Reglan-Treat Heartburn caused by gastic reflux
Reglan is both an anti emetic and a gastroprokinetic agent. What this means is that it is used because of two different properties. The first one, antiemetic, means that Reglan is used when it is needed to prevent vomiting and nausea that can be caused by a number of reasons. For example, Reglan is used to treat vomiting and nausea that are associated with uremia, malignancy, emetogenic drugs, radiation sickness, labor and different infections. In conjunction with paracetamol (or sometimes on its own), it is used for managing attacks of migraine headaches. However, it is not effective against nausea caused by motion-sickness and the post-operative sickness as it would take too much of the medication to prevent those. There are other drugs which are more commonly used in treating patients who are taking chemotherapy drugs, but Reglan is still the first line treatment for preventing nausea that can be caused by chemotherapy drugs which are not very likely to trigger nausea and vomiting. One of its main uses is in cases the patient has been given an opiate, like morphine for example.
The other aspect of Reglan, the gastroprokinetic means that Reglan is also used to increase and facilitate muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract, which causes more frequent emptying of the stomach into intestines, which can prevent heartburn that can be caused by different conditions, most commonly gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD for short. Because of some of its other properties, Reglan can also be employed to stimulate lactation. As you can see, Reglan is more than a one hit wonder and it is a medication that has many uses.
Using Reglan to achieve the best results
The most important thing that you need to keep in mind if you are taking Reglan is that you should NEVER take larger doses than prescribed and that you should especially NEVER continue to use it after your regimen has finished. It has been noted that using Reglan for longer than 12 weeks can lead to a very serious and detrimental movement disorder that in some cases cannot be reversed. There are other measures of precautions that you need to take in order to experience a beneficial v treatment. For example, you should not fail to mention any medical conditions that you are suffering from and that could be affected by Reglan, such as blockage or bleeding in your intestines or stomach, perforation in the intestines or stomach, seizure disorders such as epilepsy, adrenal gland tumor, kidney or liver disease (Cirrhosis in particular), congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes or depression. Of course, there is always need for you to get acquainted with all the possible side effects of Reglan and all the interactions that might occur between Reglan and other medications you might be using. The best source of information is your doctor.
If you are careful and do not do anything stupid, you are going to fell many benefits of a Reglan treatment that will help you greatly with your condition.