Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic medication, most commonly used to treat intestinal problems.
Pronunciation: dye-sye-kloe-meen
What are dicyclomine’s uses?
Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic medication, which is a class of drugs that help to relieve muscle spasms in the intestines and urinary tract. The intestinal problems it treats include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes extreme discomfort in sufferers, including abdominal spasms, bloating, discomfort and pain.
What dosage should you take?
The typical dose for adults is 10 to 20mg three to four times daily.
Infants under six months old should not have dicyclomine.
Children six months to two years old can have only 5 to 10mg, before feeds, three to four times daily.
Children two to 12 years old can have 10mg three to four times daily.
However, always check the correct dosages with your Clicks pharmacist.
What special precautions should you take?
- Be aware that drinking alcohol while you are taking dicyclomine may increase drowsiness and dizziness.
- Let your doctor know if you are having eye (specifically cataract) surgery.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, first seek advice from your doctor or Clicks pharmacist regarding whether you can use dicyclomine.
Dicyclomine should be avoided if you have the following conditions:
- Glaucoma (an eye disorder that results in optic nerve damage)
- An auto-immune or neuromuscular disease
- Intestinal paralysis
- Pyloric stenosis (a condition that sees infants vomiting forcefully)
- An enlarged prostate
- Ulcerative colitis
Dicyclomine should be used with caution if you have any of the following conditions:
- A family history of glaucoma (an eye disorder that results in optic nerve damage)
- Heart problems
- Heartburn
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Impaired liver or kidney function
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- A bleeding disorder
- A hiatal hernia
- Myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune neuromuscular disease)
- Difficulty passing urine
- An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
What drug interactions could you experience?
To avoid adverse drug interactions, always inform your doctor or Clicks pharmacist what prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or planning to take.
What are dicyclomine’s side effects?
Side effects could include:
- Dry mouth and/or throat
- Dry eyes
- Thirst
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Palpitations
- An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Flushing
- Dry skin
- Confusion
This is not a complete list of side effects. It’s essential that you call your doctor should you notice any severe or odd side effects.
What are the overdose symptoms?
Call a doctor or ambulance immediately if you notice the following symptoms:
- Hyperthermia
- Weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Vomiting
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures