This product contains several medications: belladonna
alkaloids (made up of the drugs hyoscyamine, atropine, and scopolamine) and
phenobarbital. Belladonna alkaloids help to reduce the symptoms of stomach
and intestinal cramping. They work by slowing the natural movements of the
gut and by relaxing the muscles in the stomach and intestines. Belladonna
alkaloids belong to a class of drugs known as
anticholinergics/antispasmodics. Phenobarbital helps to reduce anxiety. It
acts on the brain to produce a calming effect. Phenobarbital belongs to a
class of drugs known as barbiturate sedatives.
This section contains uses of this drug that are not
listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be
prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition
that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your
health care professional.
This drug may also be used to relieve the symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your
doctor. If you are taking the immediate-release tablets or liquid form of
this medication, take it as directed by your doctor, usually 3 to 4 times a
day.
If you are using the liquid, carefully measure the dose
using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon
because you may not get the correct dose.
If you are taking the extended-release tablets, take
them as directed by your doctor, usually every 12 hours. Do not crush or
chew extended-release tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at
once, increasing the risk of side effects. Swallow the whole tablet without
crushing or chewing.
Antacids lower the absorption of this medication. If you
are taking an antacid, take it at least 2 hours apart from this
medication.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and
response to treatment. Children's dosage is also based on
weight.
Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often
without your doctor's approval. Your condition will not improve any faster
and the risk of serious side effects may increase.
If you suddenly stop using this medication, you may have
withdrawal symptoms (such as anxiety, muscle twitching, shakiness,
dizziness, worsening weakness, nausea, vomiting). Withdrawal from the
phenobarbital can be severe and include seizures and (rarely) death. To
help prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Withdrawal
is more likely if you have used this medication for a long time or in high
doses. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have
withdrawal.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not
work as well. Your doctor may need to increase your dose or change your
medication. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working
well.
Though it helps many people, this medication may
sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance
use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this
medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your
doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets
worse.
Dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, blurred vision, dry
eyes, dry mouth, nausea, constipation, and abdominal bloating may occur. If
any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
To relieve dry mouth, suck (sugarless) hard candy or ice
chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute. To
relieve dry eyes, consult your pharmacist for artificial tears or other eye
lubricants.
To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough
water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative. Ask your
pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- decreased sweating
- dry/hot/flushed skin
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- loss of coordination
- trouble speaking
- fainting
- mental/mood changes (such as confusion, agitation, unusual
excitement, depression, rare thoughts of suicide)
- difficulty urinating
- decreased sexual ability
- signs of anemia (such as unusual tiredness, pale skin)
- easy bruising/bleeding
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- eye pain/swelling/redness
- vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around lights at
night)
- slow/shallow breathing
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to hyoscyamine, atropine, or scopolamine; or
to anti-seizure medications (such as carbamazepine, fosphenytoin,
oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone); or if you have any other allergies.
This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic
reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more
details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- personal or family history of glaucoma (angle-closure
type)
- problems with urination (due to enlarged prostate, a blocked
urinary tract)
- other stomach/intestinal problems (such as slow gut,
blockage, ulcerative colitis, infection, little/no stomach acid,
ileostomy/colostomy patients with diarrhea)
- overactive thyroid
- heart problems (such as coronary artery disease, angina,
heart failure, fast/irregular heartbeat, heart problems due to severe
bleeding)
- high blood pressure
- heartburn problems (such as acid reflux, hiatal hernia,
esophagus problems)
- certain nervous system problem (autonomic neuropathy)
- myasthenia gravis
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- a certain blood disorder (porphyria)
- restlessness or excitement during past use of
phenobarbital
- breathing/lung problems
- personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such
as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol)
- mental/mood conditions (such as depression, thoughts of
suicide, psychosis)
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or blur your
vision. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy.
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear
vision until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your
doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).
The liquid form of this product may contain alcohol or
sugar. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, liver
disease, or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these
substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this
product safely.
This medication may make you sweat less, making you more
likely to get heat stroke. Avoid doing things that may cause you to
overheat, such as hard work or exercise in hot weather, or using hot tubs.
When the weather is hot, drink a lot of fluids and dress lightly. If you
overheat, quickly look for a place to cool down and rest. Get medical help
right away if you have a fever that does not go away, mental/mood changes,
headache, or dizziness.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially drowsiness, confusion, unusual excitement,
constipation, and urination problems. Drowsiness and confusion can increase
the risk of falling.
Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of
this drug. This drug can often cause excitement instead of drowsiness in
young children.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using belladonna
alkaloids/phenobarbital. This medication may harm an unborn baby. Ask about
reliable forms of non-hormonal birth control (such as condoms, diaphragm
with spermicide) while using this medication. If you become pregnant, talk
to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this
medication.
This medication passes into breast milk and may have
undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before
breastfeeding.
See also the How to Use section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- darunavir
- potassium tablets/capsules
- sodium oxybate
- drugs that are affected by slowed gut movement (such as
pramlintide)
This medication may affect the absorption of other
products such as griseofulvin, certain azole anti-fungal drugs
(ketoconazole, itraconazole), slowly dissolving forms of digoxin, among
others.
Other medications can affect the removal of
phenobarbital from your body, which may affect how this product works.
Examples include St. John's wort, among others.
Phenobarbital can speed up the removal of other
medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of
affected drugs include artemether/lumefantrine, asunaprevir, atazanavir,
cobicistat, etravirine, lurasidone, ranolazine, rilpivirine, sofosbuvir,
sorafenib, voriconazole, certain calcium channel blockers (such as
felodipine/nimodipine), among others.
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of
hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause
pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you should use
reliable backup birth control methods while using this medication. Also
tell your doctor if you have any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
because these may be signs that your birth control is not working
well.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow
breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication
is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing
problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products
such as opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone),
alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), other drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as
alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol,
cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine,
diphenhydramine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy
or cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients
that cause drowsiness or a fast heartbeat. Ask your pharmacist about using
those products safely.
Phenobarbital is very similar to primidone. Do not use
medications containing primidone while using phenobarbital.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as gastric secretion tests), possibly causing false test results.
Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669. Symptoms of overdose may include: large
pupils, hot/dry skin, fever, severe dizziness, severe drowsiness, severe
thirst, mental/mood changes (such as confusion, unusual excitement),
fast/irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, inability to move (paralysis),
slowed breathing, fainting, inability to wake up, seizures.
Do not share this medication with others.
Management of digestive disorders may include lifestyle
changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, stopping smoking, and
dietary changes, in addition to medication. Talk to your doctor or
pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.
If this medication is used for a long time, lab and/or
medical tests (such as blood counts, liver function) may be done while you
are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult
your doctor for more details.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Avoid freezing the liquid. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all
medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.