Genetic variations that may affect drug response
4 known genetic variations may influence how your body responds to Metoclopramide 15mg modified-release capsules.Genes involved: KCNH2, ADRA1D, CYP2D6, ABCB1
These are known genetic variations. They don't mean the medicine won't work for you — speak to your doctor or a pharmacogenomics specialist for personalised advice. Source: DrugBank (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Drug safety updates
MHRA alerts for Metoclopramide
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Metoclopramide
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Metoclopramide
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1 branded products available
Part of the Maxolon brand family (generic: Metoclopramide)
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Metoclopramide on the MHRA register
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
30 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE clinical guidance(9)
Gastro-oesophageal reflux in children and young people (QS112)
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people: diagnosis and management (NG1)
Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management (CG150)
Gastroparesis in adults: oral erythromycin (ESUOM13)
Assessing motility of the gastrointestinal tract using a wireless capsule (HTG351)
Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management (NG17)
Promoting tolerance of enteral feeds in children and young people: domperidone (ESUOM18)
Type 2 diabetes in adults: management (NG28)
Antenatal care (NG201)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
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Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 18 · Randomised trials: 22 · 1980–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
I. Henzi, B. Walder, M. Tramèr
British journal of anaesthesia, 1999
K. Domino, E. Anderson, N. Polissar, et al.
Anesthesia and analgesia, 1999
I. Colman, Michael D. Brown, G. Innes, et al.
BMJ : British Medical Journal, 2004
J. Wallenborn, G. Gelbrich, Detlef Bulst, et al.
BMJ : British Medical Journal, 2006
Waseem MH, Abideen ZU, Ahmed A, et al.
2025
Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGIB) is a critical condition where endoscopy is often hindered by poor visibility. This meta-analysis assesses the safety and efficacy of metoclopramide as a pre-endoscopic aid to improve visualization. Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched from inception till October 2024. Review Manager 5.4.1 software was utilized to combine standard and weighted mean differences as well as risk ratios for continuous and dichotomous outcomes, respectively. Quality assessment was carried out by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots. GRADE assessment was conducted to determine the certainty of the evidence. The protocol of this review was registered on PROSPERO under the ID CRD42024569658. A total of eight studies were included, resulting in a pooling of 665 patients. Metoclopramide significantly increases the Endoscopic Visualization Score of the Fundus (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI: [0.12, 0.47]; p = 0.0008; I 2 = 0%), Endoscopic Visualization Score Body (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI: [0.07, 0.42]; p = 0.006; I 2 = 0%), Endoscopic Visualization Score Antrum (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI: [0.05, 0.40]; p = 0.01; I 2 = 0%), and Endoscopic Visualization Score Total (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI: [0.15, 0.50]; p = 0.0003; I 2 = 0%). Outcomes such as length of hospital stay, re-endoscopy, RBC transfusion units, second look endoscopy, duration of endoscopy, and mortality showed insignificant results. In conclusion, metoclopramide usage improved the endoscopic visualization, but it showed no significant results when evaluated for the secondary outcomes. However, there is a clear need for more full-length clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of metoclopramide to establish robust evidence.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Pasam RT, Bains K, Chava S, et al.
2025
BackgroundGiven the limited head-to-head trials comparing the outcomes of pre-endoscopy erythromycin and metoclopramide for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), a network meta-analysis (NMA) and component NMA were conducted.MethodsA comprehensive review of the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials comparing pre-endoscopy erythromycin or metoclopramide for UGIB with or without gastric lavage (GL) to placebo and/or GL. The primary outcome was the adequate visualization of the mucosa. The secondary outcomes were endoscopy visualization score, endoscopy duration, diagnosis established at initial endoscopy, second-look endoscopy, blood transfusions, mortality, and duration of hospitalization.ResultsA total of 16 studies (1,447 patients) were included. No significant differences were observed between erythromycin and metoclopramide in all the outcomes, but erythromycin had significantly better outcomes than the control group in terms of endoscopic visualization score (standardized mean difference, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.91), adequate mucosal visualization (risk ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.18-2.04), second-look endoscopy, transfusion requirements, and duration of hospitalization. Component network meta-analysis revealed that erythromycin, but not metoclopramide or GL, provided significantly better endoscopic visualization than the placebo.ConclusionsErythromycin should be considered before UGIB endoscopy. The current data do not support the use of metoclopramide or GL.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC
Saleh S, Sanford EM, McGeary DD, et al.
