What is Drotaverine?
Drotaverine (also known as drotaverine) is an antispasmodic drug similar to papaverine in structure. Drotaverine is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that has no anticholinergic properties. In animal models, drotaverine has been shown to have dose-dependent analgesic effects. According to one small study, drotaverine is largely removed non-renally. It's an effective medicine which is used to treat spasm or twitches of the smooth muscles in the stomach and heart. The medication is also used to relieve the pain caused due to irritable bowel syndrome, headache, menstrual periods and is also used to relieve cervical spasm during labor.
Drotaverine Uses
Drotaverine is an important treatment for twitches or spasms of the smooth muscles of the stomach and heart. It relieves pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, menstrual periods, and cervical spasm throughout childbirth. It also deals with stomach pain, chest pain, gallstones, kidney pain, renal colic pain, and a few other ailments. Atropine, Diclofenac, Levodopa, and Diazepam are some of the medications that may interact with Drotaverine. Before beginning the course of this drug, inform your doctor if you are taking any other drugs.
Drotaverine Side Effects
Some of the common and serious side effects of Drotaverine are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Change in pulse rate
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin allergic
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids and tongue
- Fall in Blood pressure
- Vertigo
- Constipation
- Sleep disorders
- Dermatitis
Precautions
Before using Drotaverine talk with your doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medications. The product may contain some inactive ingredients which can cause some serious allergic reactions or some other problems. Before taking Drotaverine talk with your doctor if you have any serious medical conditions such as: Heart disease, Liver disease and kidney disease. The medications should be used with caution in patients suffering from genetic disorder of the skin and blood. People who are having any allergic reactions or are pregnant and breastfeeding should avoid using this medicine.
How to take Drotaverine?
Drotaverine is available as an oral medication that can be taken with or without food. Adults can take 40-80 mg three times a day, although this will vary depending on the medical condition. Children between the ages of one and six can take 20 mg three to four times daily as an antispasmodic if administered orally. The dosage is normally increased to 40 mg in children over the age of six. This treatment helps to restore the balance of cyclic AMP and calcium ions at the spasm site in smooth muscles by inhibiting the phosphodiesterase-IV enzymes.
Missed Dose
Your body will not be harmed if you skip one or two doses of Drotaverine. There is no problem with the missed dose. However, if you do not take your medicine on time, it will not work. A sudden chemical change in your body can occur if you miss a dose. If you miss a dose, your doctor can recommend that you take it as soon as possible.
Overdose
In case of an overdose the patient should consult a doctor immediately. Restlessness, confusion, and dizziness are typical overdose symptoms. Severity of the symptoms can lead to measuring gastric lavage.
Warnings for some Serious Health Conditions
Liver disease
The medication is used with caution in patients who are having liver function impairment. Appropriate dose adjustments and safety monitoring are advised if the impairment is very severe.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women do not take this drug unless absolutely necessary and the benefits outweigh the risks. Before taking this drug, speak to your doctor.
Breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, this drug is not recommended because the chances of adverse effects on the baby are very high. Consult your doctor about the possible dangers of using this drug.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. The exposure of medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach. Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Drotaverine vs Dicyclomine
Drotaverine |
Dicyclomine |
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Drotaverine (INN, also known as drotaverine) is an antispasmodic drug similar to papaverine in structure. Drotaverine is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that has no anticholinergic properties. | Dicyclomine oral tablet is a prescription medicine. It's available as a brand-name Bentyl drug. |
Drotaverine is an important treatment for twitches or spasms of the smooth muscles of the stomach and heart. | Dicyclomine is used to treat symptoms such as stomach spasms caused by intestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome. |
Some of the common and serious side effects of Drotaverine are:
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Some of the common and serious side effects of Dicyclomine are:
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