Metoclopramide one dose, long term disability

[JJSmith]

Went to the hospital to get scans for some neck pain headache/possible TMJ. I was given Reglan (Metoclopramide) IV nausea med (though I wasn’t nauseous) back on December 4th of 2022 and had severe reaction seized out, lost control of bodily functions, hallucinated, eyes rolled back, temporary paralysis of my legs for about a week, lost bladder and bowel control in hospital bed. Then I guess they wheeled me out while I was vomiting and having dystonia.

 

That started the hell that’s been my year. I moved with my parents obviously bc I couldn’t speak, bathe myself or eat. I still need assistance bathing and walking and have been bedbound for 9 months. 

 

Here is my (almost) complete list of symptoms over past 9 months:

 

Akathisia, dystonia, DPDR, agoraphobia/monophobia, panic, anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, short term memory loss, temporary paralysis, leg and arm tremors, whole body feels like cement, restlessness, chest pain, dizziness, chills, fainting, frequent yawning, stomach pain, diarrhea, dry heaving, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, muscle aches, fatigue, TMJ, extreme light and sound sensitivity, hot red burning skin, numbness in limbs, severe vertigo, headache, recurring eye infections/partial blindness 

 

I have never had any of these things in my entire life. I worked in an office, played sports, went to festivals and bars. 

Unfortunately I have not seen any improvements and get new symptoms popping up all of the time. I still can’t leave the house without fainting, losing bowel and bladder control, skin turning red and burning, shaking, vomiting, crying, screaming. 
 

I’ve seen almost every doctor under the sun got a bunch of diagnoses; akathisia, dystonia, colitis, IBS, dysautonomia, drug induced parkinsonism, functional neurological disorder. They just want to prescribe antidepressants. I am in intensive virtual therapy and at-home Physical Therapy for tremors and spasms but I feel like I’m being tortured physically and mentally forever.

[Onmyway]

Hi @JJSmith

I'm so sorry you're going through this - if sounds horrendous. Some of our members have had similar issues with antidepressant withdrawal or adverse effects. 

 

We are a site for going off antidepressants.  While we do have a small number of members who have had an adverse drug reactio to ADs it's not our main expertise. 

 

You're absolutely welcome to be part of the community. Just let us know how we can help. 

 

Omw

[WiggleIt]

I relate quite a bit to your story, albeit with one critical difference. I have dystonia that was caused by psych meds, but mine was not an acute (a.k.a. immediate) reaction like yours was. Mine was tardive, meaning the involuntary movement came on a little after I’d started the medication.

 

My learning curve has been steep, and one of the things I am now vigilant of is to stay away from anti-nausea meds in hospitals, and I won’t let them be given to my family members, either, unless it’s ABSOLUTELY necessary. Those anti-nausea meds are the same as psych meds, but even nurses don’t usually know that. I refused to allow an ER to give an anti-nausea IV to my mom in the past (there was NO reason for it, like in your case). But, on the other hand, my aunt who is on chemo and who has very aggressive cancer has been given a prescription of a psych med/anti-nausea pill, and I of course think she should take it if she needs to. (Luckily, she’s only needed to take it once.)

 

I am so sorry this happened to you. 
 

I did neuro physical therapy to help me get some coordination back into my body and to help the dystonia improve over time. My PT took it VERY slow!!! 
 

Also, because you have had an acute dystonic reaction, perhaps it would help to join some dystonia support groups online. May I suggest the following on Facebook:

 

Neuronauts

 

The Silence of Dystonia

 

Dystonia is a Disorder Not a Disease

 

Also, you might want to follow the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation on social media and get on their mailing list. They send out hard copies of dystonia magazines a few times a year.

 

Maybe it will help if you are on SA and also on some of those dystonia forums on Facebook so that you can get as much support as possible. 
 

Much love,

Wiggle