Someone requested references for use of Reglan (metoclopramide) as a
galactagogue, to boost prolactin levels.  Here is an edited posting of
references I have collected and keep available, all these are available on
Medline.
Nancy Holtzman RN BSN MOM
Great Beginnings New Mothers Groups
Boston MA
[log in to unmask]

Title
     Metoclopramide effect on faltering milk production by mothers of
     premature infants.
Author
     Ehrenkranz RA; Ackerman BA
Source
     Pediatrics, 1986 Oct, 78:4, 614-20
Abstract
     Metoclopramide treatment has been shown to augment milk production
     by stimulating prolactin secretion in women in whom lactational
     insufficiency develops after a full-term pregnancy. The effect of
     metoclopramide therapy in 23 women who were delivered of premature
     infants (birth weight 1,314 +/- 115 g, gestational age 30.4 +/- 0.7
weeks)
     and who were having difficulty maintaining milk production with milk
     expression was evaluated. Each woman had noted a gradual decrease in
     the total daily volume of expressed milk during the first several
weeks of
     lactation. Maternal metoclopramide therapy was started at a mean of
     32.0 +/- 3.7 days postpartum, after a review of diet and milk expression
     technique and an increase in the number of expressions per day failed to
     increase milk production. Daily milk production increased significantly
     from 93.3 +/- 18.0 mL/d to 197.4 +/- 32.3 mL/d between the first and
     seventh day of therapy. This increase was associated with significantly
     increased basal serum prolactin levels, from 18.1 +/- 3.3 ng/mL to 121.8
     +/- 21.5 ng/mL. Although milk expression resulted in a variable increase
     in serum prolactin levels prior to metoclopramide treatment, milk
     expression did not produce any additional prolactin response in the
     treated women, with mean basal levels of 157.8 +/- 15.4 ng/mL v mean
     peak levels of 144.5 +/- 12.2 ng/mL. No major side effects were
     reported by the women, and no untoward effects were noted in the infants
     fed milk expressed while their mothers were being treated with
     metoclopramide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Language of Publication
     English
Unique Identifier
     87016068

Title
     A dose response relation between improved lactation and
     metoclopramide.
Author
     Kauppila A; Kivinen S; Ylikorkala O
Source
     Lancet, 1981 May 30, 1:8231, 1175-7
Abstract
     In a placebo-controlled, cross-over study, thirty-seven puerperal women
     with inadequate production of breast-milk were treated with 5, 10, or 15
     mg of metoclopramide three times a day for 2 weeks. Doses of 10 or 15
     mg significantly raised maternal serum prolactin; they also increased
     breast-milk secretion by 42.5 +/- 34.7 (SD) ml and 50.0 + 35.9 ml per
     feed, respectively. This effect was unrelated to the phase of the
     puerperium during which treatment was started. The increase in milk
     secretion was associated with a decreased need for supplementary feeds,
     and 33% of the infants of these mothers needed no supplementary feeds
     during treatment. 5 mg doses did not stimulate prolactin milk secretion.
     Although placebo had no objective effect on the milk yield, 24% of the
     women judged its effect to be good, and 89% of women on
     metoclopramide reported a good effect. Seven women on
     metoclopramide and three women on the placebo complained of slight
     side-effects. No adverse effects upon the infants were observed.
     Metoclopramide therapy may be useful for improving poor lactation.
Language of Publication
     English
Unique Identifier
     81196365


Title
     Metoclopramide and breast milk.
Author
     de Gezelle H; Ooghe W; Thiery M; Dhont M
Source
     Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1983 Apr, 15:1, 31-6
Abstract
     Thirteen primiparous nursing mothers participated in this
     placebo-controlled double blind trial of metoclopramide. Therapy was
     started on the first postpartum day and continued for 8 days. Seven
     women received metoclopramide (10 mg, 3 X dd). Serum prolactin and
     milk yield were measured during the trial. The breast milk composition
     was analysed during the trial and weekly for 3 wk after the trial. A
     detailed analysis of the amino acid content was performed on the 6th and
     21st postpartum days. During the early puerperium the total milk yield
     was ca. 50% greater in the metoclopramide-treated group compared to
     the control group. The evolution of the breast milk composition was
     similar for both groups, except for the amino acid content. The shift in
     amino acid composition occurred earlier in the treatment group indicating
     that metoclopramide enhances the rate of transition from colostrum to
     mature milk.
Language of Publication
     English
Unique Identifier
     83288025

Title
     The relationship between metoclopramide and milk secretion in
     puerperium.
Author
     Tolino A; Tedeschi A; Farace R; Granata P
Source
     Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol, 1981, 8:3, 93-5
Abstract
     The Authors administered Metoclopramide to women in puerperium with
     poor lactation. An increased lactation and high serum prolactin levels
     were noted. The administration of this medicine did not provoke any
     variations in serum T3, T4 and TSh levels. thyroid screening of the
treated
     mothers' babies resulted negative.
Language of Publication
     English
Unique Identifier
     82184950

Title
     Metoclopramide challenge: a measure of human lactotroph activity.
Author
     Martin RH
Source
     Obstet Gynecol, 1983 Dec, 62:6, 691-5
Abstract
     Prolactin response to an intravenous injection of 5 mg of metoclopramide
     was monitored in 1) normal subjects during the follicular and luteal
phases
     of the menstrual cycle; 2) subjects with known prolactinomas, two of
     whom were breast-feeding; 3) subjects with suspected prolactinomas; 4)
     normal lactating women; and 5) normal postmenopausal women. The
     magnitude of prolactin released was greater in the luteal than in the
     follicular phase controls (P less than .001), the estrogen status being
     important, as further seen in the postmenopausal group. Comparison of
     responses in the prolactinoma and control groups is a useful diagnostic
     tool when assessing the possibility of a prolactinoma. Comparison of
     physiologically hyperprolactinemic subjects (lactating women) with
     pathological ones (prolactinomas) suggests that the main mode of
     metoclopramide's prolactin-releasing action is mediated via dopamine
     antagonism, though a small direct action on the lactotroph is possible.
Language of Publication
     English
Unique Identifier
     84040688