Levsin Sublingual Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Levsin Sublingual Tablet contains hyoscyamine sulfate, an anticholinergic/antispasmodic medicine that relaxes smooth muscles in the stomach, intestines, bladder, and other organs. It is placed under the tongue to dissolve, though it can also be swallowed or chewed. It is used for conditions involving spasms, excess secretions, and hypermotility of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract, among other uses. As with any prescription medicine, it should be used exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Levsin Sublingual Tablet

Levsin is a prescription medicine that contains hyoscyamine sulfate, a substance that relaxes smooth muscles in the stomach, intestines, bladder, and other organs. It is placed under the tongue to dissolve, though it can also be swallowed or chewed.

Levsin Sublingual Tablet uses

• Adjunctive therapy for peptic ulcer
• Control of gastric secretion, visceral spasm, and hypermotility in spastic colitis, spastic bladder, cystitis, pylorospasm, and related abdominal cramps
• Functional intestinal disorders such as mild dysentery, diverticulitis, and acute enterocolitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Neurogenic bladder and neurogenic bowel disturbances
• Infant colic (elixir and drops)
• Relief of biliary and renal colic (with morphine or other narcotics)
• Drying agent for symptoms of acute rhinitis
• Parkinsonism, to reduce rigidity and tremors and control drooling and excess sweating
• Treatment of poisoning by anticholinesterase agents

Benefits of Levsin Sublingual Tablet

• Helps relieve intestinal spasms
• Reduces abdominal cramping
• Decreases excessive gastrointestinal secretions
• May relieve symptoms associated with certain functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Sublingual formulation dissolves rapidly under the tongue

How Levsin Sublingual Tablet works

Levsin blocks the action of a natural body chemical called acetylcholine at certain nerve endings. This slows down stomach and gut movement, reduces stomach acid, and lessens secretions like saliva, sweat, and bronchial fluid.

Levsin Sublingual Tablet dosage

Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve; it may also be swallowed whole or chewed. It may be taken with or without meals. Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor; do not take more often or in higher amounts than directed.

If you also take antacids, take the antacid after meals and take this medicine before meals, or separate the two doses by at least one hour, since antacids can reduce how well this medicine is absorbed. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

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 and go back to your regular schedule—do not double up. Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.

Available forms and strengths

• Sublingual tablets (0.125 mg)
• Tablets (0.125 mg)
• Extended-release tablets (Levbid, 0.375 mg)

Side effects of Levsin Sublingual Tablet

Common

• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Constipation
• Flushing
• Dry skin
• Decreased sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Nervousness
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Loss of taste

Serious

• Mental or mood changes such as confusion or unusual excitement
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty urinating or urinary retention
• Decreased sexual ability
• Loss of coordination (ataxia)
• Trouble speaking
• Eye pain, swelling, or redness
• Vision changes such as seeing rainbows around lights at night
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching or swelling of the face/tongue/throat, severe dizziness, trouble breathing

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if it is clearly needed. It is not known if it can harm an unborn baby. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.
• Small amounts of this medicine pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
• This medicine is removed from the body mainly by the kidneys, so people with kidney problems may be at greater risk of side effects. Your doctor may need to watch your kidney function closely.
• Alcohol can increase dizziness and drowsiness caused by this medicine. Limit alcoholic drinks while taking this medicine.
• This medicine can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires alertness or clear vision until you know how this medicine affects you.
• In hot weather, this medicine can reduce sweating and lead to heat exhaustion, fever, or heat stroke.
• If you have diarrhea, especially with an ileostomy or colostomy, this could be an early sign of a bowel blockage, and taking this medicine could be harmful. Tell your doctor.
• Some people, especially those who are sensitive, can develop mental changes such as confusion, memory problems, hallucinations, unusual excitement, or anxiety while taking this type of medicine. These usually go away within 1-2 days after stopping the drug.
• Do not take this medicine if you have glaucoma, certain bladder or bowel blockages, severe ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, or unstable heart/circulation problems with bleeding.

Storage

• Store at controlled room temperature 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); brief excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F)
• Dispense in tight, light-resistant containers with a child-resistant closure
• Store at room temperature away from light and moisture; do not store in the bathroom
• Keep all medications away from children and pets
• Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so; properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed, consulting your pharmacist or local waste disposal company
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Tell your doctor right away if you notice confusion, unusual excitement, a fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble urinating, loss of coordination, trouble speaking, or vomiting.
• Get medical help right away if you have eye pain, swelling, redness, or vision changes such as seeing rainbows around lights at night.
• Get medical help right away if you notice signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash, itching or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.
• If someone has taken too much and has serious symptoms like passing out or trouble breathing, call emergency services. Otherwise, contact a poison control center right away. Overdose symptoms can include hot or dry skin, fever, unusual excitement, fast or irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
• Get medical help right away if you develop a fever that won't go away, along with mental or mood changes, headache, or dizziness, since this medicine can make it harder for your body to cool down.

Alternatives

• Dicyclomine
• Glycopyrrolate