2.1       Intramuscular Dosage and Administration in Adults

BENTYL Intramuscular Injection must be administered via intramuscular route only. Do not administer by any other route.

The recommended intramuscular dose is 10 mg to 20 mg four times a day [see Clinical Pharmacology (12)]. 

The intramuscular injection is to be used only for 1 or 2 days when the patient cannot take oral medication.

Intramuscular injection is about twice as bioavailable as oral dosage forms.

2.2       Preparation for Intramuscular Administration

      Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

      Aspirate the syringe before injecting to avoid intravascular injection, since thrombosis may occur if the drug is inadvertently injected intravascularly.

5.1       Inadvertent Intravenous Administration

      BENTYL solution is for intramuscular administration only. Do not administer by any other route. Inadvertent intravenous administration may result in thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, and injection site reactions such as pain, edema, skin color change, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5.2       Cardiovascular Conditions

      Dicyclomine hydrochloride needs to be used with caution in conditions characterized by tachyarrhythmia such as thyrotoxicosis, congestive heart failure and in cardiac surgery, where they may further accelerate the heart rate. Investigate any tachycardia before administration of dicyclomine hydrochloride. Care is required in patients with coronary heart disease, as ischemia and infarction may be worsened, and in patients with hypertension [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)].

5.3       Peripheral and Central Nervous System

      The peripheral effects of dicyclomine hydrochloride are a consequence of their inhibitory effect on muscarinic receptors of the autonomic nervous system. They include dryness of the mouth with difficulty in swallowing and talking, thirst, reduced bronchial secretions, dilatation of the pupils (mydriasis) with loss of accommodation (cycloplegia) and photophobia, flushing and dryness of the skin, transient bradycardia followed by tachycardia, with palpitations and arrhythmias, and difficulty in micturition, as well as reduction in the tone and motility of the gastrointestinal tract leading to constipation [see Adverse Reactions (6)]. 

      In the presence of high environmental temperature heat prostration can occur with drug use (fever and heat stroke due to decreased sweating). It should also be used cautiously in patients with fever. If symptoms occur, the drug should be discontinued and supportive measures instituted. Because of the inhibitory effect on muscarinic receptors within the autonomic nervous system, caution should be taken in patients with autonomic neuropathy.

Central nervous system (CNS) signs and symptoms include confusional state, disorientation, amnesia, hallucinations, dysarthria, ataxia, coma, euphoria, fatigue, insomnia, agitation and mannerisms, and inappropriate affect.

Psychosis and delirium have been reported in sensitive individuals (such as elderly patients and/or in patients with mental illness) given anticholinergic drugs. These CNS signs and symptoms usually resolve within 12 to 24 hours after discontinuation of the drug.

      BENTYL may produce drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision. The patient should be warned not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery or performing hazardous work while taking BENTYL.

5.4       Myasthenia Gravis

      With overdosage, a curare-like action may occur (i.e., neuromuscular blockade leading to muscular weakness and possible paralysis). It should not be given to patients with myasthenia gravis except to reduce adverse muscarinic effects of an anticholinesterase [see Contraindications (4)].

5.5       Intestinal Obstruction

      Diarrhea may be an early symptom of incomplete intestinal obstruction, especially in patients with ileostomy or colostomy. In this instance, treatment with this drug would be inappropriate and possibly harmful [see Contraindications (4)].

      Rarely development of Ogilvie’s syndrome (colonic pseudo-obstruction) has been reported. Ogilvie’s syndrome is a clinical disorder with signs, symptoms, and radiographic appearance of an acute large bowel obstruction but with no evidence of distal colonic obstruction.

5.6       Toxic Dilatation of Intestinemegacolon

      Toxic dilatation of intestine and intestinal perforation is possible when anticholinergic agents are administered in patients with Salmonella dysentery.

5.7       Ulcerative Colitis

      Caution should be taken in patients with ulcerative colitis. Large doses may suppress intestinal motility to the point of producing a paralytic ileus and the use of this drug may precipitate or aggravate the serious complication of toxic megacolon [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)]. BENTYL is contraindicated in patients with severe ulcerative colitis [see Contraindications (4)].

5.8       Prostatic Hypertrophy

      BENTYL should be used with caution in patients with known or suspected prostatic enlargement, in whom prostatic enlargement may lead to urinary retention [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)].

5.9       Hepatic and Renal Disease

      BENTYL should be used with caution in patients with known hepatic and renal impairment.

5.10       Geriatric Population

      Dicyclomine hydrochloride should be used with caution in elderly who may be more susceptible to its adverse effects.

