Bentyl vs. Donnatal

• Are Bentyl and Donnatal the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Bentyl?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Donnatal?
• What is Bentyl?
• What is Donnatal?
• What Drugs Interact with Bentyl?
• What Drugs Interact with Donnatal?
• How Should Bentyl Be Taken?
• How Should Donnatal Be Taken?

Bentyl (dicyclomine) and Donnatal (belladonna alkaloids, phenobarbital) are used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Both Bentyl and Donnatal are anticholinergic drugs, and Donnatal also contains a barbiturate sedative.

Donnatal is also used to treat acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis) to reduce pain and diarrhea, and in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Common side effects of Bentyl include:

• dry mouth,
• blurred vision,
• dry eyes,
• confusion,
• agitation,
• increased heart rate,
• constipation,
• difficulty urinating,
• headache,
• nervousness,
• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• flushing,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• rash,
• stuffy nose, and
• abdominal bloating

Common side effects of Donnatal include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• blurred vision,
• dry eyes,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• abdominal bloating,
• increased sensitivity to light,
• decreased taste sensation,
• decreased sweating or urination,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• restlessness,
• excitability,
• impotence,
• loss of interest in sex, or
• trouble having an orgasm.

Bentyl (dicyclomine) is an anticholinergics prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Donnatal (belladonna alkaloids, phenobarbital) is a combination of an anticholinergic/antispasmodic drug and a barbiturate sedative used to treat abdominal pain, bloating and cramps in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Donnatal is also used to treat acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis) to reduce pain and diarrhea, and in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Bentyl may interact with amantadine, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, or antidepressants.

Bentyl may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, or anxiety), digoxin, metoclopramide, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, heart rhythm medications, irritable bowel medications, nitrates, steroids, or ulcer medications.

Products that may interact with Donnatal include blood thinners, ketoconazole, MAO inhibitors, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications or irritable bowel medications. Hormonal birth control products (pills, patch, ring) may not be effective if taken with Donnatal. Discuss all medications you are taking with your doctor. Donnatal is not recommended for use during pregnancy.

The usual doses of Bentyl range from from 20 - 40 mg given 4 times daily.

The dosage of Donnatal is adjusted to individual patients for symptomatic control with minimum adverse reactions. The usual dose is one tablet every 8 or 12 hours as prescribed.