A recent Reglan lawsuit that was filed against five defendants has been dismissed without prejudice. This will allow the plaintiff to re-file her lawsuit in the future. The case began on May 27, 2011, when Virginia Carswell filed against Wyeth and four other defendant companies that Carswell claims were responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of Reglan (metoclopramide). The woman’s complaint stated that regardless of Reglan’s benefits, it also causes some patients to suffer from tardive dyskinesia, which is a movement disorder that is similar to Parkinson’s Disease.
Carswell’s original complaint stated that she was suing because she developed tardive dyskinesia after taking Reglan, an acid reflux medication, from December 2004 to February 2011. That length of time far exceeds the FDA recommended period of 12 weeks, to avoid serious adverse side effects linked to the drug. Carswell also claimed that the defendants failed to properly warn her and a healthcare professional of Reglan’s increased risk of causing tardive dyskinesia when used for more than 12 weeks.
Some of the companies that were named as defendants in Carswell’s case include the generic version’s manufacturers, Atavis and Mutual. Another company included in the lawsuit was A.H. Robins Company, which Carswell accuses of poorly wording the proper warnings for its own Reglan products.
Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that causes patients to suffer from debilitating side effects, which include lip smacking, eye twitching, involuntary movements of the extremities and excessive blinking. The condition is permanent and incurable. While there is no word yet on whether Carswell intends on re-filing her lawsuit, the option remains. If she does choose to re-file, she will join thousands of plaintiffs all over the country who are seeking compensation for the injuries they have suffered after taking Reglan.
