Metoclopramide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Metoclopramide is a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist sold in the U.S. under 6 brand and generic names, for gastroesophageal reflux, gastroparesis and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Dopamine-2 Receptor Antagonist
- Treats (across its forms)
- Gastroesophageal Reflux, Gastroparesis and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
- Available as
- Tablet, orally disintegrating · Tablet · Spray/Inhaler · Solution
- Sold as
- 6 products — Reglan ODT, Clopra-"Yellow" and Gimoti, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 5 to 6 hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $1 for a 30-count supply — not your price
- Boxed warning
- Boxed warning
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How Gimoti is dosed
From the FDA label for Gimoti (application NDA209388). Other metoclopramide products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Administration See the full prescribing information for complete information on administration. ( 2.1 ) Recommended Dosage Adults less than 65 years of age: The recommended dosage is 1 spray (15 mg) in one nostril, 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime (maximum of 4 sprays daily). ( 2.2 ) Adults 65 years of age and older: GIMOTI is not recommended in geriatric patients as initial therapy. Geriatric patients receiving an alternative metoclopramide product at a stable dosage of 10 mg four times daily can be switched to GIMOTI 1 spray (15 mg) in one nostril, 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime (maximum four times daily). ( 2.2 , 8.5 ) 2.1 Important Administration and Storage Instructions One spray in one nostril administers the appropriate dose. Before administering the first dose from a bottle, prime the pump by pressing down on the finger flange and releasing 10 sprays in the air. Place the spray nozzle tip under one nostril and lean the head slightly forward so the tip of spray nozzle is aimed away from the septum and toward the back of the nose. Close the other nostril with the other index finger. Move spray pump upwards so the tip of the nozzle is in the nostril. To ensure a full dose, hold the bottle upright while pressing down firmly and completely on finger flange and release while inhaling slowly through the open nostril. Remove spray pump nozzle tip from…
Everything below is the FDA label for Gimoti (spray/inhaler). Metoclopramide is also sold as tablet, orally disintegrating, tablet and solution, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Gimoti side effects
The following adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections of the labeling: Tardive dyskinesia [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Other extrapyramidal symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Neuroleptic malignant syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Depression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Fluid retention [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Hyperprolactinemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Effects on the ability to drive and operate machinery [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] The following adverse reactions have been identified from clinical studies or postmarketing reports of metoclopramide. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The safety of GIMOTI was evaluated in clinical trials of patients with gastroparesis and established in clinical trials of oral metoclopramide. Most common adverse reactions (≥5%) are: dysgeusia, headache, and fatigue. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Evoke Pharma, Inc. at 1-833-4-GIMOTI (1-833-444-6684), or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. Safety of GIMOTI In a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical…
Who shouldn’t take Gimoti
GIMOTI is contraindicated: In patients with a history of tardive dyskinesia (TD) or a dystonic reaction to metoclopramide [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.2) ] . When stimulation of gastrointestinal motility might be dangerous (e.g., in the presence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, mechanical obstruction, or perforation). In patients with pheochromocytoma or other catecholamine-releasing paragangliomas. Metoclopramide may cause a hypertensive/pheochromocytoma crisis, probably due to release of catecholamines from the tumor [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] . In patients with epilepsy. Metoclopramide may increase the frequency and severity of seizures [see Adverse Reactions ( 6 )] . In patients with hypersensitivity to metoclopramide. Reactions have included laryngeal and glossal angioedema and bronchospasm [see Adverse Reactions ( 6 )] . History of TD or dystonic reaction to metoclopramide ( 4 ) When stimulation of gastrointestinal motility might be dangerous ( 4 ) Pheochromocytoma, catecholamine-releasing paragangliomas ( 4 ) Epilepsy ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to metoclopramide ( 4 )
