parkinson's disease medicines, medicines that cause drowsiness or other anti-sickness medicines. Alcohol is not recommended with it because it increases the risk of side effects. Epilepsy and Parkinson's disease are listed by the NHS as conditions where it may not be suitable.
Frequently asked questions
How long can metoclopramide be taken?
The NHS says it is usually prescribed for a short time because it can cause side effects with longer use, and the MHRA restricts it to short-term use.
Is metoclopramide used in children?
The MHRA says that in children aged 1 to 18 it is only a second-line option for two uses, and it is not used under 1 year.
Can metoclopramide be used for migraine?
The NHS says it is also prescribed for the sickness that can happen during a migraine.
Connected pages in detail
What each linked page on Anatomy Nexus covers, in a line, for Metoclopramide.
Conditions
- Migraine A recurrent headache disorder with attacks of moderate to severe throbbing pain, typically one-sided, lasting 4 to 72 hours.
Symptoms
- Nausea The unpleasant sensation of being about to vomit.
- Vomiting Forceful emptying of the stomach through the mouth, a protective reflex run by the brainstem that closes the airway.
Drug classes
- Dopamine antagonist anti-sickness medicines Dopamine antagonist anti-sickness medicines are used to treat nausea and vomiting, and metoclopramide is the member covered on this site.