Diphenoxylate

What is the most important information I should know about atropine and diphenoxylate?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Atropine and diphenoxylate may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking atropine and diphenoxylate.

  What is atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• Atropine produces many effects in the body, including relief from spasms of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines), the bladder, and the biliary tract.
• Diphenoxylate is an antidiarrheal medication.
• The combination, atropine and diphenoxylate, is used to treat diarrhea.
• Atropine and diphenoxylate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

  What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • a blockage of your urinary tract (difficulty urinating);
  • a blockage in your intestines or ulcerative colitis;
  • glaucoma;
  • myasthenia gravis;
  • Down's syndrome;
  • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
  • thyroid problems;
  • high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or any type of heart disease;
  • hiatal hernia or reflux disease;
  • enlargement of the prostate; or
  • asthma, chronic lung disease, or allergies.
• You may not be able to take atropine and diphenoxylate, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Atropine and diphenoxylate is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether atropine and diphenoxylate will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is not known whether atropine and diphenoxylate passes into breast milk. Do not take atropine and diphenoxylate without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• The FDA has not approved atropine and diphenoxylate for use by children younger than 2 years of age. Do not use this medication to treat a child of any age without first consulting a doctor. Children may be much more sensitive to the effects of this medication, which could be dangerous.

  How should I take atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• Take atropine and diphenoxylate exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are not being controlled.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of atropine and diphenoxylate with a plastic dropper or with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.
• Store atropine and diphenoxylate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

  What happens if I miss a dose?
  

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

  What happens if I overdose?
  

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of an atropine and diphenoxylate overdose include headache; nausea; vomiting; dry mouth; restlessness; flushing; difficulty swallowing; blurred vision; dilated pupils; hot, dry skin; dizziness; drowsiness; confusion; anxiety; seizures; weak pulse; difficulty breathing; and an irregular heartbeat.

  What should I avoid while taking atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Atropine and diphenoxylate may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking atropine and diphenoxylate.
• Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather. Atropine and diphenoxylate increases the risk of heat stroke because it decreases sweating.

  What are the possible side effects of atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking atropine and diphenoxylate and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • an irregular or fast heart rate;
  • fever; or
  • continuing diarrhea, abdominal pain, or abdominal distention.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take atropine and diphenoxylate and talk to your doctor if you experience
  • headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness;
  • drowsiness;
  • weakness or nervousness;
  • blurred vision, dry eyes, large pupils, or sensitivity of the eyes to bright light;
  • nausea, bloating, heartburn, or constipation;
  • changes in taste;
  • difficulty urinating;
  • rash or flushing;
  • decreased sweating; or
  • nasal congestion, stuffiness, or a dry mouth.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

  What other drugs will affect atropine and diphenoxylate?
  

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days. You may not be able to take atropine and diphenoxylate, or you may require special monitoring during your treatment.
• Atropine and diphenoxylate may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atropine and diphenoxylate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

  Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. This information is meant only as a guideline - always consult a physician or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications.

  On behalf of learning, and use as teaching tools for those of us who need to know about our disease, I have tried to supply you with as much information as I could find on all of the drugs, treatments and disorders associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. I have tried to blend all facts supported by research and also from personal experiences of other IBD sufferers into one readable webpage, and any and all information presented here is not entirely from one source. Most information contained within these pages is found in the public domain. At times you may find information used from another site, and as with all copyrighted materials you may find on these pages, I claim fair use under sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act (title 17, U.S. Code). Click here for more info

• Achieve health, fitness, relaxation, and balance with
  Wai Lana Yoga