General Information on Bentyl
Bentyl is a drug that is used to treat irritable bowel condition. It is also used to relieve spasms in the stomach and intestine. The generic name of the drug is dicyclomine. Bentyl belongs to drug class known as antispasmodics or antimuscarinic agents.
Generally, muscle spasms occur due to the action of certain chemicals. Bentyl blocks those chemicals to bring relief. Bentyl is available in both liquid as well as tablet forms. Take the drug as per the instructions of your doctor. Bentyl is available in three forms namely Bentyl 20 mg, Bentyl 40 mg and Bentyl 80 mg.
Other than dicyclomine, the drug also contains lactose, titanium dioxide, gelatin, corn starch and calcium sulfate.
Side effects of Bentyl
Before taking the drug, make sure you are not allergic to its ingredients. The signs of an allergic reactions of Bentyl are given below:
- Hives
- Trouble in breathing
- Swelling of mouth and tongue
- Increased muscle pain
If you experience any of the above conditions, stop taking the drug immediately and consult a medical personal as soon as you can.
The drug has to be administered very carefully. So, if you have any of the following problems, tell your doctor before you buy Bentyl:
- Problems related with Urination or the Urinary tract have to be discussed.
- Block in the digestive tract, you probably should not consume Dicyclomine
- Glaucoma, Myasthenia Gravis and other heart related problems should also be explained to the doctor
Bentyl can cause various side effects in a human being. Some of them might be common but others might be severe. Some common side effects of this drug include vision problems, mild damage to the nerves in the tongue, nausea, drowsiness, dry tongue and constipation.
If you face serious side effects such as hallucination, disorientation, fainting, memory loss, diarrhea, change in heart beat pattern or weakness, then you should see your doctor immediately.
No study has conclusively found any relationship between Bentyl and pregnancy. So, the drug could be taken by pregnant women after consulting with their doctor. If used while breastfeeding, Bentyl could induce apnea in your child. Therefore, you must talk to your doctor before taking Bentyl.
Dosage of Bentyl
Bentyl is available as a tablet as well as syrup. It could also be administered as an injection. Generally, after you buy Bentyl, a dose of Bentyl 20 mg tablets will be given four times a day before each meal. If needed, the dose could be increased to 40 mg. On serious conditions Bentyl 80mg tablets are also used.
The drug should not be given to children below age 6.
Interactions
There are many drugs that interact with Bentyl. The most common ones are steroids and narcotics. Other than that, sedatives like Valium can also interact with the drug.
If you are using pills for diet or caffeine control, make sure you inform your doctor about that before consuming Bentyl.
