If you have irritable colon syndrome (or SCI) and lifestyle changes do not relieve your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe Bentyl medication.
Bentyle (the brand name of dicyclomine) is used to help manage SCI and operates by relaxing the stomach and intestinal muscles, soothing natural movements in the digestive tract to avoid cramps and other symptoms.
“Bentyle is particularly recommended for patients with SCIs with predominant symptoms of abdominal pain or cramps,” said Sarah Robbins, MD, gastroenterologist and founder of Well Sunday.
Although the bentyle has been approved by the FDA since 1950 and has proven to be very effective and safe in clinical trials, like all drugs, it is possible with the possibility of side effects.
We talked to Dr. Robbins to get an overview of what to expect when taking Bentyle for IBS. Here are nine things to keep in mind before you start:
1. It is available in many forms
If you are not the best to take pills, the bentyle presents itself in several different forms which you can ask your doctor. You can take it in liquid form on an empty stomach, or you can visit the doctor’s office from time to time for an injectable drug version, according to the FDA.
All forms (capsules, tablets, liquid and injectable) are widely available and generally covered by insurance.
2. You may have to take it several times a day
The bentyle is absorbed quickly after having taken it, reaching the cutting -edge values in the body in 60 to 90 minutes, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The bad news, however? Its effects do not last very long, which means that you may need to take it several times a day to feel relief throughout the day.
Some doctors prescribe the bentyle up to four times a day (or at least 30 minutes to an hour before meals) to help people avoid abdominal cramps, diarrhea and bloating, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
3. This increases your risk of heat stroke
Bentyle is an anticholinergic drug, says Dr. Robbins. These types of drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends signals to the brain. Consequently, it slows down or stops involuntary muscle spasms in the body (including the intestines, which are often hyperactive in people with SCI).
Unfortunately, “reduced perspiration is a well documented side effect of drugs in this class,” said Dr. Robbins.
This happens because the neurotransmitter of acetylcholine generally helps to stimulate the sweat glands, by Statpearls. When its action is blocked, you sweat less.
According to the National Library of Medicine, perspiration is important because it is the way your body cools. And whether you like to sweat or not, it helps keep your body temperature even. Basically, if you do not sweat, you are at a higher risk of heat stroke, which can be fatal.
“Reduced perspiration and cooling are important to consider, especially in hot or during exercise, as this could increase the risk of heat stroke,” said Dr. Robbins.
“However, not everyone will know reduced perspiration. Some people may not notice this side effect,” she adds.
Warning
If you feel a fever, confusion, dry skin, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath and quick heart rate, you may have a heat stroke, by Mayo Clinic. Call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room for immediate medical care. In the meantime, stay in the shade, remove excess clothes and put cold water or ice packs on your body to cool.
4. This might make you feel sleepy
Some people may experience drowsiness when taking Bentyle. This is again due to the anticholinergic properties of the drug, which can lead to drowsiness in some people, says Dr. Robbins.
However, only 10% of people who took the bentyl in clinical trials experienced drowsiness, by the National Library of Medicine.
As with all drugs, it’s a good idea to see how the bentyle affects you before taking the wheel of a car and continuing your day.
In addition: “Dicyclomine can harm your time of reflection and reaction, so show caution if you do something that forces you to be alert,” adds Dr. Robbins.
This is why she suggests taking the medication before going to bed if it makes you sleep.
5. Your mouth could dry
The dry mouth is one of the most common side effects of the Bentyle taking. In fact, around a third of the participants in clinical medication trials noticed a dry mouth, according to a review update in January 2019 by the National Library of Medicine.
If you feel a dry mouth on this medication, it is generally harmless and easily corrected. Dr. Robbins suggests drinking a lot of water or chewing gum without sugar to help stimulate saliva production.
If you have trouble staying hydrated, don’t forget that there are also a lot of water and vegetables rich in water to taste, including celery, lettuce, cucumber, watermelon and pineapple. (Just try to avoid foods that will worsen the symptoms of IBS.)
6. Alcohol reduces its effectiveness
Because bentyle affects your nervous system, doctors usually recommend that you avoid drinking alcohol while taking the medication. Alcohol could worsen side effects such as drowsiness and reduce the effectiveness of the drug, warns Dr. Robbins.
In addition to that: “alcohol and bentyle can cause a dry mouth, so consuming them together potentially increases your risk of dehydration,” she adds.
In addition, alcohol can also irritate the gastrointetin tract Alcohol research.
If you feel dizzy or too sleepy to take bentyle, talk to your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dose or prescribe a different drug that does not cause these negative effects.
7. You might have a blurred vision
Flurling vision is a possibility when taking Bentyle for the SCI, which is another reason why you should avoid driving until you are aware of how this medication affects you.
This blurred vision could also be due to dry eyes, another possible side effect of the bentyle. If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor about obtaining prescription or drops for over the counter so that you can continue your daily tasks, like working on a computer, says Dr. Robbins.
8. You may feel nauseous or constipated at first
While the bentyle is prescribed for the push of cramps and subsequent diarrhea that you can live with the SCI, it can sometimes swing too far in the other direction and cause constipation, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
If you initially become constipated on the bentyle, “food changes can help reduce it,” said Dr. Robbins. “Make sure you eat a lot of dietary fiber, whole grains, fruits and vegetables [and drink] Lots of water. “”
If you continue to fight constipation, talk to your doctor, as chronic constipation could lead to a more serious problem such as intestinal obstruction, which would require surgery to remedy.
In addition, bentyle can make you feel nauseous, like many other prescription drugs. If that happens to you, try to take bentyle with food or just before a meal, Dr. Robbins suggests.
9. He can interact with other drugs
As with many drugs, there are specific negative drug interactions that you should monitor. The most common drug interactions with bentyle include the following elements, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
- Antacids
- Allergy and cold medications
- Anxiety or sleep drugs
- Mental health drugs (such as antidepressants or antipsychotics)
- Diarrhea medication
- Analgesic
Make sure to mention all the drugs you are currently taking when you meet your doctor. They can determine whether to take Bentyle is right for you, according to your medical history and the use of current drugs.
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