Bentyl (Dicyclomine) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 25, 2012

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) »

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common ailments of the bowel (intestines) and affects an estimated 15% of people in the US. The term, irritable bowel, is not a particularly accurate one since it implies that the bowel is responding irritably to normal stimuli, and this may or may not be the case. The several terms used for IBS, including spastic colon, spastic colitis, and mucous colitis, attest to the difficulty of getting a descriptive handle on the ailment. Moreover, each of the other names is itself as problematic as the term IBS.

IBS is best described as a functional disease. The concept of functional disease is particularly useful when discussing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The concept applies to the muscular organs of the gastrointestinal tract; the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and colon. What is meant by the term, functional, is that either th...

Read the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) article »

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Bentyl Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dicyclomine (Bentyl)?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to dicyclomine, or if you have:

problems with urination;
a blockage in your digestive tract;
an intestinal disorder such as ulcerative colitis;
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
a serious heart condition or active bleeding;
glaucoma;
myasthenia gravis; or
if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

an ileostomy or colostomy;
a nerve problem (such as numbness or tingling);
liver disease;
kidney disease;
ulcerative colitis;
thyroid disorder;
heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, or a heart rhythm disorder;
hiatal hernia; or
an enlarged prostate.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustments or special tests to safely take dicyclomine.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Dicyclomine can pass into breast milk and can cause breathing problems or death in infants younger than 6 months of age. Do not take dicyclomine if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take dicyclomine (Bentyl)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Store dicyclomine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

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