Metoclopramide increases the release of catecholamines from isolated human phaeochromocytomas

Metoclopramide increased the release of catecholamines from isolated human phaeochromocytomas but not from isolated rat adrenal glands employed as control tissue. This selective effect of metoclopramide may have resulted from the high endogenous levels of catecholamines found in the tumours. It is suggested that the administration of drugs which can potentially produce the release of catecholamines should be very carefully controlled in patients with phaeochromocytoma.