Tardive dyskinesia after short-term treatment with oral metoclopramide in an adolescent.

CASE: The objective of this case report is to report the development of tardive dyskinesia in an African-American adolescent male after short-term treatment with metoclopramide 10 mg orally three times daily secondary to delayed gastric emptying. The patient developed symptoms of tardive dyskinesia after 2 days of therapy with metoclopramide. Metoclopramide was discontinued and diphenhydramine 50 mg was initially administered intravenously followed with 25 mg orally every 4 hours as needed. While there are case reports of drug-induced tardive dyskinesia after intravenous administration of metoclopramide, this is to our knowledge the first report of tardive dyskinesia after short-term treatment with oral metoclopramide in an adolescent.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of the risk of development of this adverse effect even with short-term treatment with metoclopramide and in younger patients is important.