Reglan (Metoclopramide) and Facial Spasms: Understanding Dystonic Reactions

Question
Your answer to question pertaining to Reglan just plain wrong.  You stated it was a "Bell's Palsey"... are you kidding?  Are you really a doctor?  Reglan is a neuroleptic.  Neuroleptics often produce dystonic reactions... exactly what the young lady was describing.  Did you forget all the lawsuits for tardive dyskinesia?  

Answer
What was the question regarding Reglan? Reglan (metoclopramide) is an antiemetic and has been used during pregnancy as an antiemetic and to decrease gastric emptying time.  Reproductive studies in mice at doses up to 250 times the human dose, have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or fetal harm as a result of the drug, and it is classified as a category B medication. Approved indications during pregnancy are gastroesophageal reflux, diabetic gastric stasis, and the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and the facilitation of small bowel intubation.  Animal studies have not documented teratogenicity for this drug, and there have not been any reports suggesting human teratogenicity. The drug does cross the placenta. Neonates exposed to this drug during labor did not exhibit differences in APGAR scores or cardiovascular or neurobehavioral effects when compared to placebos.  The prinicipal side effect of Reglan has been sedation. Dystonic-dyskinetic head and neck movements have only been reported in two pregnant patients who took metoclopramide as an antiemetic.  This occurs in 0.2% of patients taking doses greater than 30-40 mg/day. I have never claimed that Reglan produced Bell's Palsy and have no way of reviewing the question to which you are referring. I may have suggested Bell's Palsy based on a description of symptomatology. I'm sorry if my answer caused any confusion. However, Reglan is safe for use during pregnancy, as far as I can tell from the literature.