Bentyl vs. Levsin

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

Bentyl (dicyclomine) and Levsin (hyoscyamine) are anticholinergics prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Levsin is also used to treat different stomach and intestinal disorders, including peptic ulcer. Levsin is also used to control muscle spasms in the bladder, kidneys, or digestive tract, and to reduce stomach acid. Levsin is sometimes used to reduce tremors and rigid muscles in people with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and is also used as a drying agent to control excessive salivation, runny nose, or excessive sweating.

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 Levsin include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• nervousness,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• vision problems,
• headache,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• constipation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• bloating,
• heartburn,
• changes in taste,
• problems with urination,
• impotence,
• loss of interest in sex,
• trouble having an orgasm,
• flushing,
• dry skin, and
• decreased sweating.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of Levsin including:

• mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, unusual excitement),
• fast/irregular heartbeat,
• loss of coordination, or
• slurred speech.

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

Levsin (hyoscyamine) is one of the principal anticholinergic/antispasmodic components of belladonna alkaloids used to treat different stomach and intestinal disorders, including peptic ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome. Levsin is also used to control muscle spasms in the bladder, kidneys, or digestive tract, and to reduce stomach acid. Levsin is sometimes used to reduce tremors and rigid muscles in people with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and is also used as a drying agent to control excessive salivation, runny nose, or excessive sweating.

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.

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

Levsin may also interact with haloperidol.

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

Dosage of Levsin for adults and children 12 years of age and older: 1 to 2 tablets every four hours or as needed. Do not exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours. Pediatric patients 2 to under 12 years of age: ½ to 1 tablet every four hours or as needed. Do not exceed 6 tablets in 24 hours.