6.1       Clinical Trials Experience

      Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

      The data described below reflect exposure in controlled clinical trials involving over 100 patients treated for functional bowel/irritable bowel syndrome with dicyclomine hydrochloride at initial doses of 160 mg daily (40 mg four times a day)

      In these trials most of the side effects were typically anticholinergic in nature and were reported by 61% of the patients. Table 1 presents adverse reactions (MedDRA 13.0 preferred terms) by decreasing order of frequency in a side-by-side comparison with placebo.

      Nine percent (9%) of patients were discontinued from BENTYL because of one or more of these side effects (compared with 2% in the placebo group). In 41% of the patients with side effects, side effects disappeared or were tolerated at the 160 mg daily dose without reduction. A dose reduction from 160 mg daily to an average daily dose of 90 mg was required in 46% of the patients with side effects who then continued to experience a favorable clinical response; their side effects either disappeared or were tolerated.

6.2       Postmarketing Experience

      The following adverse reactions, presented by system organ class in alphabetical order, have been identified during post approval use of BENTYL. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

• Cardiac disorders: palpitations, tachyarrhythmias
  
  
• Eye disorders: cycloplegia, mydriasis, vision blurred
  
  
• Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal distension, abdominal pain, constipation, dry mouth, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting
  
  
• General disorders and administration site conditions: fatigue, malaise
  
  
• Immune System Disorders: drug hypersensitivity including face edema, angioedema, anaphylactic shock
  
  
• Nervous system disorders: dizziness, headache, somnolence, syncope
  
  
• Psychiatric disorders: As with the other anti-cholinergic drugs, cases of delirium or symptoms of delirium such as amnesia (or transient global amnesia), agitation, confusional state, delusion, disorientation, hallucination (including visual hallucination) as well as mania, mood altered and pseudodementia, have been reported with the use of Dicyclomine. Nervousness and insomnia have also been reported.
  
  
• Reproductive system and breast disorders: suppressed lactation
  
  
• Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: dyspnoea, nasal congestion
  
  
• Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder: dermatitis allergic, erythema, rash

      Cases of thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and injection site reactions such as local pain, edema, skin color change and even reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome have been reported following Inadvertent IV injection of BENTYL.

6.3       Adverse Reactions Reported with Similar Drugs with Anticholinergic/Antispasmodic Action

      Gastrointestinal: anorexia 

      Central Nervous System: tingling, numbness, dyskinesia, speech disturbance, insomnia

      Peripheral Nervous System: with overdosage, a curare-like action may occur (i.e., neuromuscular blockade leading to muscular weakness and possible paralysis) 

      Ophthalmologic: diplopia, increased ocular tension

      Dermatologic/Allergic: urticaria, itching, and other dermal manifestations 

      Genitourinary: urinary hesitancy, urinary retention in patients with prostatic hypertrophy

      Cardiovascular: hypertension

      Respiratory: apnea

      Other: decreased sweating, sneezing, throat congestion, impotence. With the injectable form, there may be temporary sensation of light-headedness. Some local irritation and focal coagulation necrosis may occur following the intramuscular injection of BENTYL.

7.1       Antiglaucoma Agents

      Anticholinergics antagonize the effects of antiglaucoma agents. Anticholinergic drugs in the presence of increased intraocular pressure may be hazardous when taken concurrently with agents such as corticosteroids. Use of BENTYL in patients with glaucoma is not recommended [see Contraindications (4)].

7.2       Other Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity

      The following agents may increase certain actions or side effects of anticholinergic drugs including BENTYL: amantadine, antiarrhythmic agents of Class I (e.g., quinidine), antihistamines, antipsychotic agents (e.g., phenothiazines), benzodiazepines, MAO inhibitors, narcotic analgesics (e.g., meperidine), nitrates and nitrites, sympathomimetic agents, tricyclic antidepressants, and other drugs having anticholinergic activity.

7.3       Other Gastrointestinal Motility Drugs

      Interaction with other gastrointestinal motility drugs may antagonize the effects of drugs that alter gastrointestinal motility, such as metoclopramide.

7.4       Effect of Antacids

      Because antacids may interfere with the absorption of anticholinergic agents including BENTYL, simultaneous use of these drugs should be avoided.

7.5       Effect on Absorption of Other Drugs

Anticholinergic agents may affect gastrointestinal absorption of various drugs by affecting on gastrointestinal motility, such as slowly dissolving dosage forms of digoxin; increased serum digoxin concentration may result.

7.6       Effect on Gastric Acid Secretion

      The inhibiting effects of anticholinergic drugs on gastric hydrochloric acid secretion are antagonized by agents used to treat achlorhydria and those used to test gastric secretion.