Gimoti drug interactions
Antipsychotics : Potential for additive effects, including TD, EPS, and NMS; avoid concomitant use. ( 7.1 ) Central nervous system (CNS) depressants : Increased risk of CNS depression. Avoid concomitant use and monitor for adverse reactions. ( 7.1 ) Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors : Increased risk of hypertension; avoid concomitant use. ( 5.5 , 7.1 ) Additional drug interactions : See Full Prescribing Information. ( 7.1 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on Metoclopramide Table 1 displays the effects of other drugs on metoclopramide. Table 1. Effects of Other Drugs on Metoclopramide Antipsychotics Clinical Impact Potential for additive effects, including increased frequency and severity of tardive dyskinesia (TD), other extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Intervention Avoid concomitant use [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.3) ]. Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors, not Included in Antipsychotic Category Above Clinical Impact Increased plasma concentrations of metoclopramide; risk of exacerbation of extrapyramidal symptoms [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Intervention Use of GIMOTI is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] . Examples quinidine, bupropion, fluoxetine, and paroxetine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Clinical Impact Increased risk of hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )]. Intervention Avoid concomitant use. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Clinical Impact Increased risk of CNS depression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )]. Intervention Avoid GIMOTI or the interacting drug, depending on the importance of the drug to the patient. Examples alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, opiates, and anxiolytics Drugs that Impair Gastrointestinal Motility Clinical Impact Potential for decreased effect of metoclopramide due to opposing effects on gastrointestinal motility. Intervention Monitor for reduced effect on gastrointestinal motility. Examples antiperistaltic antidiarrheal drugs, anticholinergic drugs, and opiates Dopaminergic Agonists and Other Drugs that Increase Dopamine Concentrations Clinical Impact Decreased therapeutic effect of metoclopramide due to opposing effects on dopamine. Intervention Monitor for reduced therapeutic effect. Examples apomorphine, bromocriptine, cabergoline, levodopa, pramipexole, ropinirole, and rotigotine 7.2 Effects of Metoclopramide on Other Drugs Table 2 displays the effects of metoclopramide on other drugs. Table 2. Effects of Metoclopramide on Other Drugs Dopaminergic Agonists and Drugs Increasing Dopamine Concentrations Clinical Impact Opposing effects of metoclopramide and the interacting drug on dopamine. Potential exacerbation of symptoms (e.g., parkinsonian symptoms). Intervention Avoid concomitant use [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Examples Apomorphine, bromocriptine, cabergoline, levodopa, pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine Succinylcholine, Mivacurium Clinical Impact Metoclopramide inhibits plasma cholinesterase leading to enhanced neuromuscular blockade. Intervention Monitor for signs and symptoms of prolonged neuromuscular blockade Drugs with Absorption Altered due to Increased Gastrointestinal Motility Clinical Impact The effect of metoclopramide on other drugs is variable. Increased gastrointestinal (GI) motility by metoclopramide may impact absorption of other drugs leading to decreased or increased drug exposure. Intervention Drugs with Decreased Absorption (e.g., digoxin, atovaquone, posaconazole oral suspension Interaction does not apply to posaconazole delayed-release tablet. , fosfomycin) : Monitor for reduced therapeutic effect of the interacting drug. For digoxin, monitor therapeutic drug concentrations and increase the digoxin dose as needed (see prescribing information for digoxin). Drugs with Increased Absorption (e.g., sirolimus, tacrolimus, cyclosporine) : Monitor therapeutic drug concentrations and adjust the dose as needed. See prescribing information for the interacting drug. Insulin Clinical Impact Increased GI motility by metoclopramide may increase delivery of food to the intestines and increase blood glucose. Intervention Monitor blood glucose and adjust insulin dosage regimen as needed.
Every metoclopramide product we track (6)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → |
What metoclopramide pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGLAN5;ANI | 5 mg | green | oval | — |
| REGLAN;ANI10 | 10 mg | white | capsule | — |
Metoclopramide recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
How long metoclopramide keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some metoclopramide labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 4 weeks.
