When your stomach doesn’t empty properly, food sits there too long—that’s gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles don’t work right, delaying digestion. Also known as delayed gastric emptying, it’s not just occasional indigestion. It’s a real, measurable problem that hits people with diabetes, after surgery, or with no clear cause at all. You might feel full after just a few bites, throw up undigested food hours after eating, or get bloated even when you haven’t eaten much. It’s exhausting, confusing, and often dismissed as "just a stomach issue"—but it’s not.
One of the most common drugs used to treat it is metoclopramide, a medication that stimulates stomach contractions to move food along. You may know it by its brand name, Reglan. It’s not perfect—side effects like fatigue or muscle twitching can happen—but for many, it’s the only thing that helps food move. Other options exist too, like erythromycin or domperidone, but they’re harder to get or come with their own risks. What’s clear is that treating gastroparesis isn’t about one magic pill. It’s about matching the right treatment to your symptoms, your health history, and how your body responds. And it’s not just about pills. What you eat matters just as much. Small, low-fat, low-fiber meals. Pureed foods. Avoiding carbonation. Skipping large meals. These aren’t suggestions—they’re survival tools.
Many people with gastroparesis also struggle with blood sugar swings, especially if they have diabetes. That’s because food sitting in the stomach makes glucose levels unpredictable. That’s why managing gastroparesis often means working with both a GI doctor and an endocrinologist. And if you’ve been told your symptoms are "all in your head," you’re not alone. Too many patients get dismissed until their weight drops, their energy vanishes, or they end up in the ER. But help exists. You don’t have to live with constant nausea and bloating.
The posts below cover exactly what you need: how Reglan works, when to call your doctor after switching meds, how to safely dispose of old prescriptions, and how pharmacists can help you stick to a treatment plan. You’ll also find comparisons between anti-nausea drugs, tips for managing symptoms through diet, and real advice from people who’ve been there. This isn’t theory. It’s what works—day after day, meal after meal.
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