In use since the 1960s, Reglan is a short-tern treatment prescribed for nausea and other gastrointestinal disorders.

The drug contains metoclopramide, which speeds up the movement of stomach muscles and increases the rate at which stomach contents empty into the intestines. This ingredient has been linked to the development of tardive dyskinesia, which is a potentially irreversible movement disorder involving involuntary, repetitive moments. The development of tardive dyskinesia seems directly related to the length of time a patient uses Reglan as well as the number of doses taken, and patients under twenty and women who are pregnant are both considered the highest-risk patients. Since studies have found that 20% of patients who took Reglan for over three months developed symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, the FDA in March 2009 mandated that Reglan products include a Black Box warning, which is the strongest warning that the FDA issues. This warning generally indicates that medical studies suggest that the drug involves a substantial risk of serious or lifethreatening adverse effects. In addition to involuntary, repetitive movements, the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include constant twitching or shaking; facial grimacing, twitching, or movement; rapid limb movement; impaired movement of the fingers; and lip pursing, smacking, or involuntary tongue licking. Though these symptoms may lessen over time, they are often irreversible and permanent.