Metoclopramide-associated tardive dyskinesia in hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus

Metoclopramide, a drug used almost exclusively for medical indications, is a dopamine (D-2) receptor blocker and has been reported to cause extrapyramidal side effects. We present two case reports of hemodialysis patients who were treated with metoclopramide for diabetic gastroparesis. Within 12 months of beginning treatment, both patients developed persistent tardive dyskinesia. These cases highlight the fact that some patients who benefit from metoclopramide may also have a relatively high risk of developing persistent tardive dyskinesia. The consultation-liaison psychiatrist can play an important role in the education of the medical staff regarding metoclopramide-induced tardive dyskinesia.