Get Informed: Bentyl
Active Ingredient(s)
Dicyclomine
What does it do?
This product is primarily used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. It works by relieving smooth muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-11 6:30 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-11 9:06 PM
Other Names
- Bentyl
- Dicyclomine
- Dicyclomine HCl
- Dicyclomine Hydrochloride
- Dicycloverine
- Merbentyl
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 11 May 1950
- Est US Patients*
- 334,800
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Bentyl or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Bentyl
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Bentyl during the past year.
Bentyl Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Bentyl used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 2,200 patients that use Bentyl (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Irritable Bowel | 94% | 
|
| Muscle Spasms | 16% |
|
| Colon Polyps | 3% | 
|
| Other | 41% | 
|
How well does Bentyl work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 2,200 users taking Bentyl (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 71%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Bentyl outweigh the bad things.
- 6%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Bentyl.
Common Side Effects of Bentyl
iGuard regularly polls our more than 2,200 users taking Bentyl (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
38% of patients experience side-effects on Bentyl
3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Bentyl
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Dryness
-
Fatigue
-
Light Sensitivity
-
Abdo Pain/Cramps
-
Vision Changes
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Constipation, Memory/Speech Problems
Global Patient Feedback for Bentyl (Dicyclomine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Bentyl works great but I only take it at night before bed otherwise I'm way too grougy and can't function. I like taking it at bedtime also for the side effect that helps me sleep easily too.
37 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-23 23:33:04
Question/Comment:
i have been on dicyclomine for 4 mos now. I have not noticed any side affect. It has tremendously helped with my stomach cramping that usually happened just as i start to eat.
30 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-09 17:11:29
Question/Comment:
I HAVE BEEN TAKING DICYCLOMINE FOR 20 YEARS IT IS FOR IBS THE ONLY BAD SIDE EFFECT I HAVE IS MAJOR DRY MOUTH IS THERE ANY OTHER MED THAT WOULD PREVENT THE DRY MOUTH PROBLEM
63 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-21 11:07:48
Answer/Reply:
thats the whole problem with taking one medication you have to seem to take another to counter act the side effects of one medication. so i really dont complain about my side effects unless they are so bad that i cant deal with them or i would be on about 6 more medications to add to the 11 im taking already and Im only 42, I take more meds than my parents, thats sad i think. grace
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-23 20:03:27
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Unfortunately, dry mouth is a side effect with drugs in this class. There are artificial saliva products available to help with this problem. Salivart, Entertainer's Secret, and Moi-Stir are some of the names, and they are available without a prescription. However, please first talk to your doctor and dentist to get their evaluation and suggestions for treatment.
Posted: 2009-09-27 11:02:02
Question/Comment:
I have been on Bentyl for about 6 months. It certainly helps the cramping if I take it like I am supposed to. My problem is it makes me very lathargic and I have no energy. I guess my question is, is there another medication I can talk to my doctor about that would substatute the Bentyl? I sure dont like this tired feeling. Thanks.
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-04 08:34:07
Answer/Reply:
I was on Dicyclomine from July of 2008 to July of this year. I came off it myself because I was have trouble going to the bathroom. It was not constipation, I just could never seem to push hard enough to clear my colon! I always felt like I still had to go!
My medical plan will not authorize this for anyone over 64, and now I know why!
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-19 17:15:00
Question/Comment:
I have been taking 30mg of dicyclomine for close to 2 years now. I have SEVERE diarrhea IBS with extreme cramping and stomach spasms. I missed an entire year of highschool because I was so sick all the time and lost 30lbs in 3 months! Seven doctors and a billion tests later, I met me gastrointorologist (sp) and she diagnosed me with IBS and immediately put me on this medication. And though I still have problems several times a week, I was still able to return to school for my last year of high school, and get a job. My life is so much better thanks to this.
19 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-18 20:18:42
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
27
Patient Comments about
Bentyl