• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info

What is this medicine?
DICYCLOMINE (dye SYE kloe meen) is used to treat bowel problems including irritable bowel syndrome.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

Back to Top

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• agitation, nervousness, confusion
• difficulty swallowing
• dizziness, drowsiness
• fast or slow heartbeat
• hallucinations
• pain or difficulty passing urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• sexual difficulty

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Back to Top

How should I use this medicine?
Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to 1 hour before meals. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 6 months of age for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

Back to Top

What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Back to Top

What may interact with this medicine?

• amantadine
• antacids
• benztropine
• digoxin
• disopyramide
• medicines for allergies, colds and breathing difficulties
• medicines for alzheimer's disease
• medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems
• medicines for depression or psychotic disturbances
• medicines for diarrhea
• medicines for pain
• metoclopramide
• tegaserod

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Obstructive uropathy.
• Obstructive disease of the GI tract.
• Severe ulcerative colitis.
• Reflux esophagitis.
• Unstable cardiovascular status in acute hemorrhage.
• Glaucoma.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Infants <6 months of age. (See Infant Risk under Warnings.)
• Nursing women.
• Known hypersensitivity to dicyclomine or any ingredient in the formulation.

Back to Top

What should I watch for while using this medicine?
You may get drowsy, dizzy, or have blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can make you more drowsy, avoid alcoholic drinks.

Stay out of bright light and wear sunglasses if this medicine makes your eyes more sensitive to light.

Avoid extreme heat (hot tubs, saunas). This medicine can cause you to sweat less than normal. Your body temperature could increase to dangerous levels, which may lead to heat stroke.

Antacids can stop this medicine from working. If you get an upset stomach and want to take an antacid, make sure there is an interval of at least 1 to 2 hours before or after you take this medicine.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Back to Top

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• difficulty passing urine
• esophagus problems or heartburn
• glaucoma
• heart disease, or previous heart attack
• myasthenia gravis
• prostate trouble
• stomach infection, or obstruction
• ulcerative colitis
• an unusual or allergic reaction to dicyclomine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top