The number of plaintiffs filing lawsuits related to Reglan-induced Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) has grown into the hundreds, according to court records. The lawsuits don’t discriminate between generic and name brand versions of the drug either, with both types represented in equal frequency among the cases filed to date.
Perhaps the most well known of the cases is that of Susan Swicegood. Swicegood based her case on the alleged failure of Reglan’s parent companies to properly explain the risks of developing the neurological disorder as a result of exposure to the potent medication. Swicegood was prescribed the medication to alleviate a stomach disorder, which is a common basis for prescribing Reglan. But as a result of taking the drug as directed, she developed TD.
Plaintiffs Ellen Austin and Leslie Keeper both have filed suits against the makers of generic Reglan as well, this time in Louisiana. In addition to making claims similar to Swicegood — that the drug makers didn’t accurately warn about the risks of the drug — they also go a step further in arguing that these manufacturers and their marketing teams presented misleading information or even falsified data that suggested Reglan was safer than it is, downplaying the risk of TD significantly.
There is currently no known cure for TD, and while the condition can spontaneously resolve itself, it is just as likely to remain permanently. Reglan has warnings on the label explaining the risk of Tardive Dyskinesia, as well as admonitions not to continue prescription beyond 12 weeks. However, many gastrointestinal ailments are persistent. They are also painful enough that treatment of them feels like a priority concern, and there are numerous patients that continue to take the medicine beyond this mark. The resulting TD is often linked to long-term exposure to the medication, making it feel like a punishment for trying to get well.
