Metoclopramide

Pronunciation: met-oh-kloh-PRA-mide.

Generic name
metoclopramide hydrochloride
Drug class
Dopamine D2-receptor antagonist -- antiemetic and gastrointestinal prokinetic agent
Form
Tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, oral solution, and solution for injection
Route
Oral (tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, oral solution) or injection (given by a healthcare professional)
Legal status
Prescription-only

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Metoclopramide (multiple brands/generics) (5) · Full directory

What metoclopramide hydrochloride is and how it works

Metoclopramide is a medicine that blocks dopamine receptors, used to control nausea and vomiting and, in some countries, to help the stomach empty faster in certain digestive conditions. It works both in the brain (reducing the nausea/vomiting signal) and in the gut (speeding up stomach emptying). (1) (2) (3)

Metoclopramide carries an important safety limit on how long it should be used, because longer use raises the risk of a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, which is often permanent. This limit genuinely differs depending on where you live: in the US and Canada, treatment beyond 12 weeks is generally avoided; in the UK, the rest of the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, treatment is limited to a maximum of just 5 days for any single course. Always follow the specific duration your own prescriber and local product information recommend, and never take metoclopramide for longer than directed.

Mechanism of action: how metoclopramide hydrochloride works

Metoclopramide is a substituted benzamide that antagonises dopamine D2 receptors both centrally (in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, producing its antiemetic effect) and peripherally in the gastrointestinal tract (enhancing gastric motility and accelerating gastric emptying, its prokinetic effect); it also has some 5-HT4 agonist and 5-HT3 antagonist activity contributing to its antiemetic profile. (1) (2)

What metoclopramide hydrochloride is used for

Nausea and vomiting, including chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced

Used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, including delayed nausea/vomiting caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. (2)

Acute migraine-associated nausea and vomiting

Used to relieve nausea and vomiting associated with acute migraine, and can help improve absorption of oral pain-relief medicines taken at the same time. (2)

Short-term treatment of GERD unresponsive to other treatment (United States)

In the United States, used for short-term (4-12 weeks) treatment of adults with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease that has not responded to conventional therapy. This chronic-use indication was removed in the EU/UK/Australia/New Zealand following the 2013 safety restriction. (1) (3)

Diabetic gastroparesis (United States)

In the United States, used to relieve symptoms of acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) in adults, generally for 2-8 weeks and up to a maximum of 12 weeks total. This chronic-use indication was removed in the EU/UK/Australia/New Zealand following the 2013 safety restriction. (1) (3)

Before taking metoclopramide hydrochloride

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take metoclopramide if you have a bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, or a hole (perforation) in the gut. (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Do not take metoclopramide if you have, or are suspected of having, phaeochromocytoma (a rare adrenal gland tumour). (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Do not take metoclopramide if you have epilepsy. (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Do not take metoclopramide if you have ever developed tardive dyskinesia or a similar movement disorder from metoclopramide or another antipsychotic-type medicine. (United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, New Zealand) (2)
  • Do not take metoclopramide if you have Parkinson's disease, or together with levodopa or other dopamine agonist medicines. (United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, New Zealand) (2)
  • Do not give metoclopramide to a child under 1 year of age. (United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, New Zealand) (2) (3)

Tell your clinician about

  • Your age and, if relevant, whether you are an older woman -- tardive dyskinesia risk is highest in elderly patients, especially elderly women.
  • Any past reaction to metoclopramide or similar medicines, including any movement problems.
  • Any history of depression or suicidal thoughts.
  • Any history of high blood pressure or an adrenal gland tumour.
  • Whether you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • All other medicines you take, especially other medicines that can cause movement side effects, or levodopa/dopaminergic medicines for Parkinson's disease.
(1) (2)

How to take metoclopramide hydrochloride

  • Take metoclopramide exactly as prescribed and only for the length of time recommended -- never continue it for longer than directed, because of the tardive dyskinesia risk.
  • In the US and Canada, treatment beyond 12 weeks is generally avoided except in rare, specific circumstances judged by a specialist.
  • In the UK, the rest of the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, a single course must not exceed 5 days for any indication.
  • If your symptoms continue after your course ends, contact your prescriber rather than continuing the medicine on your own.
  • Injection formulations are given only by a healthcare professional.
(1) (2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, contact your prescriber or pharmacist for specific guidance -- do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed one without checking first.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention immediately if too much metoclopramide has been taken, or if you notice unusual movements, severe drowsiness, confusion, or a fast or irregular heartbeat. There is no specific antidote; treatment is supportive. (2)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Sleepiness (somnolence).

What to notice: Sleepiness (somnolence).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Headache.

