Home Infant Reflux and GERD Info

Sponsored Ads

Antispasmodics PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 09 April 2008 12:33

A Bit About Antispasmodics


Antispasmodics relax the muscles in the wall of the intestines preventing spasms from occurring. These medications block nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the intestinal wall, reducing intestinal spasms. They are prescribed assuming that colic is due to abdominal cramps or spasms due to an overactive gastro-colic reflex, which has yet to be proven.

Though studies have shown that antispasmodics do reduce the amount a colicky baby spends crying each day and an increase in sleeping. But this has yet to bed proven if it is due to the relief of gastric discomfort or due to the sedative effects of these medications.

The 2 most commonly prescribed antispasmodic medications used in the treatment of infant colic or stomach spasms are...


Hyoscyamine:

  • Levsin- Hyoscyamine sulfate
  • Donnatal-Phenobarbital, Hyoscyamine Sulfate, Atropine Sulfate, Scopolamine Hydrobromide:  A mix of three anti-spasmodics and a barbiturate.  Phenobarbital is a barbiturate, it depresses the activity of your brain and nervous system and causes relaxation.
  • Donnalix- Hyoscyamine Sulfate, Atropine Sulfate, Hyoscine Hydrobromide: A mix of 3 anti-spasmodics.

The antispasmodics are a group of medicines that include the natural belladonna alkaloids (atropine, belladonna, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine) and related products.

Common side effects of hyoscyamine include decreased sweating (making the user more at risk of heatstroke), constipation, dizziness, drowsiness and dryness of the mouth.

If hyoscyamine is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either drug could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining hyoscyamine with antacids, antihistamines such as Benadryl, other antispasmodics such as Bentyl, other motility meds including Reglan, and Potassium supplements such as Slow-K

Be careful using hyoscyamine if you have an overactive thyroid gland, heart disease, congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeats or any heart problems, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. Always inform your doctor of such facts.

Dicyclomine


  • Bentyl- Dicyclomine
  • Merbentyl – used to be Dicyclomine, now called Dicycloverine

Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic. It prevents spasms in the muscles of the gut and bladder by relaxing them, and reduces the amount of stomach acid produced. If Dicyclomine is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either drug could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Dicyclomine with vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. As well as antacids, antihistamines; ipratropium (Atrovent); medications for anxiety, asthma, glaucoma, irregular heartbeat, mental illness, motion sickness, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; metoclopramide (Reglan).

If this medicine is taken with domperidone or metoclopramide (reglan) the actions of the medicines may cancel each other out, as metoclopramide and domperidone increase the motility of the gut whereas dicyclomine reduces it.

Also speak to your doctor if there is a history of ulcerative colitis, difficulty urinating, esophageal reflux (heartburn), a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), nerve disease (autonomic neuropathy), heart failure, rapid or pounding heartbeat, hiatal hernia, or liver, kidney, or heart disease.

Side effects include: heartburn, dilated pupils, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, constipation, blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, decreased sweating, drowsiness OR difficulty sleeping, headache, breathing difficulties, weakness, lack of co-ordination, loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, skin reactions, nervousness and allergic reactions.

Hyoscyamine has less side effects than Dicyclomine

Up to 5% of infants treated with Dicyclominedeveloping serious side effects, including breathing difficulties, apnea, seizures, syncope, asphyxia, coma and muscular hypotonia.

In addition, several cases of death have been reported in infants taking Dicyclomine. As a result Dicyclomine is NO longer approved for use in the United States in babies younger than 6 months of age.

Generally antispasmodic drugs are only available on a doctor's prescription given the severity of potential side effects and are rarely prescribed by pediatricians for infant colic.

 

Next >
Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 April 2009 09:21 )
 

Featured Product

"This moving story provides the naked truth about one of the most challenging parts of being a parent. The misery and exhaustion parents and children feel are painstakingly documented and brought to our attention."

More Info »

Trusted Information

Why can you trust the information you find on InfantRefluxDisease.com? Our articles have been reviewed by a board certified pediatrician to insure accuracy. We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the HON Foundation. Click to

We proudly subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On The Net Foundation.

Our Sponsors | References | Privacy Policy | Advertise Your Product | About Our Ads | Free Baby Websites

Site Last Modified: April 2009
*Disclaimer:The information available on this website should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of your child's reflux. Please consult with your child's doctor or pharmacist before trying any medication (prescription or OTC) or following any treatment plan mentioned. This information is provided only to help you be as informed as possible about your child's condition.