Drotaverine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Drotaverine Tablet contains drotaverine hydrochloride, an antispasmodic medicine that belongs to the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor class. It is used to relieve smooth muscle spasms and related pain in conditions such as gastrointestinal disease, biliary problems, and vasomotor disorders. It works by blocking the PDE4 enzyme, which leads to relaxation of smooth muscle, mainly in the gut. It is available in tablet, capsule, syrup, suspension, and injection forms.

What is Drotaverine Tablet

Drotaverine is a synthetic medicine derived from benzylisoquinoline. It is an antispasmodic and pain-relief medicine used to treat smooth muscle spasms in conditions like gastrointestinal disease, biliary problems, and vasomotor disorders.

Drotaverine Tablet uses

• Relieves menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
• Relieves abdominal pain and gastrointestinal colicky pain
• Relieves pain due to kidney stones and gallstones (biliary stones)
• Treats gastric spasm, intestinal spasm, and pyloric spasm
• Manages spastic constipation
• Helps with tenesmus in dysentery
• Used in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Used to reduce labour pains
• Used for headaches
• Used in peripheral vascular disorders

Benefits of Drotaverine Tablet

• Provides quick relief from muscle spasms
• Reduces abdominal pain effectively
• Improves quality of life in people with IBS or dysmenorrhea
• Minimizes discomfort caused by renal or biliary colic
• Has no cardiac toxic or hypotensive effects, so it can be used in people with coronary insufficiency and angina

How Drotaverine Tablet works

Drotaverine blocks an enzyme called PDE4, which stops a molecule called cAMP from being broken down. This leads to relaxation of the smooth muscles, mainly in the gut, which relieves pain and spasms.

Drotaverine Tablet dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take more or less than prescribed, or for longer than prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about anything. Tablets are usually taken with a full glass of water. Oral forms (tablets, capsules, syrup, suspension) can be taken with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day for better results. Do not stop the medicine without consulting your doctor, even if you feel better.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Never take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. See your doctor if your symptoms do not improve. Injections are given by a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital setting.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Capsule
• Syrup
• Suspension
• Injection

Side effects of Drotaverine Tablet

Common

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Change in pulse rate (palpitations)
• Low blood pressure

Serious

• Difficulty in breathing
• Allergic skin reaction
• Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
• Hypoesthesia (decreased sense of touch or sensation)
• Anaemia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (frequent acid reflux from stomach)
• Decreased urine output

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions are rare, but get medical help right away if you notice skin rash, itching or swelling of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.
• This medicine is not recommended if you have severe liver or kidney disease, as it may make your condition worse.
• This medicine is not recommended if you have heart failure or poor blood flow from the heart.
• This medicine can lower blood pressure, so use it carefully if you have heart or blood vessel problems.
• This medicine may worsen conditions linked to light sensitivity, such as acute porphyria.
• This medicine is not recommended for children under one year of age for oral forms, as safety and effectiveness have not been established; injections may still be given to children under one.
• Tell your doctor about all other medicines, herbs, and supplements you use, since this medicine can interact with many other drugs.
• Use caution with this medicine during pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before using it. This medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding.
• Use this medicine with caution if you have kidney problems, since it may build up in the body and cause unwanted effects. It is not recommended if you have severe kidney disease.
• Use this medicine with caution if you have liver problems, as it may cause unwanted effects; your doctor may want to check your liver function. It is not recommended if you have severe liver disease.
• It is not known how this medicine interacts with alcohol. Talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking it.
• At normal doses this medicine usually does not affect your ability to drive or use machines, but it can cause dizziness or sleepiness in some people. Avoid driving or operating machinery if you feel dizzy.

Storage

• Store this medicine at room temperature, away from moisture, light and heat.
• Store the medicine in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• Do not use the drotaverine after the expiry date, which is printed on the carton.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash, itching or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing.
• Contact your doctor right away if you think you have taken too much of this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not get better, or if you notice any new side effects that have not been mentioned.

Alternatives

• Pinaverium
• Alverine
• Peppermint Oil
• Dicyclomine
• Hyoscine Butylbromide