What to notice: Headache.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Restlessness or a feeling of inner restlessness (akathisia).

What to notice: Restlessness or a feeling of inner restlessness (akathisia).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Diarrhoea and weakness (asthenia).

What to notice: Diarrhoea and weakness (asthenia).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Low mood or depression.

What to notice: Low mood or depression.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Low blood pressure.

What to notice: Low blood pressure.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Serious warnings

Signs of tardive dyskinesia (a serious, often irreversible movement disorder) — high caution

Symptoms: Uncontrollable, repetitive movements of the face, tongue, mouth, or jaw (such as grimacing, tongue movements, or lip smacking), and sometimes the trunk or limbs.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly and ask the prescriber about stopping it if this develops -- there is no known treatment for established tardive dyskinesia, though it may partially or fully improve over weeks to months after stopping. This is why metoclopramide must never be used for longer than the duration your prescriber and local product information recommend (a maximum of 12 weeks in the US/Canada, or just 5 days in the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand). (1) (2)

Signs of a sudden movement/muscle-spasm reaction (acute dystonia) — emergency

Symptoms: Sudden, uncontrolled muscle spasms, particularly of the face, neck, or eyes; muscle stiffness; abnormal posturing.

Action: Seek urgent medical attention -- this extrapyramidal reaction can occur even after a single dose and is more common in children and young adults or at higher doses; it requires prompt treatment and stopping the medicine. (1) (2)

Signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome — emergency

Symptoms: High fever, severe muscle stiffness, confusion or altered consciousness, and an irregular heartbeat or blood pressure.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately and ask the prescriber about stopping it -- this is rare but can be fatal, and has occurred both with metoclopramide alone and combined with other antipsychotic-type medicines. (1) (2)

New or worsening depression, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm — high caution

Symptoms: Low mood, hopelessness, or thoughts of harming yourself.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly, or seek emergency help if there is any immediate risk. Depression, including with suicidal thoughts, has been reported with metoclopramide, especially in people with a past history of depression. (1)

Signs of a sudden, severe rise in blood pressure — emergency

Symptoms: Severe headache, palpitations, sweating, or visual disturbance.

Action: Seek emergency help immediately. This can occur in people with an undiagnosed phaeochromocytoma, due to a surge of stress hormones triggered by the medicine. (1)

Interactions

  • Should not be combined with levodopa or other dopamine-agonist medicines used for Parkinson's disease, as the effects of both medicines can be reduced or worsened. (2)
  • Combining with other medicines that can cause movement side effects (such as certain antipsychotics) may increase the risk of extrapyramidal reactions. (1)
  • Sedating medicines and alcohol can add to metoclopramide's drowsiness effect. (2)
  • Metoclopramide speeds up gut movement and can change how quickly other oral medicines are absorbed. (2)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Discuss the risks and benefits with your prescriber if pregnant, since the safety picture for nausea/vomiting treatment in pregnancy should be individually weighed with your care team. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Metoclopramide passes into breast milk; discuss with your clinician, particularly for anything beyond very short-term use. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Use in children is more tightly restricted in the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand (not used under age 1, and other uses limited to specific second-line situations with weight-based dosing); paediatric use is not established in the US labelling reviewed. Extrapyramidal symptoms are more common in children and young adults. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

Tardive dyskinesia risk is highest among elderly patients, especially elderly women -- lower doses and the shortest effective duration are generally used, with close monitoring. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Not specifically detailed in the sources reviewed; general caution and clinician guidance apply. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Dose adjustment may be needed in significant renal impairment; discuss with your prescriber. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Source_ids

US-DAILYMED-METOCLOPRAMIDE-2026,UK-EMC-METOCLOPRAMIDE-2026,AU-TGA-METOCLOPRAMIDE-2026 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Review of any past movement disorder or tardive dyskinesia
  • Review of epilepsy or Parkinson's disease history
  • Review of all other medicines, especially dopaminergic/Parkinson's medicines

During treatment

  • Close attention to treatment duration -- never continuing beyond the locally recommended maximum (12 weeks in the US/Canada; 5 days in the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand).
  • Prompt assessment of any new, unusual, or repetitive movements.
  • Monitoring for mood changes or suicidal thoughts.
  • Blood pressure monitoring if there is any suspicion of phaeochromocytoma.
(1) (2)

Storage

Store at room temperature, protected from light and moisture, out of reach of children, following the specific product's packaging instructions.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA and UK SmPC labels; verify against the current full label and local restrictions before prescribing.