2026
- Post-Traumatic Headache
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic
- Quality of Life
BackgroundHeadache following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common, yet disabling, disorder with diverse mechanisms and treatment needs that remain poorly defined. Pharmacological regimens are the primary source of remedies for individuals with post-traumatic headaches (PTH). The main objective of this review is to describe the efficacy of pharmacological medications for the treatment of PTH with a specific focus on the effect of these medications on headache characteristics and headache-related quality of life (QoL).MethodsThis systematic review (CRD42024537719) followed PRISMA and SWiM guidelines. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library were searched in April 2024 for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2009 and 2024. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, controlled cohort studies, and systematic reviews or meta-analyses evaluating pharmacological treatments for PTH in adults. Studies were excluded if they did not assess outcomes related to PTH pain, only included pediatric populations, used animal models, investigated only non-pharmacological interventions, were case reports, narrative reviews, editorials or conference abstracts, or did not involve human participants with TBI-related headache. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB-2 for Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ROBINS-I for the non-randomized studies of the effects of interventions.ResultsSixteen studies were included in the final review, comprising retrospective observational (n = 7), non-randomized prospective (n = 4) and randomized controlled trials (n = 5). Most studies reported some improvements in headache frequency and intensity following pharmacological treatment, although findings for headache-related QoL were inconsistent. Erenumab showed potential benefits for persistent PTH in small, uncontrolled studies of civilian samples. However, findings on its impact on headache-related QoL should be interpreted with caution, given the high discontinuation rate observed. Prazosin demonstrated similar benefits in military populations, with minimal side effects. In the acute care setting, metoclopramide, co-administered with diphenhydramine to minimize side effects, was associated with short-term relief of headache symptoms. Of the RCTs, only two had a low risk of bias, of which only one specifically focused on PTH.ConclusionsPharmacological treatments for PTH may provide improvements in headache frequency and intensity; however, evidence for their efficacy is limited and inconsistent. Given the limited high-quality evidence overall, no specific clinical recommendations can be made at this time. Future research should prioritize rigorous, controlled studies, particularly comparative effectiveness trials, and explore holistic, personalized approaches that incorporate treatment of psychiatric comorbidities and consider patient context.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC
Onodera R, Ito Y, Itaya T, et al.
2026
- Basal Ganglia Diseases
- Metoclopramide
- Antiemetics
Altawil L, Al Hayek M, Nounou MV, et al.
2026
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common emergency where poor endoscopic visualization due to retained blood and clots hampers diagnosis and therapy. Prokinetic agents and nasogastric (NG) lavage are used to improve visualization, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. This study evaluated the comparative efficacy of prokinetics - with or without NG lavage - versus NG lavage alone, prokinetics alone, or placebo in improving endoscopic visualization in UGIB.MethodsA systematic search of five databases up to April 2025 identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing erythromycin, metoclopramide, NG lavage, or combinations against placebo. Network meta-analysis using a frequentist random-effects model assessed the primary outcome of adequate visualization. Secondary outcomes included visualization score, endoscopy duration, and blood transfusion units within 24 h. Risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated. Treatments were ranked using Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking curve (SUCRA).ResultsA total of 10 RCTs (1,083 patients) were included: erythromycin (n = 226), erythromycin+NG lavage (n = 186), metoclopramide (n = 34), metoclopramide+NG lavage (n = 143), NG lavage alone (n = 333), and placebo (n = 161). Erythromycin + NG lavage ranked highest for adequate visualization (RR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.57-3.95; SUCRA: 92%), followed by erythromycin (RR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.56-3.21) and NG lavage (RR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.06-2.73). Erythromycin improved visualization score (SMD: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.36-1.36; SUCRA: 73%). No significant differences were found for endoscopy duration or transfusion units.ConclusionErythromycin, particularly when combined with NG lavage, appears most effective for improving endoscopic visualization in UGIB. However, this procedural benefit did not translate into reductions in endoscopy duration or 24-h transfusion requirements, and the impact on other patient-centered outcomes remains uncertain. .
