LoginMetoclopramide Injection
Generic Name: metoclopramide hydrochloride
Product Name: Metoclopramide Injection
Indication: What Metoclopramide Injection is used for
In adults over 20 years of age, Metoclopramide Injection is used to:
- Relieve nausea and vomiting inmigraine, cancer treatment, childbirth and infectious diseases;
- Control vomiting after surgery;
- Help with placing tubes into the intestine.
When used to treat children and young adults under 20 years of age, Metoclopramide should be restricted to the following conditions and only used as second-line therapy:
- Treat severe vomiting of known cause, or following chemotherapy or radiation treatment;
- Help with placing tubes into the intestine.
Metoclopramide Injection should not be used in children below 1 year of age.
Metoclopramide Injection may be used for the management of other conditions that are not mentioned above. Your doctor will be able to tell you about the specific condition for which you have been prescribed Metoclopramide Injection.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you or your child. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Action: How Metoclopramide Injection works
Metoclopramide Injection belongs to a group of medicines known as antiemetics. Antiemetics stop or prevent nausea and vomiting.
This medicine works by blocking the action of a chemical in the brain which causes nausea and vomiting. It also acts in the stomach and upper intestine to increase muscle contractions.
It stimulates motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract without stimulating gastric, biliary or pancreatic secretions. The rate of gastric emptying is increased due to increased peristalsis of the jejunum and duodenum. The tone and amplitude of gastric contractions are increased, with the relaxation of the pyloric sphincter and duodenal bulb. These effects combine to result in decreased intestinal transit time.
Metoclopramide Injection contains metoclopramide hydrochloride 5 mg/ mL and sodium chloride in water for injections. It does not contain a preservative.
Dose advice: How to use Metoclopramide Injection
Before you are given Metoclopramide Injection
When you must not be given it
Do not use Metoclopramide Injection if you have an allergy to any medicine containing:
- Any of the ingredients listed here;
- Any other similar medicines, such as procaine, procainamide.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- Shortness of breath;
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing;
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body;
- Rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Metoclopramide Injection if you have any of the following:
- Phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland that may cause high blood pressure);
- Bleeding of the stomach and/or digestive tract;
- Blockage of the stomach and/or digestive tract;
- Take other medication such as antipsychotic/neuroleptic medication and certain antidepressants that can cause movement disorders (extrapyramidal reactions);
- Porphyria (rare disease of blood pigments);
- Epilepsy (fits or seizures).
If you are not sure whether any of these apply to you, check with your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes. Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
- Tardive dyskinesia, a disorder of constant, uncontrollable movements of the tongue, mouth, jaw and cheeks;
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Symptoms may include fever, severe muscle cramps/stiffness, sweating, tremors, incontinence, palpitations, unstable blood pressure;
- Breast cancer;
- Epilepsy (fits or seizures);
- Recent stomach surgery in the past 4 days;
- Depression, including suicidal thoughts;
- High blood pressure;
- Kidney problems;
- Parkinson’s disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Metoclopramide is excreted in breast milk and can be absorbed by your baby if you are breastfeeding. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start having Metoclopramide Injection.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including:
- All prescription medicines;
- All medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements or natural therapies you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket, naturopath or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Metoclopramide Injection or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
- Painkillers;
- Sleeping tablets;
- Certain drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders including depression;
- Medicines for hayfever, other allergies or colds;
- Penicillin antibiotics;
- Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease, such as bromocriptine, dopamine or levodopa;
- Medicines used to treat stomach disorders, such as cimetidine or hyoscine;
- Quinidine used to treat malaria infections, and also heart rhythm disorders;
- Digoxin, used to treat heart disorders cyclosporin, used to alter the immune system in patients who receive an organ transplant;
- Insulin used to treat diabetes.
Do not drink alcohol while you are being given Metoclopramide Injection.
Your doctor will advise you about continuing to take other medicines while you are receiving Metoclopramide Injection.
How Metoclopramide Injection is given
Metoclopramide Injection is given by injection into the muscle or by slow injection into a vein.
Metoclopramide Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
How long to have it
Continue having Metoclopramide Injection for as long as your doctor tells you.
Your doctor will decide what dose and how long you will receive Metoclopramide Injection.
This may depend on your age, your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.
If you are given too much (overdose)
Metoclopramide Injection is usually given to you in hospital under the supervision of a doctor it is unlikely that you will receive too much.
Immediately tell your doctor or telephone the Poisons Information Centre (telephone Australia 13 11 26 or New Zealand 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you may have had too much Metoclopramide Injection.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
- Drowsiness, confusion;
- Tremor, twitching or uncontrolled spasm of muscles.
While you are having Metoclopramide Injection
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor or pharmacist that you are having Metoclopramide Injection.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are having this medicine.
Tell your doctor you are taking this medicine if you are going to have surgery, an operation or dental treatment. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are about to have any blood tests that you are taking this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Metoclopramide Injection affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness, tiredness or drowsiness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous. Children should be careful when riding bicycles or climbing trees.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are having this medicine. If you drink alcohol, it may make you sleepy.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues, talk to your doctor.
After being given Metoclopramide Injection
Storage
Metoclopramide Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Disposal
Metoclopramide Injection is usually given in a hospital setting. Your pharmacist will dispose of leftover Metoclopramide Injection.
Schedule of Metoclopramide Injection
Metoclopramide Injection is an S4 (prescription only) medicine.
Side effects of Metoclopramide Injection
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given metoclopramide. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
It can be difficult to tell whether side effects are the result of having Metoclopramide Injection, effects of your condition or side effects of other medicines you may be taking. For this reason, it is important to tell your doctor of any change in your condition.
Do not be alarmed by the list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- Drowsiness, tiredness;
- Restlessness;
- Dizziness, headache;
- Bowel irregularities;
- Insomnia.
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild and short-lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- Fast heartbeat;
- Depression, suicidal thoughts.
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Go to hospital if
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- Allergic reaction including fainting, swelling of limbs, face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing;
- Uncontrolled or repeated movements, e.g. sucking or smacking of the lips, darting of the tongue, chewing movements, uncontrolled movements of the arms or legs. This may be a sign of tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder which can be potentially irreversible;
- Shuffling walk, slowing of all movement, muscle tremor;
- A sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions (neuroleptic malignant syndrome).
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Some side effects may only be seen by your doctor.
For further information talk to your doctor.
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