Anyone been on Metoclopramide for nausea longterm? Questions...lots!

[LeoandBoosmum]

I have been on it three or four times a week, sometimes more, for about 3 years for headache-related nausea. I have been - I have a chronic health condition already - getting odd symptoms that are not usual for me for the past 10 months or so and I wondered if one of my meds could be responsible (but I've avoided the doc's as much as possible as my usual doctor who I like and knows my history well has been off). I looked Metoclopramide up online and it said it can cause long term serious health issues when used for more than 3 months! I have been getting odd symptoms like lip trembling (not usual for me) and gaining some weight amongst other things (and despite counting cals), but I am worried if the doc stops them I won't manage the nausea.

Can anyone advise?
(Ps. I have not had an issue with weight gain despite taking this med...until now and I'm wondering if this med is responsible, also periods all over the place when they've been regular before. Can you suddenly, out of the blue, get a side-effect from a med you hadn't experienced before despite being on it a long time? Eg the weight gain and period stuff...or is it likely to be something else?

Thanks... Oh, and if any one can recommend anything for headache and anxiety related nausea that will work long term without horrible risks attached I appreciate it :)

Sorry have to be quick but I have taken it for nausea in the past and it works well for me but it makes me drowsy, so I take cyclizine instead which works well for me as I get some dizziness, and it seems to make painkillers more effective . But, I hardly ever need it since I was diagnosed with a gluten and dairy intolerance due to ibs and hardly have any headaches or nausea now I am dairy free (I did something called the formal diet).
Have you ever tried acupuncture/ reflexology ?

Thanks for replying despite the time pressure - it's very kind of you! :)

Can I ask how often you took the Metoclopramide, quantities and over what period (if that's not too intrusive)? I am concerned that, while the insert in my box says nothing about only taking it for 12 weeks tops, online sites (proper medical ones) say so. I have been taking it (prescribed monthly) for about 3 years, maybe longer. I don't know if you can develop side effects later on when you have previously been fine with something... How much and how often I take varies with need (chronic daily headache with nausea, and I also get nausea with anxiety etc) but over the past year I have noticed the odd symptoms(the lip trembling, odd pulling pain down my left hand side and really fast, pounding heartbeat) and, in since about November, weight gain for no reason that I have - not very successfully - been trying to counter with fewer calories (since my condition prevents me from being very active). Also, did you get withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Metoclopramide?

May I ask if Cyclizine has caused you weight gain? Also, I know since you found a reason for your nausea, that you may not be taking the med as frequently or in such quantities as before, but have you found it as effective for your nausea as Metoclopramide?) I don't even always get that much relief from the Metoclopramide but, at worst, my headaches can be whoppers (eye and head pain that makes you want to vomit and lie on the bathroom floor!)
I have not tried reflexology. My doc did try acupuncture on me which helped the headaches somewhat on the day but the effects didn't last.
I am going to see my GP tomorrow and don't know what to say. There is a horrible condition that can develop with long term use of Metoclopramide and the fact I've read you shouldn't take it for more than three months has made me frightened about continuing (especially as I've been getting odd symptoms and this out of the blue weight issue), but part of me worries about how to handle it with my doc as I can't bear the thought of nothing for the nausea (I also get dizziness so I can empathise with the horrible 'stop the world' feeling!)

Hope you get a chance to reply when you can. Thanks so much once again, and I'm glad you got to the root cause. Headaches with nausea are miserable! I have tried gluten free, the candida diet, dairy free, cutting tea, coke, choccy, citrus, the lot...no good! I think my headaches are often triggered by fatigue, anxiety, my rosacea (which affects my eyes) and being generally very sensitive systemically (allergic type person!)

Many thanks, and sorry this is long! :)

Hi again. I only took it regularly for a few days as I quickly realised it made me too drowsy to work. I then started on domperidone, and used metoclopromide in the evenings if needed (to use it up so as not to waste it, with prescriptions costing £££)! I was never told anything about long term use, my gp has always thought it a better option long term than domperidone as that shouldn't be used long term. Because I didn't want to take met' because of the issues, and because of my occasional dizziness I was prescribed cyclizine instead. I have always been slightly overweight and I did think that with met and domperidone that I was always hungry as the way that they work is to empty the stomach quickly , and had to try hard not to constantly eat as I always felt hungry! I don't feel like that with cyclizine as it works differently, like a travel sickness med rather than one that empties the stomach. This I think is better for me and my weight.

I used acupuncture to help with migraines so I could come off meds to try for a baby, it took weeks of treatments but was successful and my.migraines have never been as bad as pre children!

Elderflowergin,

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all that, it was really good of you! :)

I think I will ask my doctor tomorrow about the possibility of trying Cyclizine, which may work as well or even better for me as I too get dizziness.

I am glad that you had such success with acupuncture and that the migraines calmed down after your children were born.

I feel a little happier about seeing my doctor now, so thank you!

Hope you got on ok at the drs today!

Awww, thanks for asking! She was great, said that new guidelines had been introduced (about not take Metoclopramide for more than three months). I felt so embarrassed as I have terrible trouble pronouncing that med! Took me about 4 goes! Anyhow, she prescribed Cyclizine for me, so thank you for telling me about that med :)

I appreciate it, and the fact you came back to ask...so nice of you!

:)

Glad you had a good result and I hope it works for you. Having nausea every day is just horrible, like morning sickness but without the excitement of a baby to show for it !
A word of warning, I found that at first cyclizine made me a bit sleepy, if I was at work I had to have a coffee or get some fresh air to stay awake but I persevered with it and it passed. I took it regularly to start with but I don't get the dizziness that often now so just use it occasionally. Hope it works for you, if you take it with painkillers it seems to make them more effective, so good for a migraine