Patients should inform their physician of any history of allergic reactions to prokinetics or other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

Cisapride should not be used by patients with heart, lung or kidney disease. It also should not be used by those who have abdominal or stomach bleeding, intestinal obstruction, or low potassium levels in the blood. Serious cardiac arrythmias (heart rhythm abnormalities) have been noted in individuals taking cisapride with some medications such as antibiotics, antifungals and anti-HIV medications.

Metoclopramide should not be taken by patients who have abdominal or stomach bleeding, intestinal obstruction, asthma, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, kidney disease or pheochromocytoma (a type of tumor).

Bethanecol should not be used by patients with intestinal obstruction, peptic ulcers, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease or a history of seizures.