Metoclopramide (Reglan)

ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.

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GI / Liver / PancreasNeuroneeds review

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

ATI class: Antiemetic / Dopamine receptor antagonist

Action

  • Stimulates upper GI motility.
  • Increases gastric emptying.

Therapeutic use

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Gastric stasis
  • Esophageal reflux

Nursing assessment

  • Assess for extrapyramidal symptoms, dystonia, Parkinsonian manifestations, or tardive dyskinesia.
  • Monitor for cardiac rhythm changes and mental status changes.
  • Assess bowel pattern, vomiting, hydration, and response to therapy.

Administration

  • PO
  • IV
  • IM
  • Intranasal
  • IV push

Side effects

  • Drowsiness
  • Restlessness
  • Extrapyramidal symptoms

Adverse effects

  • Tardive dyskinesia risk, which can be irreversible.
  • Parkinsonian manifestations or dystonic reactions.
  • Cardiac arrhythmias or mental status changes.

Interactions

  • MAOIs
  • Alcohol
  • Antidepressants
  • Antihistamines
  • Opioid analgesics
  • Sedative-hypnotics

Contraindications

  • GI obstruction
  • GI bleed
  • Seizure disorders
  • Hypertension
  • Parkinson's disease
  • History of tardive dyskinesia
  • Concurrent MAOI use

Precautions

  • Older adults are higher risk and the medication appears on Beers Criteria lists.
  • Avoid long-term routine use unless specifically ordered and monitored.

Client teaching

  • Avoid driving or hazardous activities until response is known.
  • Report involuntary movements, tremor, rigidity, mood change, or mental status change.
  • Use prescribed intranasal dosing exactly as taught.

Medication outcomes

  • Decreased nausea and vomiting.
  • Improved gastric emptying and decreased gastric stasis or reflux symptoms.

Antidote / rescue

  • No specific antidote is seeded; stop/question therapy for toxicity and treat acute EPS with ordered diphenhydramine or benztropine when prescribed.

NCLEX priority cues

  • Involuntary movements, dystonia, or mental status change after dosing is not routine nausea care.
  • Do not give when obstruction or GI bleeding is suspected.
  • Older adult sedation and EPS risk should trigger a safety check.

Medication classes

Antiemetics

Source attribution

Engage_MedTable_Metoclopramide.pdf
ati-pdf
Google Drive ATI Engage antiemetic source folder
google-drive
Sentinel pharmacology API reference
sentinel-api

Related study cards

Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.

12 study links
Med classmedication class
Antiemetics

Reduces nausea through different pathways, including serotonin, dopamine, histamine, muscarinic, cannabinoid, and NK1 receptor effects.

ATI cueInteraction
Alcohol

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueInteraction
Antidepressants

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueClass
Antiemetic

ATI medication class concept.

ATI cueInteraction
Antihistamines

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess bowel pattern, vomiting, hydration, and response to therapy.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess for extrapyramidal symptoms, dystonia, Parkinsonian manifestations, or tardive dyskinesia.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueClient Teaching
Avoid driving or hazardous activities until response is known.

ATI medication client teaching concept.

ATI cuePrecaution
Avoid long-term routine use unless specifically ordered and monitored.

ATI medication precaution concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Cardiac arrhythmias or mental status changes.

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cueContraindication
Concurrent MAOI use

ATI medication contraindication concept.

ATI cueMedication Outcome
Decreased nausea and vomiting

ATI medication medication outcome concept.