How does it work?

Dicyclomine hydrochloride works at specific areas on a cell called receptors. The receptors dicyclomine interacts with are called muscarinic receptors. Dicyclomine works by preventing chemicals produced by the body, from interacting with the receptors located on the smooth muscle of the gut. This causes the gut muscle to relax, removing the pain of colic produced by gut muscle contraction and spasm.

What is it used for?

Abdominal pain which comes and goes (colic)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Use with caution in

Breastfeeding

Diarrhoea

Down's syndrome

Fever (pyrexia)

Heart attack

Heartburn

High blood pressure

Hyperthyroidism

Inflammation of the bowel and back passage

People over the age of 75 years

Pregnancy

Not to be used in

Abnormal muscle weakness

Enlarged prostate

Failure of function of part of the gut causing an obstruction (paralytic ileus)

Glaucoma

Infants under 6 months of age

Narrowing of the outlet of the stomach making it difficult for food to pass into the intestines (pyloric stenosis)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Dry mouth

Confusion

Slow heart rate (bradycardia)

Headache

Constipation

Blurred vision

Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

The effects of dicyclomine are increased if the patient is also taking: nefopam and disopyramide. Dicyclomine hydrochloride decreases the effects of the following drugs: sublingual nitrates, ketoconazole, metoclopramide, domperidone, certain anti-psychotics, cisapride,levodopa and parasympathomimetics. The following drugs increase the side-effects of dicyclomine hydrochloride: other dicyclomine-like drugs, certain anti-depressants, antihistamines, certain anti-psychotics and amantadine.

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