8.1       Pregnancy

      Adequate and well-controlled studies have not been conducted with BENTYL in pregnant women at the recommended doses of 80 to 160 mg/day. However, epidemiologic studies did not show an increased risk of structural malformations among babies born to women who took products containing dicyclomine hydrochloride at doses up to 40 mg/day during the first trimester of pregnancy. Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at doses up to 33 times the maximum recommended human dose based on 160 mg/day (3 mg/kg) and have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to dicyclomine. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

8.3       Nursing Mothers

      BENTYL is contraindicated in women who are breastfeeding. Dicyclomine hydrochloride is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breast-fed infants from BENTYL, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)]. 

8.4       Pediatric Use

      Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

      BENTYL is contraindicated in infants less than 6 months of age [see Contraindications (4)]. There are published cases reporting that the administration of dicyclomine hydrochloride to infants has been followed by serious respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, shortness of breath, breathlessness, respiratory collapse, apnea and asphyxia), seizures, syncope, pulse rate fluctuations, muscular hypotonia, and coma, and death, however; no causal relationship has been established.

8.5       Geriatric Use

      Clinical studies of BENTYL did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range in adults, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

      Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

8.6       Renal Impairment

      Effects of renal impairment on PK, safety and efficacy of BENTYL have not been studied. BENTYL drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. BENTYL should be administered with caution in patients with renal impairment.

8.7       Hepatic Impairment

           Effects of renal impairment on PK, safety and efficacy of BENTYL have not been studied. BENTYL should be administered with caution in patients with hepatic impairment.

12.1       Mechanism of Action

      Dicyclomine relieves smooth muscle spasm of the gastrointestinal tract. Animal studies indicate that this action is achieved via a dual mechanism:

• a specific anticholinergic effect (antimuscarinic) at the acetylcholine-receptor sites with approximately 1/8 the milligram potency of atropine (in vitro, guinea pig ileum); and
  
  
• a direct effect upon smooth muscle (musculotropic) as evidenced by dicyclomine’s antagonism of bradykinin- and histamine-induced spasms of the isolated guinea pig ileum.

      Atropine did not affect responses to these two agonists. In vivo studies in cats and dogs showed dicyclomine to be equally potent against acetylcholine (ACh)- or barium chloride (BaCl2)-induced intestinal spasm while atropine was at least 200 times more potent against effects of ACh than BaCl2. Tests for mydriatic effects in mice showed that dicyclomine was approximately 1/500 as potent as atropine; antisialagogue tests in rabbits showed dicyclomine to be 1/300 as potent as atropine.

12.2       Pharmacodynamics

      BENTYL can inhibit the secretion of saliva and sweat, decrease gastrointestinal secretions and motility, cause drowsiness, dilate the pupils, increase heart rate, and depress motor function

12.3       Pharmacokinetics

      Absorption and Distribution

      In man, dicyclomine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, reaching peak values within 60-90 minutes. Mean volume of distribution for a 20 mg oral dose is approximately 3.65 L/kg suggesting extensive distribution in tissues.

      Elimination

      The metabolism of dicyclomine was not studied. The principal route of excretion is via the urine (79.5% of the dose). Excretion also occurs in the feces, but to a lesser extent (8.4%). Mean half-life of plasma elimination in one study was determined to be approximately 1.8 hours when plasma concentrations were measured for 9 hours after a single dose. In subsequent studies, plasma concentrations were followed for up to 24 hours after a single dose, showing a secondary phase of elimination with a somewhat longer half-life.

13.1       Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

      Long-term animal studies have not been conducted to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of dicyclomine. In studies in rats at doses of up to 100 mg/kg/day, dicyclomine produced no deleterious effects on breeding, conception, or parturition.

17.1       Inadvertent Intravenous Administration

      BENTYL Injection is for intramuscular administration only. Do not administer by any other route. Inadvertent administration may result in thrombosis or thrombophlebitis, and injection site such as pain, edema, skin color change and even reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

17.2       Use in Infants

      Inform parents and caregivers not to administer BENTYL in infants less than 6 months of age [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].

17.3       Use in Nursing Mothers

Advise lactating women that BENTYL should not be used while breastfeeding their infants [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3,8.4)].

17.4       Peripheral and Central Nervous System

      In the presence of a high environmental temperature, heat prostration can occur with BENTYL use (fever and heat stroke due to decreased sweating). If symptoms occur, the drug should be discontinued and a physician contacted. BENTYL may produce drowsiness or blurred vision. The patient should be warned not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery or to perform hazardous work while taking BENTYL [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Distributed by:

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BENTYL® is a registered trademark of Aptalis Pharma Canada ULC, an Allergan affiliate.

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