Hyoscyamine and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• Scr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have IBS-M (IBS-M is IBS that has mixed features of diarrhea and constipation) and have suffered for years. I recently started having such severe stomach pain that I could barely move. I would be severely constipated, bloated, and unable to pass gas for weeks. Then I would have extreme diarrhea for a couple of days and go right back to being constipated again. I also developed really bad acid reflux. I was put on amitriptyline and omeprazole, it didn’t help at all. My GI doctor finally put me on hyoscyamine twice a day and 40mg of omeprazole and it has been an absolute miracle! I have no pain anymore. I’m able to have pretty regular bowel movements, no more acid reflux, and I’m not bloated at all. I finally have freedom from the misery. Only side effect I noticed was a bit of dry mouth at first, and it was harder to urinate for about a week, but that has all gone now. I would highly recommend this med hyoscyamine for anyone suffering from IBS mixed. My heart goes out to anyone going through it. Hopefully you’ll find this and get relief."

• DjF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2020

Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "The first month I took this, I had been swallowing the tablet with water like a pill. I did not know it was to be melted under the tongue, which made a huge difference in its efficacy. One week into taking it properly, I have a very dry mouth and my skin is very dry on my face, BUT it has helped with my chronic bile diarrhea. I am still experiencing inexplicable upper left abdominal pain. I say inexplicable because after nearly every test known to man, doctors are unable to find the source of my pain at this time. I have been treating severe gastritis for several months with Pantoprazole and still am in conjunction with Levsin. I hope my symptoms continue to improve and the side effects fade."

• Wil...
• April 23, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "A year and a half ago my IBS flared up and continued to worsen to the point that it totally controlled my life. I went to 2 GIs who ran all the tests on me and finally said it's just IBS. They treated me for diarrhea but that wasn't really my problem. I'm constipated with non-stop cramping for a few days, then have several non-stop hours of really awful pain and diarrhea. I tried a third GI, and he finally tried hyoscyamine .375 2x day. I felt better right away, and for the first time in over a year, I don't feel that exhausting cramping. The only side effects I have are an extremely dry mouth and throat, sleepiness, and sleep disturbances. The dry mouth is really bad, but an easy trade-off because I'm back in control of my own life."

• Zwa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2020

Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Unfortunately, I had horrible side effects from Levsin, and it only seemed to make my symptoms worse, caused me to feel nauseous, vomit bile, have diarrhea several times a day for several days on end (not sure if it was bloody or not, but I don’t recall eating anything red in color). It gave me severe dry mouth and made me burning hot. Wouldn’t wish that experience on my worst enemy."

• jle...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 21, 2015

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Finding proper treatment for my severe IBS was a grueling task. This was the last medication left for my doctor to try with me, and it actually works! While it does tend to constipate me, and the side effects are a pain (dry mouth, constantly dilated eyes, photosensitivity, and decreased sweating), the benefits definitely outperform the adverse effects. Since starting this medication I've gone from a hopelessly depressed, unemployed walking skeleton to a full-time student and manager, and my flare-ups have significantly subsided. In the case of a severe episode, a little medical cannabis immediately makes up for the pain and nausea that hyoscyamine can't relieve. Highly recommended."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2014

Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "A gastroenterologist prescribed this for me when I was having very severe abdominal pain from Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and IBS. Well, it did everything but relieve the pain. It blurred my vision, made me nauseous, gave me a pounding headache, made me feel very hot, dried my mouth, made me drowsy, and slowed down my heart rate. The pain continued to worsen, and I ended up in the ER. I had several more attacks afterward, and the Levsin didn't work then, either. I was then referred to another gastroenterologist, who prescribed me Bentyl and Doxepin. While I have had fewer side effects with them, they haven't touched my pain, either."

• Kam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 14, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have had irritable bowel for years, and it has gotten so much worse since having on and off C. diff since 2014. This drug helps a lot with stomach pain and even helps my GERD a bit. Causes major dry mouth and drowsiness, but worth it!"

• whi...
• August 8, 2018

"I was prescribed this after having nausea and vomiting for three days and was unable to keep any food down, much less water, possibly food poisoning. I'm writing this as one of the side effects of this medicine, the drying effect, actually helped me in that I had been experiencing hot flashes from menopause (55 yr. old female). The estrogen/progesterone patch I have been using for the past two years wasn't working any longer. While taking the hyoscyamine .125mg sublingual, I had not one hot flash. Other side effects: grogginess, dry mouth, dry eyes. Had to share my experience as this would be considered an 'off-label use' for maybe someone else out there who's suffering from hot flashes or chronic sweating who can't take other meds. I was prescribed 20 tablets."

• lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2013

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medication works great for three days, then I have what you may call a 'purging' of what's probably been building up for those three days. But otherwise, this medicine has allowed me to 'go' once or twice a day instead of making up to 8-10 trips a day to the bathroom. Dry mouth was easy to live with."

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This drug is wonderful for cramping and pain associated with IBS. It doesn't do much to stop the diarrhea, at least in comparison to Immodium, but it does make it a lot more tolerable when you aren't in pain during an attack. Unfortunately, it can take quite a while to work (~an hour) and does tend to make your mouth, eyes, nose, and throat VERY dry for the remainder of the day. This is cited as a mild side effect, but it's pretty bad at times."

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This drug is wonderful for cramping and pain associated with IBS. It doesn't do much to stop the diarrhea, at least in comparison to Immodium, but it does make it a lot more tolerable when you aren't in pain during an attack. Unfortunately, it can take quite a while to work (~an hour) and does tend to make your mouth, eyes, nose, and throat VERY dry for the remainder of the day. This is cited as a mild side effect, but it's pretty bad at times."

• JHa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Levsin (sublingual) works great to calm spasms associated with my IBS-D. The only downside to taking Levsin is that it makes me sleepy, and it makes my mouth, nose, and eyes dry. My insurance (BCBS) doesn't cover it either, but luckily it doesn't cost much ($42 for a 1-month supply (90 pills)) at our local (privately owned) pharmacy."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2010

Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I've been taking this medicine for almost two years (took hyoscyamine for several years before that), and it really makes a big difference with my irritable bowel syndrome. I really only need to take two pills each morning, and that gets me through my day. If my family eats out at a restaurant, I take two pills before leaving home. I do experience a bit of dry mouth, and my eyes also get dried out (not the best side effect, but not the worst, either!). Overall, I highly recommend this medicine for those who suffer from IBS."

• Mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2014

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I'm 18, female. I seem to have drawn the short straw with this medicine. I'm very lightheaded, sensitive to light, and lethargic. On top of that, I've had headaches and dry mouth, and I've lost my appetite. I suppose my symptoms have improved, but things are only better in the hours after taking the pill. Since I didn't have severe irritable bowel syndrome, just cramping and frequent trips to the bathroom, the side effects negate the benefits. I cannot function as well as I would like. My lightheadedness has kept me from moving around much. I'll definitely be asking to have my dose lowered or the medication stopped, because I'd rather be in some pain than be on the verge of passing out whenever I stand."

• Sar...
• September 1, 2013

Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This is the first prescription I've taken for irritable bowel syndrome. It worked very well, but I could not continue taking it because of the severe side effects. It gave me the most extreme dry mouth I've ever had and dry eyes too. I had to stop taking it because the side effects were not just a little bothersome, they were severe and intense."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 5, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "If I take it as soon as the mildest cramping begins, it works well. However, I may still run to the bathroom for 2 or more hours before I am completely relieved of pain and cramping. Also, you need to drink a significant amount of water throughout the day; it dries out your mouth and throat. For me, I can take half a pill and not dry up so severely."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 5, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "If I take it as soon as the mildest cramping begins, it works well. However, I may still run to the bathroom for 2 or more hours before I am completely relieved of pain and cramping. Also, you need to drink a significant amount of water throughout the day; it dries out your mouth and throat. For me, I can take half a pill and not dry up so severely."

• Dra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2022

For Urinary Incontinence "I take 5 or 10 mg for nighttime incontinence that started after menopause. It helps with daytime, too. It makes me a bit drowsy at night and dry mouth. I got off it for about two months, and the incontinence returned with pelvic floor pain. After 2 days back on this, it was better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 25, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Reduced bloating frequency and duration. Reduced IBS-D. Side effects: dry mouth, dizziness (mild), occasional thirst, feeling of fullness, not bloating."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2009

For Urinary Incontinence "I have found this to be better than Ditropan and Detrol. I can take it twice a day. It doesn't seem to give me the dry mouth that Ditropan did."