Does metoclopramide expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsMetoclopramide and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for metoclopramide: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadMetoclopramide is excreted in variable amounts in breastmilk. After oral and intranasal administration, most infants would receive less than 10% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage, but some receive doses that achieve pharmacologically active serum levels, elevated serum prolactin and possible gastrointestinal side effects. Although most studies have found no adverse effects in breastfed infants during maternal metoclopramide use, many did not adequately observe for side effects.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised February 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about metoclopramide
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 9,148 reports naming metoclopramide, and the FDA flagged 91% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- tardive dyskinesia2,434 reports
- extrapyramidal disorder1,099 reports
- nausea854 reports
- incorrect drug administration duration700 reports
- diarrhoea537 reports
- vomiting516 reports
- nervous system disorder421 reports
- pyrexia400 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean metoclopramide caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long metoclopramide stays in your system
The elimination half-life of metoclopramide is about 5 to 6 hours. This is the average elimination (terminal) half-life in adults with normal renal function; the label gives it as a 5-to-6-hour range and reports no separate distribution-phase figure. Metoclopramide is not a prodrug, and the FDA label does not describe an active metabolite that outlasts the parent — about half of the drug recovered in urine is excreted as free or conjugated (inactive) metoclopramide. Kidney impairment is the population the label singles out: as creatinine clearance falls, plasma, renal and non-renal clearance all fall and the elimination half-life lengthens, so the drug accumulates unless the maintenance dose is reduced. The label does not state a separate adult half-life for older adults or for liver impairment. It does note that in newborns the half-life is much longer (23.1 hours after a first dose in a 3.5-week-old infant) because of immature liver and kidney function, while in older children it is roughly 4 to 4.5 hours. Half-life describes how fast the drug leaves the blood — it is not a drug-test detection window (metabolites are detectable far longer) and not dosing guidance.
Metoclopramide Oral Solution — FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics (DailyMed SPL) ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Gimoti?
Metoclopramide hydrochloride, the active ingredient in GIMOTI, is a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist. Metoclopramide hydrochloride is a white, crystalline, odorless substance, freely soluble in water.
What kind of drug is metoclopramide?
The FDA classifies metoclopramide as a dopamine-2 receptor antagonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does metoclopramide stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of metoclopramide is about 5 to 6 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the average elimination (terminal) half-life in adults with normal renal function; the label gives it as a 5-to-6-hour range and reports no separate distribution-phase figure. Metoclopramide is not a prodrug, and the FDA label does not describe an active metabolite that outlasts the parent — about half of the drug recovered in urine is excreted as free or conjugated (inactive) metoclopramide. Kidney impairment is the population the label singles out: as creatinine clearance falls, plasma, renal and non-renal clearance all fall and the elimination half-life lengthens, so the drug accumulates unless the maintenance dose is reduced. The label does not state a separate adult half-life for older adults or for liver impairment. It does note that in newborns the half-life is much longer (23.1 hours after a first dose in a 3.5-week-old infant) because of immature liver and kidney function, while in older children it is roughly 4 to 4.5 hours. Half-life describes how fast the drug leaves the blood — it is not a drug-test detection window (metabolites are detectable far longer) and not dosing guidance. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take metoclopramide with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run metoclopramide against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is metoclopramide sold under?
We track 6 metoclopramide-containing products in the U.S.: Reglan ODT, Clopra-"Yellow", Gimoti, Metoclopramide Hydrochloride, Metozolv ODT and Reglan. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does metoclopramide come in?
Across the brands we track, metoclopramide is currently marketed as tablet, orally disintegrating, tablet, spray/inhaler and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic metoclopramide?
Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic metoclopramide products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has metoclopramide been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 1 recall record whose product description mentions metoclopramide. The most recent: Metoclopramide Tablets (May 23, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Metoclopramide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/metoclopramide
- MLA
- “Metoclopramide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/metoclopramide.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for metoclopramide on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.