Dicyclomine Hydrochloride
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
Dicyclomine hydrochloride is an antispasmodic drug that relieves smooth muscle spasms in the GI tract and was at one point a possible treatment option for infantile colic. Based on a few randomized-controlled trials, dicyclomine was more effective than placebo in eliminating colic or reducing symptoms of colic with reports of only a few minor side effects (eg. constipation). However, a number of case reports identified serious respiratory events, apnoea, seizures and coma in infants that were given dicyclomine. Therefore, dicyclomine should not be recommended for the treatment of infantile colic. It is contraindicated in children less than 6 months and colic is no longer listed as an indication by the manufacturer.
References:
1. Dicyclomine. Lexi-Comp. http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6736.
Accessed 6 July 2013.
2. Weissbluth M, Christoffel KK, Davis AT. Treatment of infantile colic with dicyclomine hydrochloride. J Pediatr 1984; 104:951.
3. Grunseit, F. Evaluation of the efficacy of dicyclomine hydrochloride (‘Merbentyl’) syrup in the treatment of infant colic. Curr Med Res Opin 1977; 5(3): 258-261
4. Williams J, Watkin-Jones R. Dicyclomine: worrying symptoms associated with its use in some small babies. BMJ 1983;288(6421):901.
5. Dattani S. Infant Colic. In: Canadian Pharmacist’s Association. Patient Self Care. 2nd Ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2010: 321-330.
6. Turner TL, Palamountain S. Evaluation and Management of Colic. Mar 2012. In: UpToDate, Basow, DS (Ed). Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html.
Dicyclomine hydrochloride is an antispasmodic drug that relieves smooth muscle spasms in the GI tract and was at one point a possible treatment option for infantile colic. Based on a few randomized-controlled trials, dicyclomine was more effective than placebo in eliminating colic or reducing symptoms of colic with reports of only a few minor side effects (eg. constipation). However, a number of case reports identified serious respiratory events, apnoea, seizures and coma in infants that were given dicyclomine. Therefore, dicyclomine should not be recommended for the treatment of infantile colic. It is contraindicated in children less than 6 months and colic is no longer listed as an indication by the manufacturer.
References:
1. Dicyclomine. Lexi-Comp. http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6736.
Accessed 6 July 2013.
2. Weissbluth M, Christoffel KK, Davis AT. Treatment of infantile colic with dicyclomine hydrochloride. J Pediatr 1984; 104:951.
3. Grunseit, F. Evaluation of the efficacy of dicyclomine hydrochloride (‘Merbentyl’) syrup in the treatment of infant colic. Curr Med Res Opin 1977; 5(3): 258-261
4. Williams J, Watkin-Jones R. Dicyclomine: worrying symptoms associated with its use in some small babies. BMJ 1983;288(6421):901.
5. Dattani S. Infant Colic. In: Canadian Pharmacist’s Association. Patient Self Care. 2nd Ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2010: 321-330.
6. Turner TL, Palamountain S. Evaluation and Management of Colic. Mar 2012. In: UpToDate, Basow, DS (Ed). Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html.