Dicyclomine
Dicyclomine is an antispasmodic that eases the cramping and pain of irritable bowel syndrome, sold as Cyclopam 20/500mg tablets, which add paracetamol for the ache.
What dicyclomine is for
Dicyclomine relaxes the muscle in the wall of the stomach and bowel, which is what makes it useful when the gut cramps. It belongs to the anticholinergic group: it blocks one of the nerve signals that tells that muscle to tighten, so the squeezing settles to a calmer level. Irritable bowel syndrome is where it is used most, with the gripping pain, bloating and urgency that arrive in waves. It is also given for shorter spells of abdominal pain and cramping, and it eases the symptom rather than the cause.
Cyclopam, the dicyclomine tablet
Cyclopam is the dicyclomine product sold here: a tablet containing 20 mg of dicyclomine with 500 mg of paracetamol, so one dose covers the spasm and the ache that goes with it. It is the only dicyclomine form on the site. You will find it with the other gut medicines in Digestive Health.
How it calms a cramping gut
The bowel moves by a rhythm of nerve signals telling its muscle to contract, and those signals can fire out of step, producing a spasm. Dicyclomine blocks the receptor the signal uses, so the muscle receives less of the message. The gut still moves. It just stops overreacting, which is why the medicine helps the cramping pain without changing the reason the gut is irritable in the first place.
Taking the tablets
Adults usually take 20 mg four times a day, spaced through waking hours rather than bunched together. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Paracetamol is part of the same tablet, so count any other paracetamol you take that day towards the same total. Keep the blister strip in its box somewhere dry, not on a radiator or in a hot car.
Side effects and what not to mix
Dry mouth is the effect most people notice first, and blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and nausea are common too. Less often, the anticholinergic action goes further and brings a fast heartbeat, confusion or trouble passing urine. Because it damps down sweating, a hot day or hard exercise can leave you overheated. Alcohol deepens the drowsiness and unsteadiness, and other medicines with anticholinergic action, including many antihistamines and some antidepressants and antipsychotics, add to the dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision. Dicyclomine is not used in narrow-angle glaucoma (raised pressure in an eye whose drainage channel is narrow) or where urine flow or the bowel is blocked.
Sources
Where can I order Dicyclomine for delivery in Hong Kong?
Cyclopam tablets, which combine dicyclomine with paracetamol in 20/500mg, can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How much do Dicyclomine products cost in Hong Kong?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Cyclopam page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Dicyclomine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order dicyclomine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for dicyclomine and paracetamol?
Dicyclomine and paracetamol are sold under brand names including Colimex. Here, dicyclomine and paracetamol can be bought online as Cyclopam. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I take Cyclopam with ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen and aspirin do not contain paracetamol, so taking one of them alongside Cyclopam does not add to the paracetamol total. The thing to watch is another paracetamol product, such as a cold and flu remedy, which counts towards the same daily amount.
Can I drink alcohol with dicyclomine?
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness and dizziness that dicyclomine can bring on, so it is easy to feel unsteady after a drink while you are taking it. The effect is stronger if you are also taking an antihistamine or another medicine with anticholinergic action.
Is dicyclomine the same as Buscopan?
No. Buscopan contains hyoscine butylbromide, a different antispasmodic, while dicyclomine is its own separate ingredient. Both are used for gut cramps, but they are different medicines with different doses and different side effects.
Does dicyclomine help with period pain?
Dicyclomine relaxes the muscle in the wall of the stomach and bowel, so it is used for cramps that come from the gut. Period pain comes from the uterus, a different muscle, and dicyclomine is not a treatment for it.