Levsin vs. Lomotil

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

Levsin (hyoscyamine) and Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine) are both types of anticholinergics used to treat different conditions.

Levsin is 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.

Lomotil also contains an antidiarrheal medication and is also used to treat diarrhea.

Side effects of Levsin and Lomotil that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, headache, nausea, or vomiting.

Side effects of Levsin that are different from Lomotil include nervousness, vision problems, trouble sleeping (insomnia), constipation, bloating, heartburn, changes in taste, problems with urination, impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, flushing, dry skin, and decreased sweating.

Side effects of Lomotil that are different from Levsin include tiredness, restlessness, upset stomach, loss of appetite, skin rash, or itching.

Both Levsin and Lomotil may interact with alcohol, MAO inhibitors, or antidepressants.

Levsin may also interact with amantadine, haloperidol, or phenothiazines.

Lomotil may also interact with other drugs that make you drowsy (narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, cold or allergy medicines, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), barbiturate, medicines to treat Parkinson's disease; medicines to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome; bladder or urinary medicines; or bronchodilators.

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.

Common side effects of Lomotil include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• tiredness,
• restlessness,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• loss of appetite,
• skin rash, or
• itching.

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

• stomach or abdominal pain or swelling,
• severe nausea or vomiting,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression), or
• numbness and tingling of arms or legs.

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. Levsin is available in generic form.

Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine) is a combination antidiarrheal medication, and an anticholinergic used to treat diarrhea.

Levsin may interact with amantadine, haloperidol, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Levsin should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Lomotil may interact with barbiturates or MAO inhibitors. Lomotil may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

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.

The recommended initial adult dosage is two Lomotil tablets four times daily or 10 ml (two regular tsp) of Lomotil liquid four times daily (20 mg per day). The pediatric dose is determined by the child's weight.