Side Effects of Dicetel

Dicetel is Solvay Pharmaceuticals' brand name formulation for the drug pinaverium bromide. This medication is available by prescription for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Dicetel works to relax the smooth muscle of the bowel helping to alleviate symptoms such as abdominal pain and intestinal discomfort. This drug is also sometimes prescribed for the treatment of certain gallbladder ailments. Like all medications, Dicetel may had some adverse side effects in some patients.

Dosage Issues

• Typical dosage of Dicetel is one 50 mg tablet taken three times per day. Take Dicetel with water at mealtimes because pinaverium, one of the primary ingredients in Dicetel, can irritate the mucus membranes in the throat and stomach. Once a course of treatment has begun, patients should not stop taking Dicetel without first consulting their health care provider. As of 2009 there had been no reported cases of overdose, however, should such an overdose occur the manufacturer recommends gastric lavage, or stomach pumping, as the suitable course of action.

Reported Side Effects

• Reported side effects of Dicetel when taken as prescribed are rare and include bloating, heartburn, dry mouth, diarrhea or constipation, nausea and headache. Patients who are allergic to pinaverium or any of its derivatives should not take Dicetel. Not everyone experiences side effects when taking Dicetel. If a patient experiences side effects, she should contact her health care provider to determine whether a change in dosage or medication is required.

Pregnant Women

• Studies in animals do not suggest harmful effects on fetuses, however the safety of Dicetel has not be established in pregnant humans. Women who are pregnant should consult their health care provider prior to beginning a course of treatment with Dicetel or any drug containing pinaverium. This drug should only be prescribed to a pregnant woman if the doctor believes the necessary benefits to the mother outweigh any potential harm to the unborn baby.

Nursing Mothers

• There has been no controlled research to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk. There have been no controlled studies to determine the effect of drugs containing pinaverium on nursing infants. Therefore, it is recommended as a precautionary measure that women who are breastfeeding should not take this drug.

Drug Interactions

• There are no known drug interactions that should interfere with Dicetel. However, as with any drug, patients should always tell their health care provider about all medications they are taking, including over the counter medications and food supplements. Some medications may be detrimental to the treatment of the condition for which the physician prescribed Dicetel.