United States / Canada

Indication: GERD / diabetic gastroparesis

Dose summary: 10-15 mg up to 4 times daily (GERD) or 10 mg 4 times daily (gastroparesis), 30+ minutes before meals and at bedtime; avoid beyond 12 weeks except in rare cases.

Renal context: Not specifically detailed in the sources reviewed; general dose caution in renal impairment. (1) (4)

United Kingdom / European Union / Australia / New Zealand

Indication: Nausea/vomiting (CINV, RINV, acute migraine)

Dose summary: Adults: 10 mg up to 3 times daily (max 30 mg/day or 0.5 mg/kg), minimum 6-hour interval between doses, maximum treatment duration 5 days for all indications.

Renal context: Not specifically detailed in the sources reviewed; general dose caution in renal impairment. (2) (3)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Not specifically detailed in the sources reviewed; general caution advised.

Overdose note

No specific antidote; manage supportively, including treatment of any extrapyramidal reactions (e.g. with an anticholinergic or antihistamine agent under specialist guidance) and cardiac monitoring. (1) (2)

Frequently asked questions

Is metoclopramide available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Yes. It is authorised in all of these regions, though the maximum recommended treatment duration genuinely differs: 12 weeks in the US and Canada, versus just 5 days in the UK, the rest of the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, following a 2013 EU-wide safety restriction. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Why does metoclopramide have a boxed warning?

Because it can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious and often irreversible movement disorder, and the risk increases the longer it is used and the higher the total dose taken over time. This is why there are strict limits on how long a single course can last. (1) (2)

Why is the maximum treatment duration different in different countries?

In the US and Canada, the label advises avoiding use beyond 12 weeks except in rare cases. In the UK, the rest of the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, a 2013 safety review led to a much stricter, legally binding 5-day maximum course for all indications, in both adults and children. Always follow the duration your own prescriber and local product information specify. (3) (2) (1)

What is the mechanism of action of metoclopramide hydrochloride?

Metoclopramide is a substituted benzamide that antagonises dopamine D2 receptors both centrally (in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, producing its antiemetic effect) and peripherally in the gastrointestinal tract (enhancing gastric motility and accelerating gastric emptying, its prokinetic effect); it also has some 5-HT4 agonist and 5-HT3 antagonist activity contributing to its antiemetic profile. (1) (2)

What is the generic name of Metoclopramide?

The generic name is metoclopramide hydrochloride. (1) (2)

What class of drug is metoclopramide hydrochloride?

Metoclopramide is classed as: Dopamine D2-receptor antagonist -- antiemetic and gastrointestinal prokinetic agent. (1) (2)

References

  1. METOCLOPRAMIDE hydrochloride tablets/orally disintegrating tablets -- full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information (generic metoclopramide hydrochloride) · United States · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 1
  2. Metoclopramide Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 2
  3. Metoclopramide -- Article 31 referral: European Medicines Agency recommends (and the European Commission adopts) changes to the use of metoclopramideEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) -- Article 31 referral outcome, adopted as a legally binding European Commission decision · European Union · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 3
  4. Metoclopramide hydrochloride -- Health Canada product monographsHealth Canada -- approved product monographs (multiple manufacturers, e.g. PRZ-METOCLOPRAMIDE, APO-METOCLOP, Baxter injection) · Canada · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 4
  5. Metoclopramide -- TGA product information and Medicines Safety Update (duration/dose restriction)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 5
  6. Metoclopramide (Pfizer/Baxter/Actavis products) -- New Zealand Data Sheets and safety communicationMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient metoclopramide hydrochloride names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Reglan10 mg, 5 mg · ani pharmaceuticals, inc.
  • GIMOTI15 mg/.07mL · evoke pharma, inc.

United Kingdom

  • Metoclopramide Hydrochloride (multiple manufacturers, e.g. G.L Pharma UK, Rosemont, ADVANZ Pharma, hameln, Baxter) (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 5 mg/5 mL oral solution, 10 mg tablets, injection · multiple licensed manufacturers

Canada

  • METONIA
  • METOCLOPRAMIDE OMEGA
  • APO-METOCLOP

Australia

  • Metoclopramide (multiple brands/generics) (5)TGA product information and safety update confirmed · 10 mg tablets, injection · multiple manufacturers

New Zealand

  • Metoclopramide-Baxter / Metoclopramide Pfizer / Metoclopramide Actavis (6)Medsafe data sheet confirmed · injection, 5 mg/10 mg tablets · Baxter Healthcare / Pfizer / Actavis (New Zealand)
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Various nationally authorised metoclopramide products (3)

This page provides general reference information about metoclopramide and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment-duration decisions should be made with your prescriber, and you should never take metoclopramide for longer than the specific duration your prescriber and local product information recommend.

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