Emenil Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Emenil Tablet contains metoclopramide, a prokinetic medicine that works as a dopamine antagonist. It is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting by helping the stomach empty faster and helping food move through the digestive system more easily. It is used for conditions such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, gastroparesis, acid reflux, and post-surgery sickness.

What is Emenil Tablet

Emenil is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting. It contains metoclopramide, which helps the stomach empty faster and helps food move through the digestive system more easily.

Emenil Tablet uses

• Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
• Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux) when other medicines do not work well enough
• Post-surgery sickness
• Heartburn caused by acid reflux disease

Benefits of Emenil Tablet

• Reduces nausea and vomiting
• Speeds up stomach emptying
• Relieves stomach discomfort and fullness from gastroparesis
• Strengthens the muscles at the bottom of the esophagus to help prevent acid reflux

How Emenil Tablet works

Emenil works by blocking dopamine signals in the brain that trigger nausea and vomiting. It also acts on the gut to help the stomach muscles contract better, which speeds up stomach emptying and helps food move through the digestive tract.

Emenil Tablet dosage

Take this medicine orally with a sip of water. It may need to be taken about 30 minutes before food, on an empty stomach. It is usually taken before meals and at bedtime. Take it at the same time each day, exactly as your doctor prescribes. Do not stop taking it without your doctor's approval, even if you feel better. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose. It is usually taken for 4 to 12 weeks. For children, the dose is based on their weight and condition.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Emenil Tablet

Common

• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Loss of strength or energy
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Restlessness
• Unusual weak feeling
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Skin rash
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Stomach upset

Serious

• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncontrollable muscle movements, especially with long-term use (tardive dyskinesia), which may be irreversible
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, a life-threatening condition with symptoms like high fever and stiff muscles
• Seizures
• Loss of balance control
• Loss of bladder control
• Yellow eyes or skin
• Increase in blood pressure
• Difficulty with speaking or swallowing

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have muscle movement problems or disorders, or if you have had an allergic reaction to it before.
• Avoid using this medicine if you have stomach or intestinal problems such as a blockage, bleeding, or a hole (perforation) in the gut.
• Long-term use of this medicine is not recommended, and it should not be used by people with certain medical conditions or those taking specific other medications.
• Use with caution if you have a history of mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, since the medicine can sometimes worsen mood or cause restlessness.
• Use with caution if you have heart problems, since the medicine can affect blood pressure and heart rhythm.
• Do not take more than the recommended daily amount, as taking too much can cause severe effects like extreme drowsiness, heart problems, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, and slurred speech.
• Emenil is not usually recommended in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy unless your doctor directs it. 
• It may sometimes be prescribed during pregnancy to help with severe nausea and vomiting when other treatments fail, but only after a doctor weighs the benefits against the risks. 
• Report any mood changes or movement problems to your doctor right away.
• Emenil can pass into breast milk, so it is generally not recommended while breastfeeding unless your doctor says otherwise. 
• It is sometimes used to help increase milk supply, but only under a doctor's guidance, since it may cause side effects in both the mother and the baby.
• People with kidney problems should use this medicine carefully, because the drug can build up in the body. A doctor needs to check and adjust the dose safely to prevent serious side effects.
• People with liver problems should use this medicine carefully, because the drug can build up in the body. A doctor needs to check and adjust the dose safely to prevent serious side effects.
• Drinking alcohol while taking Emenil is not recommended. It can increase the risk of drowsiness, sedation, and problems with thinking, judgment, and coordination. In severe cases combined with other sedating substances, it may cause severe drowsiness or coma.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this medicine, especially if you have also had alcohol, because it can cause dizziness and drowsiness.

Storage

• The medicine should be stored at room temperature
• Keep away from sunlight and moisture
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you take more than the recommended amount and notice extreme drowsiness, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, or slurred speech.
• Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your mood or any unusual movement problems while taking this medicine.
• Seek help if you develop signs of a serious reaction such as high fever and stiff muscles, which could indicate a life-threatening condition called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.

Alternatives

• Prochlorperazine
• Metoclopramide
• Ondansetron
• Domperidone