# Metoclopramide

Source: https://onco.cc/drugs/metoclopramide/  
OnCo record `metoclopramide` (Treatment). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Metoclopramide is an anti-sickness medicine that also helps the stomach empty. It is the usual first choice for ongoing nausea in advanced cancer, but it is avoided when the bowel is completely blocked.

## Summary

The US injection label includes "the prophylaxis of vomiting associated with emetogenic cancer chemotherapy" as well as diabetic gastroparesis, postoperative nausea and vomiting, small bowel intubation and radiological examination; the oral forms cover reflux and gastroparesis, with therapy not to exceed 12 weeks. MASCC/ESMO 2016: "The drug of choice for managing N & V in advanced cancer is metoclopramide titrated to effect. Alternative options include haloperidol, levomepromazine, or olanzapine." MASCC 2022 suggests dopamine antagonist prokinetics may help in partial malignant bowel obstruction but should likely be avoided in complete obstruction because of the risk of perforation. The Reglan NDA was approved on 30 December 1980.

## Fields

- Kind: Treatment
- Status: approved
- Last checked: 2026-11-11
- Tags: supportive; generic; supportive-care-gaps-2026-11
- Brand: Reglan / Maxolon
- Modality: Dopamine antagonist prokinetic antiemetic
- Mechanism: A dopamine antagonist that speeds stomach emptying and gut transit (prokinetic) and acts against nausea centrally.
- Approvals: US 1980: Injection: prophylaxis of vomiting with emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, postoperative nausea and vomiting, diabetic gastroparesis and procedural uses; oral: reflux and diabetic gastroparesis

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metoclopramide
- US label (DailyMed): metoclopramide injection: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1ecab710-8b7d-4903-80a8-de66562be55a
- Walsh et al., 2016 updated MASCC/ESMO consensus recommendations: management of nausea and vomiting in advanced cancer (Support Care Cancer 2017): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3371-3
- Davis et al., MASCC recommendations for the management of malignant bowel obstruction in advanced cancer (Support Care Cancer 2022): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-06889-8

## Connected records

- drugs: [Cyclizine](https://onco.cc/drugs/cyclizine/), [Haloperidol](https://onco.cc/drugs/haloperidol/), [Levomepromazine](https://onco.cc/drugs/levomepromazine/)
- technologies: [Antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting](https://onco.cc/technologies/antiemetic-therapy/)
- terms: [Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)](https://onco.cc/terms/chemotherapy-induced-nausea-and-vomiting/)

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