Anticholinergics/Antispasmodics : Before Using

Anticholinergics/Antispasmodics - Systemic

Anticholinergics/Antispasmodics *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For anticholinergics/antispasmodics the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to any of the natural belladonna alkaloids - atropine, belladonna, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, or any related products. Always tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

If you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant, make sure your family doctor knows if your drug contains any of the following:

Atropine Atropine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in pets. However, when injected into humans during pregnancy, atropine has been reported to increase the heartbeat of the fetus.
Belladonna Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets.
Clidinium Clidinium has not been studied in pregnant women. However, clidinium has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Dicyclomine Dicyclomine has been associated with a few cases of human birth defects but dicyclomine has not been confirmed as the cause.
Glycopyrrolate Glycopyrrolate has not been studied in pregnant women. However, glycopyrrolate did not cause birth defects in animal studies, but did decrease the risk of becoming pregnant and the newborn's risk of surviving after weaning.
Hyoscyamine Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets. However, when injected into humans during pregnancy, hyoscyamine has been reported to increase the heartbeat of the fetus.
Mepenzolate Mepenzolate has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have not shown that mepenzolate causes birth defects or other problems.
Propantheline Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets.
Scopolamine Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets.

Breast-feeding problem

Although these medication may pass into the breast milk, they have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. However, the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some diseaseds. The use of dicyclomine in nursing mothers has been reported to cause breathing problems in infants.

Use for Children

Unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability and unusual warmth, dryness and flushing of skin are more likely to occur in child, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of anticholinergics. Always when anticholinergics are given to children during hot weather, a rapid increase in body temperature may occur. In infants and children, especially those with spastic paralysis or brain damage, this drug may be more likely to cause severe side effects. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing has occurred in child taking dicyclomine.

Elderly care

Confusion or memory loss; constipation; difficult urination; drowsiness; dryness of mouth, nose, throat, or skin; and unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive than adults people to the effects of anticholinergics. Always eye pain may occur, which may be a sign of glaucoma.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking anticholinergics/antispasmodics, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Antacids
Diarrhea drug containing kaolin or attapulgite
Ketoconazole - Nizoral Using these medication with an anticholinergic may lessen the effects of the anticholinergic

Central nervous system - CNS depressants - medication that cause drowsiness Taking scopolamine with CNS depressants may increase the effects of either drug

Other anticholinergics - drug for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " Taking anticholinergics with tricyclic antidepressants or other anticholinergics may cause an increase in the effects of the anticholinergic

Potassium chloride - Kay Ciel Using this drug with an anticholinergic may make gastrointestinal problems causing by potassium worse

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of anticholinergics/antispasmodics. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Bleeding problems - severe These medication may increase heart rate, which would make bleeding problems worse

Brain damage - in child May increase the CNS effects of this drug

Colitis - severe
Dryness of mouth - severe and continuing
Enlarged prostate
Fever
Glaucoma
Heart disease
Hernia - hiatal
High blood pressure - hypertension
Intestinal blockage or other intestinal problems
Lung disease - chronic
Myasthenia gravis
Toxemia of pregnancy
Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination These medication may make these conditions worse

Down's syndrome These medication may cause an increase in pupil dilation and heart rate

Kidney disease
Liver disease Higher blood levels may occur and cause an increase in side effects

Overactive thyroid These medication may further increase heart rate

Spastic paralysis - in child This condition may increase the effects of the anticholinergic