Donnatal vs. Lomotil

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

Donnatal (belladonna alkaloids, phenobarbital) and Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine) are used to treat symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Donnatal is also 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.

Lomotil is used to treat diarrhea.

Donnatal and Lomotil both contain an anticholinergic. Donnatal also contains a barbiturate sedative and Lomotil also contains an antidiarrheal medication.

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

Side effects of Donnatal that are different from Lomotil include weakness, dry eyes, constipation, abdominal bloating, increased sensitivity to light, decreased taste sensation, decreased sweating or urination,

sleep problems (insomnia), excitability, impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.

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

Both Donnatal and Lomotil may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures, depression, or anxiety), MAO inhibitors, irritable bowel medications, bladder or urinary medications, and bronchodilators.

Donnatal may also interact with potassium supplements, blood thinners, ketoconazole, atropine, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, and hormonal birth control products.

Lomotil may also interact with barbiturates, medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, and medicines to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, or motion sickness.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

For the relief of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the recommended dose of Donnatal is 20 mg given orally once per day. If desired, the daily dose may be divided.

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.