Dicyclomine and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• PLA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2024

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medication is wonderful - I have constant pain and pressure and gas in my upper right abdomen, also, bowel movements are wonky. I happened to have an almost full Rx of this medication and decided to try again after reading mostly favorable reviews. I am glad I did. It takes a few days to fully adjust to Bentyl, but it is worth it. This is the only medication that seems to help. I have tried the hyoscyamine sublingual with limited effectiveness and more side effects. So far, only side effects have been dry mouth at times and feeling a bit drowsy/high, but the feeling is not unpleasant. I am taking only 10 mg once or twice a day, as my symptoms, though very uncomfortable, are not debilitating. This helps mitigate the side effects. Good medicine."

• IBS...
• November 4, 2015

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Years I have had IBS. I hate it. So embarrassing. Bentyl helped so much. No more cramps. No more pain. No more running to the bathroom or missing time at work. The dry mouth is terrible but it's better than almost pooping my pants so I will put up with it."

• Riy...
• January 30, 2013

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I take Bentyl for irritable bowel syndrome flare-ups, and it does work for me. I would suggest taking it at night before bed or make sure you're home because it can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. This is an antispasmodic, also known as a muscle relaxer. So be careful when taking this. It really does work wonders."

• kam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2018

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I had an infection called Clostridium difficile in 2014. Ever since then, my IBS has been worse than ever. This drug is a lifesaver for me. It works within minutes to help calm down the stomach pains. It helps immensely with gas pains. I love this drug. I have been on it since 2016, I had to have a stool transplant, and I had the worst stomach pains ever after that for months. I take it as needed, but lately, I have had to take it more often due to an increase in IBS symptoms again. It does make me tired and causes dry mouth, but other than that, there are no side effects."

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2016

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I've been on Bentyl for 3 1/2 years, and my IBS is so much better when I take my pill. Initially, I had severe dry mouth that lasted for about 3 months, but I no longer have that side effect. I take a pill one hour before I eat, and I can pretty much eat without worrying about a flare-up. If I eat a meal or snack with little or no fiber, my stomach gurgles and I get gas, but no diarrhea."

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "ER prescribed 20 mg dicyclomine as needed for pain from IBS. I take as needed. It does help with cramping but does not do a thing for diarrhea. It gives me a dry mouth and dehydration, so I have to drink more, and in turn causes increased frequency of diarrhea. I would rather deal with cramping than diarrhea. It's a good drug for cramping but ineffective for diarrhea (at least that is my experience with the drug)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2014

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I took 10 mg of Bentyl, even though my doc said to take 20 mg. Yes, it took care of the abdominal cramps, but I got a bad headache, dry mouth and eyes, and dizziness. I also got pain in my thigh and tingling in the same leg where I have nerve issues because of a herniated disc. This also caused neck pain where I have nerve issues as I took only 5 mg 20 hours later when I could feel the cramping coming back. The side effects were there, but to a lesser degree. The most disturbing side effect was my heart rate dropped to 45; it's usually in the low 60s, and blood pressure went up. Not sure I can continue on this medication, perhaps only when I feel cramping coming on and no more than 5 mg."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2011

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medicine has literally changed my life. I went from being afraid to go out to eat because I didn't know how my body would react, to being able to eat anything I want at any time without any stomach upset. It made my mouth really dry when I first started taking it, but that went away within a week. Slight additional drowsiness on occasion. I also get drunk very quickly when drinking alcohol on this medication. Those are the only downfalls - but they're so worth it."

• Twi...
• February 20, 2012

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I had horrible pain for months before I was diagnosed. Twenty minutes after I took the first pill, my pain disappeared! Forty minutes after I took that pill, I was goofy. I became extremely loopy, and that lasted about four hours. I gave a lot of hugs that night. Now I take half a dose at bedtime, and that seems to be keeping the irritable bowel syndrome under control. If I take it more than once a day, my throat swells up and my vision blurs. Also, my mouth is dry all the time now. UPDATE: After taking it for a couple of weeks, the loopiness lessened. I am no longer feel drunk when I am on it, BUT now when I take it, I start sneezing and become VERY congested. I can only take it with an allergy pill now, or this side effect is horrible."

• One...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I take this for IBS. My IBS goes from constipation for a couple weeks to diarrhea two weeks, especially during my period. The diarrhea is so severe with cramps that I suffered from an anal fissure. The GI doc prescribed this along with an ointment for my fissure and immediate relief from diarrhea, which over-the-counter diarrhea medicine couldn't do. The only two side effects I suffer are constipation and a horrible dry mouth. I take it only as needed because my GI told me it can cause constipation. I only take one when I get diarrhea and wait a day or two to take another one, then a few days later, I have a big glass of water with powdered fiber in it."