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC
Ersöz U, Özkalipci Ç
2026
- Cat Diseases
- Vomiting
- Quinuclidines
BackgroundEmesis is a common adverse effect in cats receiving alpha-2 adrenergic agonists and opioids and may compromise perioperative welfare and safety. Comparative evidence for feline antiemetic protocols remains limited by heterogeneity in triggers, timing and outcomes.ObjectivesTo evaluate receptor-targeted antiemetic strategies in cats and quantitatively synthesise controlled event-level evidence for emesis incidence where appropriate.MethodsThis systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 principles. Controlled feline studies assessing maropitant, ondansetron or metoclopramide for prevention or treatment of emesis were eligible. The primary meta-analysis was restricted to maropitant versus control. Risk ratios (RRs) were pooled on the log scale using a random-effects model with Paule-Mandel estimation and Hartung-Knapp adjustment.ResultsFive controlled studies contributed to the primary maropitant analysis. Emesis occurred in 11/141 cats given maropitant and 70/152 controls. Maropitant reduced emesis risk (RR = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.55), with low-to-moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 23.2%; Q = 5.21, p = 0.27; tau = 0.37). Leave-one-out analyses consistently favoured maropitant. The approximate prediction interval was 0.04-1.05, indicating uncertainty about the magnitude of effect in future settings. Ondansetron evidence was limited to two evidence sources and suggested possible timing-dependent benefit, whereas metoclopramide evidence was limited to one directly comparable binary study and was insufficient for pooled inference.ConclusionsMaropitant currently has the most consistent controlled evidence for reducing emesis incidence in cats under perioperative or induced-emesis conditions. Further adequately powered, blinded and randomised trials using standardised vomiting, retching and nausea outcomes are needed.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
90 found
Half-life
5 to 6 hours
Mechanism
Metoclopramide causes antiemetic effects by inhibiting dopamine D2 and serotonin…
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
4 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
84%
[A184886]
…
Half-life
5 to 6 hours
Protein binding
30%
[A185000][L8417]
Volume of distribution
3.5 L/kg
Metabolism
Elimination
85%
Clearance
0.16 L/h
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
One unique property of this drug is that it does not increase gastric acid secretion. It is available in the oral tablet form or in solution, and can also be administered through the intravenous route.[T683] Metoclopramide was initially approved by the FDA in 1980.[A184922]
[L8414]
A nasal spray formulation is also indicated to treat adults with acute, recurrent diabetic gastroparesis.
[L14381]
In the intravenous injection form, it is indicated for the above conditions as well as for the prevention of vomiting that may follow emetogenic chemotherapy or nausea and vomiting after surgery. Intravenous metoclopramide facilitates intubation of the small bowel and stimulates gastric emptying and barium flow in patients who require radiological examination of the stomach or small intestine. In some cases, the delay of gastrointestinal emptying interferes with the radiographic visualization of the gastrointestinal tract, and metoclopramide is used to facilitate emptying in these cases, allowing for adequate diagnostic visualization.
[L8417]
Some off-label uses of metoclopramide include the management of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting, gastric bezoars, intractable hiccups, and migraine pain.
