Reglan Settlements Likely to Depend on Patient Medical Histories

By June 29, 2011July 10th, 2019Uncategorized

Since 1982, patients have taken Reglan to treat their acid reflux disorders. While the drug works at combating reflux conditions like GERD, it also causes patients to suffer from various side effects, including tardive dyskinesia. Because of these side effects, many patients have filed lawsuits. However, the amount of money they may be able to collect is completely dependent on their histories.

The first hurdle that the plaintiffs will have to jump over is proving beyond a shadow of doubt they the side effects that they suffer from are because of the Reglan alone and not some other underlying condition. The most common condition caused by Reglan is tardive dyskinesia, which causes patients to suffer from Parkinson’s-like symptoms like involuntary ticks and facial movements.

Tardive dyskinesia is also linked to various anti-psychotic drugs like Zoloft, Thorazine, Prozac and Lithium. For the patients that already suffered from psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and have taken any of the medications listed above, they might have a harder time getting any settlements from their Reglan lawsuits. The reason for this is because the drug maker can argue that the other drugs are responsible for the TD and not Reglan.

It also can be argued that the other pre-existing conditions can put the patients at a higher risk of developing tardive dyskinesia. What I mean is that if a patient has been suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, or any other type of brain disorder, then they are more likely to develop tardive dyskinesia after taking Reglan. Facts like this can dramatically lower any settlement amounts that they may be entitled to. It can even cause them to lose the verdict completely and end up with nothing at all.