Adult Dosing
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- 20 mg IM q6 hrs x 1-2 days
- Max: 2 days
Notes:- Aspirate the syringe before injecting to avoid intravascular injection, since thrombosis may occur if the drug is inadvertently injected intravascularly
- Start oral dicyclomine hydrochloride as soon as possible
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
[Outline]
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Heat prostration can occur with dicyclomine use in the presence of a high environmental temperature. If symptoms occur, discontinue therapy and institute appropriate supportive measures
- Avoid using dicyclomine in patients with ileostomy or colostomy because diarrhea may be an early symptom of incomplete intestinal obstruction
- Therapy may produce drowsiness or blurred vision. Instruct patients not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery or performing hazardous work while taking this drug
- Use of large doses in patients with ulcerative colitis may suppress intestinal motility to the point of producing a paralytic ileus, and may also precipitate or aggravate the serious complication of toxic megacolon
- Psychosis and other CNS signs and symptoms including confusion, disorientation, short-term memory loss, hallucinations, dysarthria, ataxia, coma, euphoria, decreased anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, agitation and mannerisms, and inappropriate affect have been reported in sensitive individuals during therapy. These symptoms usually resolve within 12-24 hrs after discontinuation of the drug
- Death and serious respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, shortness of breath, breathlessness, respiratory collapse, apnea, and asphyxia have been reported after administration of dicyclomine syrup to infants
- Seizures, syncope, pulse rate fluctuations, muscular hypotonia, and coma have occurred after administration of dicyclomine syrup to infants
- Physician should investigate any tachycardia before initiating therapy, since it may increase the heart rate. Curare-like action may occur in case of overdosage
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Hepatic disease
- Renal disease
- Autonomic neuropathy
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypertension
- Coronary heart disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiac tachyarrhythmia
- Hiatal hernia
- Known or suspected prostatic hypertrophy
- History of psychosis
- Elderly patients
Supplemental Patient Information
- Advise patients to avoid exposure to high environmental temperature as heat prostration can occur with drug use
- Instruct patients not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery or to perform hazardous work during therapy
Pregnancy Category:B
Breastfeeding: No studies have been conducted on use of dicyclomine during breastfeeding. However, one case of apnea has been reported in a breastfed infant that is similar to reactions that have occurred in infants given the drug directly. Dicyclomine should not be used during lactation. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT Last accessed 11 April 2011). As per manufacturer's data, dicyclomine is contraindicated in nursing mothers because it has been reported to be excreted in human milk.
