When Reglan, a prescription medication used to treat nausea, vomiting, and slow stomach emptying. Also known as metoclopramide, it's been a go-to for decades—but many people stop using it because of side effects like fatigue, restless legs, or even movement disorders. If you’ve been told to take Reglan but aren’t comfortable with the risks, you’re not alone. There are safer, just-as-effective options out there that work for nausea, acid reflux, and delayed stomach emptying without the same neurological toll.
One of the most common domperidone, a prokinetic drug that moves food through the digestive tract without crossing the blood-brain barrier is a top choice. Unlike Reglan, it doesn’t cause the same brain-related side effects because it doesn’t enter the central nervous system. It’s approved in many countries for nausea and gastroparesis, and while it’s not FDA-approved in the U.S., doctors can still prescribe it off-label. Another option is prokinetic agents, a category of drugs that stimulate gut motility like erythromycin, which acts like a natural mover for the stomach—especially helpful for people with diabetic gastroparesis. And if your issue is more about acid than slow digestion, simple lifestyle changes or OTC options like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers might do the job better than Reglan ever could.
What you need depends on your symptoms. If you’re dealing with constant nausea after meals, domperidone might be your best bet. If your stomach just feels stuck and bloated, a low-dose antibiotic like erythromycin could kickstart things. And if heartburn is the real problem, you might not need a prokinetic at all—just something that reduces acid. The key is matching the treatment to the root cause, not just reaching for the first name your doctor mentions. Many people find relief switching from Reglan to one of these alternatives—and feel better overall, not just less nauseous.
Below, you’ll find real comparisons of medications and natural approaches that actually work. No fluff. No marketing. Just what people are using, what’s working, and what to avoid when you’re trying to feel better without the side effects.
A side‑by‑side look at Metoclopramide (Reglan) and its top alternatives, covering how they work, pros, cons, and when each is best.
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