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Dicycloverine Hydrochloride: Brands, Price & Uses in Bangladesh

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride (also known by the synonym dicyclomine) is a synthetic anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) antispasmodic agent used to relieve smooth-muscle spasm of the gastrointestinal…

Forms:SyrupTablet

About Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

Indications of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride (also known by the synonym dicyclomine) is a synthetic anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) antispasmodic agent used to relieve smooth-muscle spasm of the gastrointestinal tract.

Established / FDA-approved use

  • Functional bowel syndrome / Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is FDA-approved as adjunctive therapy for the symptomatic treatment of functional bowel/irritable bowel syndrome in adults, to help relieve abdominal cramping and spasm.

Guideline-supported / adjunct uses

  • Generalized gastrointestinal (GI) spasm and colicky abdominal pain, including spasm associated with diverticulitis, as an adjunct to other measures (diet, fiber, stress management).

Off-label / regionally-labeled use (use with caution)

  • In some markets, including Bangladesh, Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is labeled for use in infantile colic in infants over 6 months of age and for urinary incontinence secondary to unstable detrusor (bladder) muscle. These uses are not FDA-approved indications, and Dicycloverine Hydrochloride carries a well-documented contraindication in infants under 6 months (see Contraindications). Use in infants and young children should only be under direct physician supervision.

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is not a first-line or curative treatment for IBS; it manages symptoms and is typically used alongside dietary and lifestyle measures.

Dosage & Administration of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

Adults — Irritable bowel syndrome / GI spasm (oral)

RegimenDose
Starting dose10–20 mg, 3–4 times daily
Titration (if tolerated, after about 1 week)May be increased up to 40 mg, 4 times daily
Maximum80 mg/day; safety of doses above this for more than 2 weeks has not been established

If symptoms are not controlled, or if side effects require doses below 80 mg/day, Dicycloverine Hydrochloride should be discontinued after about 2 weeks.

Adults — Intramuscular injection

Up to 80 mg/day in divided doses, by deep intramuscular injection only. Dicycloverine Hydrochloride injection must never be given intravenously, as this can cause thrombosis or thrombophlebitis at the injection site. Injection is generally used only briefly, with a switch to oral therapy as soon as feasible.

Children (regionally labeled use only, over 6 months of age)

Where locally labeled for infants/children over 6 months (e.g., for infantile colic), a low oral dose such as 5–10 mg 3 times daily has been used under direct physician supervision. Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is contraindicated under 6 months of age (see Contraindications) and safety/efficacy in the general pediatric population have not been established by regulatory authorities such as the FDA.

Missed dose

If a dose is missed, resume the normal dosing schedule at the next scheduled time; do not double the dose.

Renal/hepatic impairment

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is substantially excreted by the kidney; use with caution and at the lower end of the dosing range in renal impairment, as toxic effects may be more likely. Use with caution in hepatic impairment as well, since this has not been formally studied.

Side Effects of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

Side effects of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride are mainly anticholinergic in nature and are dose-related.

Common (may affect more than 1 in 20 people)

  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness and drowsiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
  • Weakness (asthenia) and nervousness

Less common

  • Constipation, bloating
  • Urinary hesitancy or retention
  • Palpitations, fast heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Decreased sweating, insomnia
  • Dilated pupils (mydriasis), increased eye pressure

Rare but serious

  • Heat prostration (from decreased sweating in hot weather)
  • Psychosis, delirium, or hallucinations (more common in elderly or sensitive individuals)
  • Severe allergic/hypersensitivity reactions
  • In infants (contraindicated use): serious breathing problems, seizures, and death — see Contraindications.

Report any severe or persistent side effect to a physician promptly.

Contraindications of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is contraindicated in patients with:

  • Known hypersensitivity to dicyclomine, Dicycloverine Hydrochloride, or any component of the formulation.
  • Infants under 6 months of age — this is a critical, well-documented contraindication. Administration to young infants has been associated with serious respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, breathlessness, respiratory collapse, apnea, and asphyxia), seizures, syncope, fluctuating pulse rate, muscular hypotonia, coma, and death.
  • Nursing (breastfeeding) mothers — Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is excreted in breast milk and can cause the serious infant reactions described above.
  • Myasthenia gravis — anticholinergic effect can worsen muscle weakness.
  • Glaucoma, particularly angle-closure (narrow-angle) glaucoma — risk of acutely raised intraocular pressure.
  • Obstructive uropathy (e.g., bladder outlet obstruction) and obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., pyloroduodenal obstruction, paralytic ileus) — anticholinergic effect can worsen obstruction.
  • Severe ulcerative colitis, especially where toxic megacolon is a risk, and reflux esophagitis.
  • Unstable cardiovascular status in acute hemorrhage.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dicycloverine Hydrochloride

What is Dicycloverine Hydrochloride used for?

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is an antispasmodic (anticholinergic) medicine mainly used to relieve the cramping, spasm, and abdominal pain of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal spasm. It works by relaxing the smooth muscle of the gut.

Can Dicycloverine Hydrochloride be given to babies or infants?

No — Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is contraindicated in infants under 6 months of age because it has been linked to serious breathing problems (including apnea), seizures, and death in this age group. In some countries it is labeled for infants over 6 months for infantile colic, but only under a physician's direct supervision. Never give Dicycloverine Hydrochloride to an infant without a doctor's explicit instruction.

Is Dicycloverine Hydrochloride safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed, after a doctor weighs the potential benefit against the potential risk to the baby, since well-controlled human studies are limited. Dicycloverine Hydrochloride is contraindicated in breastfeeding mothers because it passes into breast milk and can cause serious reactions, including breathing difficulty, in the nursing infant.

What are the common side effects of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride?

The most common side effects of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride are dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, weakness, and nervousness. These occur because the drug blocks a nerve signal (acetylcholine) throughout the body, not just in the gut.

Who should not take Dicycloverine Hydrochloride?

Dicycloverine Hydrochloride should not be used by people with known hypersensitivity to it, infants under 6 months, nursing mothers, patients with myasthenia gravis, glaucoma (especially angle-closure glaucoma), significant urinary or gastrointestinal tract obstruction, severe ulcerative colitis, reflux esophagitis, or unstable cardiovascular status during acute bleeding.

What should I do if I take too much Dicycloverine Hydrochloride?

An overdose of Dicycloverine Hydrochloride can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, flushed hot dry skin, rapid heartbeat, restlessness progressing to severe central nervous system depression, and in severe cases seizures or breathing paralysis. This is a medical emergency — seek immediate medical attention or contact emergency services / poison control right away rather than trying to manage it at home.

Disclaimer

The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but it does not replace professional medical advice. We cannot guarantee its completeness or accuracy, and the absence of specific information about a drug should not be taken as an endorsement. We are not responsible for any consequences arising from this information, so please consult a healthcare professional for any concerns or questions.

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