• Jol...
• March 30, 2019

"Sudden attack of pain in the right side of the abdomen, just under the rib cage. 30 minutes later, worst vomiting and diarrhea ever, didn’t stop vomiting till 20 hours later. Diarrhea every 30-60 minutes for 4 days, continuously. On the 2nd day, went to the ER, CT & ultrasound ruled out the gall bladder. Saw PCP Monday, biliary colic possible, special testing would show it. I was given a prescription for dicyclomine (Bentyl) and got relief after only 30 minutes! 10 mg, before meals and bedtime. One time heart racing and nearly fainting, likely because I had had no solid foods for 5 days. Enjoying full meals is great though still dizzy, dry mouth, blurred vision. I lowered the dose to 1 in the morning and 1 at night, has kept pain, nausea, and diarrhea at bay. HIDA scan soon to see if bile ducts are blocked. Regular BM now, so maybe I’m on the mend. Read Rx site and says the capsule can be opened and sprinkled on applesauce. Will try that since I don't metabolize meds well. Sprinkling it on food will allow me to adjust the dose."

• MrS...
• September 23, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "My doctor prescribed this after he decided, out of the blue, that he wasn't comfortable prescribing me Donnatal anymore. Donnatal was a 10/10 in terms of relief and lack of side effects, but Bentyl has been awful. Blurry vision, nausea, coordination problems, flushing of the skin, hot flashes, extreme dry mouth and eyes, and maybe half the time very slight relief from cramping and pain. The negative side effects absolutely outweigh the minimal benefits, especially the added nausea on top of the nausea from my IBS. I'm supposed to take 4 per day, but even 2 per day and the side effects are unbearable. I can't drive after I take this either because of the vision and dizziness issues. Hands down, one of the worst poisons I've put in my body."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have had stomach issues since I was a child. Gallbladder removed, hiatal hernia surgery which almost killed me! Ulcers, acid reflux disease, and now dysmotility, which caused me to lose a lot of weight! One night, the pain was so severe I had to go to the ER. And that's when I was prescribed Bentyl 20 mg, 4 times a day. I couldn't take it as prescribed because it made me too sleepy, and I had dry mouth, constipation, I would almost fall, and confusion. So I only take it twice a day! It worked until my next flare-up! I had to change my diet because of the bloating, gas, and severe stomach pains. Along with the 40 mg of Bentyl, I can't eat anything good, including my favorite mac and cheese."

• bug...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 10, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I think, in the end, dicyclomine will save my life. For many, many years, I have been suffering from extreme stomach pain that leaves me unable to think, move, speak, or do anything. The pain was increasing in frequency, and I was crying and screaming in bed multiple times a week. I didn't think anything would ever help. Now I take it as needed when I feel cramping coming on. It usually stops the pain within 10-20 minutes, especially if I 'catch' it early. Sometimes, particularly when traveling, I have to take two, and it can take more time to work, but it almost always does in the end. My stomach pain is often so severe I am sweating and crying in bed wishing I wasn't alive anymore, and that was happening multiple times a week. I do have side effects including light dizziness and dry mouth, but they pale in comparison."

• Noq...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I've been using it for several years now. I don't use it every day (often, though), and it has been a lifesaver for me. I get terrible cramps from IBS. This medicine has helped me avoid a lot of pain. I haven't had a problem with side effects aside from dry mouth. I just wish there was more info on long-term side effects."

• Ben...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2023

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Have taken for 3 years. Family history of IBS. I take three 20 mg tablets per day. I sometimes have slight euphoria when taking one tablet. I also have slight back and neck pain issues. One tablet helps a great deal, for some reason. The only thing I have experienced is dry mouth. I drink a lot of water and coffee, seltzer water, etc., or use sugar-free cough drops, Ricola SF. Helps with dry mouth."

• Hap...
• February 27, 2017

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medication has been huge for me. I don't run to the restroom as often. My pain is way better. The only side effects I have are dry mouth, loss of appetite, and blurry vision."

• Sar...
• January 26, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Very effective, but the side effects can be unpleasant. I usually get a very dry mouth, a little nausea, and a mild headache. But I'll happily take that over excruciating cramps."

• loo...
• August 6, 2016

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have been on this for at least ten years, and to this day it still gives me nausea and dries my mouth out terribly. They wanted me to take up to 4 a day, I can barely take one."

• bat...
• April 20, 2010

Dicyclomine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I find since taking Bentyl 10 mg twice a day, I have a very salty taste in my mouth, and I salivate more. Even though a side effect is dry mouth."