This article describes possible side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for dicyclomine. You can explore this dicyclomine overview article to learn more about this drug, including its uses and side effects.
Dicyclomine oral capsule is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version.
Dicyclomine also comes in other oral forms and an injectable form. The other forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about them, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of dicyclomine
Dicyclomine oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Here are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule include:
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- blurry vision
- nausea
- sleepiness
Mild side effects of dicyclomine
Dicyclomine may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be managed easily. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- nausea
- sleepiness
- weakness
- nervousness
- mild allergic reaction
Dicyclomine oral capsule may cause more mild side effects than those listed. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Note: An allergic reaction is possible with dicyclomine oral capsule. But it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
Serious side effects of dicyclomine
Dicyclomine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from dicyclomine oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, act immediately. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with dicyclomine.
Serious side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
- blurry vision
- central nervous system (CNS) depression
- heatstroke
- psychosis or delirium
- severe allergic reaction
Note: An allergic reaction is possible with dicyclomine oral capsule, but it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects of dicyclomine in detail” section on this page.
Common questions about side effects of dicyclomine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can dicyclomine cause weight loss?
No, it’s not thought to cause weight loss. Weight loss wasn’t reported as a side effect in studies of dicyclomine.
Dicyclomine belongs to a group of drugs called anticholinergics. Drugs in this group often cause weight gain as a side effect, but not weight loss. Neither weight gain nor weight loss were reported in studies of dicyclomine.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about your weight and your medications.
Can dicyclomine cause certain side effects in older adults?
It’s possible. Dicyclomine isn’t known to cause different side effects in older adults than those in younger adults. (Older adults usually refers to people ages 65 years and older.) However, older adults may have a higher risk of psychosis or delirium.
In general, older adults may also have liver or kidney problems. These conditions can increase their risk of side effects from dicyclomine. Doctors may prescribe a lower dosage of dicyclomine for older adults as this can help reduce the risk of side effects from the drug.
If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does dicyclomine cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases dicyclomine oral capsule may cause long-term side effects. With dicyclomine, the risk of these side effects lasts throughout your treatment. But they typically go away if the drug is stopped.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with dicyclomine oral capsule include:
- CNS depression
- heatstroke
- psychosis or delirium
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Your doctor can also tell you how long these side effects of dicyclomine may last.
Side effects of dicyclomine in detail
Details on some of the side effects of dicyclomine oral capsule follow:
CNS depression
In studies, CNS depression was a rare side effect in people taking dicyclomine oral capsule. This side effect can be serious.
Your CNS is made up of your brain and spinal cord. It’s known as your body’s “command center” because it coordinates actions throughout your body. A slowing of CNS functions is called CNS depression.
Symptoms of CNS depression can include:
- drowsiness
- lack of coordination
- slowed or slurred speech
If CNS depression continues to worsen, symptoms can include:
- slowed breathing
- slowed heart rate
- confusion
- fatigue
- coma
Consuming alcohol can increase the risk of CNS depression with dicyclomine oral capsule.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of CNS depression, tell your doctor. They will advise you based on your symptoms. For example:
- For mild symptoms, they may suggest waiting to see whether your symptoms go away on their own. They may recommend a treatment to help relieve the symptoms.
- For serious symptoms, they may tell you to stop taking dicyclomine.
When you first begin taking dicyclomine, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how the drug will affect you. This will lower your risk of an accident if CNS depression does occur.
Heatstroke
In studies, heatstroke was rare in people taking dicyclomine oral capsule. This side effect is serious.
With heatstroke, your core body temperature reaches 104°F (40°C) or higher. Symptoms may include:
- high fever
- muscle cramps
- confusion
- irregular or erratic behavior
Exposure to high environmental temperatures increases the risk of heatstroke with dicyclomine oral capsule.
Ways to manage
Heatstroke is life threatening. If you have symptoms of heatstroke, call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you experience this side effect during dicyclomine treatment, your doctor will likely have you stop taking the drug.
Psychosis or delirium
In studies, psychosis or delirium was rare in people taking dicyclomine oral capsule. This side effect may be serious.
With psychosis, you have an impaired reality. Symptoms may include:
- disorganized or impulsive behavior
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)
- expressing little or no emotion
With delirium, you experience a sudden change in your thinking and alertness. Symptoms may include:
- difficulty concentrating
- confusion or disorientation
- mood changes
People ages 65 years and older generally have a higher risk of psychosis or delirium with dicyclomine oral capsule.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of psychosis or delirium, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with dicyclomine. These symptoms typically go away within a day once treatment with dicyclomine is stopped.
Allergic reaction
For some people, dicyclomine oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to dicyclomine oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
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Warnings for dicyclomine
You may want to discuss the following factors with your doctor before taking dicyclomine oral capsule.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take dicyclomine oral capsule if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether dicyclomine oral capsule is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking dicyclomine oral capsule, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Factors to consider include:
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- enlarged prostate
- a disorder causing muscle weakness, known as myasthenia gravis
- heart problems
- high blood pressure
- high level of thyroid hormone in the body
- ulcerative colitis
- blockage in your stomach or intestines
- urinary tract blockage
- esophagitis due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- past allergic reaction to dicyclomine
Dicyclomine and pregnancy
It’s not known whether dicyclomine oral capsule should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Dicyclomine and breastfeeding
Dicyclomine oral capsule should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed a child during treatment with dicyclomine.
Dicyclomine and alcohol
Dicyclomine oral capsule is known to interact with alcohol.
Consuming alcohol raises your risk of CNS depression as a side effect of dicyclomine. Drinking alcohol can also worsen other side effects of dicyclomine, including nausea, dry mouth, and dizziness.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with dicyclomine oral capsule.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.