[A184961][A184964][A184967][A40105]
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 2038 interactions
[L8465]
Some symptoms of an overdose with metoclopramide include drowsiness, disorientation, and extrapyramidal reactions. Drugs that manage Parkinson's disease or anticholinergic drugs or antihistamines with anticholinergic properties [A185174] should be employed to treat extrapyramidal symptoms. Normally, these symptoms subside within 24 hours.
[L8414]
Unintentional overdose in infants receiving the oral solution of metoclopramide resulted in seizures, extrapyramidal symptoms, in addition to a lethargic state.
In addition, methemoglobinemia has been found to occur in premature and full-term neonates after a metoclopramide overdose.
Intravenous methylene blue may treat metoclopramide-associated methemoglobinemia. It is important to note that methylene blue administration may lead to hemolytic anemia in patients who suffer from G6PD deficiency, which can result in fatality. Dialysis has not been shown to be effective in sufficiently eliminating metoclopramide in an overdose situation due to low plasma distribution of this drug.
[L8414]
Because of its antidopaminergic activity, metoclopramide can cause symptoms of tardive dyskinesia (TD), dystonia, and akathisia, and should therefore not be administered for longer than 12 weeks.[A184886][L8414]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A184886]
The bioavailability of the oral preparation is reported to be about 40.7%, but can range from 30-100%.
[A184880][A184949]
Nasal metoclopramide is 47% bioavailable.
[L14381]
A 15mg dose reaches a Cmax of 41.0 ng/mL, with a Tmax of 1.25 h, and an AUC of 367 ng\*h/mL.
[L14381]
[A184886][A185153][L8414]
[A185000][L8417]
[A185153][L8414]
[A184880]
CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 both contribute to its metabolism, with CYP2D6 being more heavily involved. CYP1A2 is also a minor contributing enzyme.
[A181352]
The process of N-4 sulphate conjugation is a primary metabolic pathway of metoclopramide.
[A184886]
[L8414]
[A184886]
After high intravenous doses, total metoclopramide clearance ranged from 0.31 to 0.69 L/kg/h.
[A185159]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:10821780 PMID:16102731 PMID:35714614 PMID:9603189
Ligand binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of downstream effectors .
PMID:16102731 PMID:35714614
HTR4 is coupled to G(s) G alpha proteins and mediates activation of adenylate cyclase activity PMID:16102731 PMID:35714614
PMID:21645528
Positively regulates postnatal regression of retinal hyaloid vessels via suppression of VEGFR2/KDR activity, downstream of OPN5 (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
Appears to function in modulating the activity of the immune system during the acute-phase reaction
ATC A03FA01
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Metoclopramide
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
3776
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
3775
ChemSpider
4024
BindingDB
48320
Guide to Pharmacology
241
ZINC
ZINC000001530716
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5299
GenAtlas
HTR4
GeneCards
HTR4
GenBank Gene Database
Y12505
GenBank Protein Database
2661757
Guide to Pharmacology
9
UniProt Accession
5HT4R_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5297
GenAtlas
HTR3A
GeneCards
HTR3A
GenBank Gene Database
D49394
GenBank Protein Database
681914
Guide to Pharmacology
373
UniProt Accession
5HT3A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1950
GenAtlas
CHRM1
GeneCards
CHRM1
GenBank Gene Database
X52068
GenBank Protein Database
34451
Guide to Pharmacology
13
UniProt Accession
ACM1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:3023
GenAtlas
DRD2
GeneCards
DRD2
GenBank Gene Database
M30625
GenBank Protein Database
181432
Guide to Pharmacology
215
UniProt Accession
DRD2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2625
GenAtlas
CYP2D6
GeneCards
CYP2D6
GenBank Gene Database
M20403
GenBank Protein Database
181350
Guide to Pharmacology
1329
UniProt Accession
CP2D6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8498
GenAtlas
ORM1
GeneCards
ORM1
GenBank Gene Database
X02544
GenBank Protein Database
757907
UniProt Accession
A1AG1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72