Donnatal drugs: Uses, indications and precautions when using

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Donnatal is a combination product of phenobarbital, hyoscyamine, atropine and scopolamine. Donnatal is used to treat various bowel problems including irritable bowel syndrome, acute enteritis or duodenal ulcer.

1. What is Donnatal?

Donnatal medicine contains ingredients including Phenobarbital, Hyoscyamine Sulfate, Atropine Sulfate and Scopolamine Hydrobromide. The combination of ingredients mentioned above yields the natural belladonna alkaloids in a fixed ratio, specifically in combination with phenobarbital to provide anticholinergic, peripheral antispasmodic and mild sedative effects.
This is a medication used with a doctor's prescription for the purpose of adjunctive therapy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (irritable colon, spastic colon, mucoid colitis) and improve symptoms of acute inflammatory bowel disease.
Donnatal's mechanism of action is to slow down the natural movements of the intestines by relaxing the muscles in the stomach and intestines.

2. How to use the drug Donnatal?

Donnatal is available in two formulations. Donnatal immediate-release tablets and Donnatal Elixir immediate-release tablets. The dosage of Donnatal tablets should be adjusted to the needs of the individual patient to ensure symptom control with a minimum of side effects. The usual dose in adults is one or two Donnatal tablets taken three or four times a day, depending on the condition and severity of symptoms.
Fast acting solution with grape flavor. Each 5 mL (equivalent to 1 teaspoon of Donnatal) contains:
Phenobarbital, USP .............................. 16.2 mg Hyoscyamine Sulfate, USP ............ 0.1037 mg Atropine Sulfate, USP ....... .... 0.0194 mg Scopolamine Hydrobromide, USP .... 0.0065 mg Alcohol percentage does not exceed 23.8%. The dosage of Donnatal oral solution is the same as that of the tablet. However, it is necessary to use the specialized dosing device attached to the product to provide the correct dose.

3. Possible side effects when using the drug Donnatal

Possible adverse reactions when taking Donnatal are dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision, tachycardia, palpitations, dilated pupils, abdominal pain, dry eyes, loss of taste sensation, headache, nervousness, drowsiness, muscle weakness, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, impotence, inhibition of lactation and constipation.
In addition, like other medicines, Donnatal may also carry a potential risk of allergic reactions, ranging from mild to severe or drug-specific, including anaphylaxis, rash urticaria and other skin manifestations.
Hypersensitivity reactions to barbiturates mainly include allergic reactions occurring especially in individuals predisposed to asthma, urticaria, angioedema and similar conditions. Hypersensitivity reactions in this category include local swelling, especially of the eyelids, cheeks or lips, and erythematous dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis) can be caused by phenobarbital and can be fatal although very rarely. Skin rash may be accompanied by fever, delirium, and changes due to marked degenerative damage to the liver and other organs. In some cases, megaloblastic anemia has also been shown to be associated with prolonged use of phenobarbital.
Also, prolonged use of phenobarbital can be habit-forming and should not be used by people known to be prone to addiction or who have a history of physical or psychological dependence on the drug. In subjects tolerant to sedation, abrupt discontinuation may cause delirium or convulsions. Conversely, sometimes phenobarbital can also cause euphoria in some patients, not just sedation.

4. Possible drug interactions when using the drug Donnatal

The Phenobarbital component of Donnatal may reduce the effect of anticoagulants and require larger doses of anticoagulants for optimal effectiveness. Accordingly, when stopping phenobarbital, the patient should be adjusted to reduce the dose of anticoagulants.

5. Things to note when using Donnatal

Donnatal can harm an unborn baby when administered to a pregnant woman. Therefore, if it is necessary to use Donnatal during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this medicine, it is necessary to be warned of the possible risks to the fetus. In addition, because it is not known whether Donnatal is excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Donnatal Tablets are administered to a nursing woman.
In conditions of high ambient temperature, users of Donnatal may experience burning sensation when taking belladonna alkaloids, due to fever and heatstroke, because of decreased sweating.
Donnatal tablets may cause drowsiness or blurred vision. Patients should be warned about this risk because, if it occurs, they should not engage in activities that require physical or mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or machinery, and not do dangerous work.
Because barbiturates or Phenobarbital in particular are metabolised in the liver, Donnatal should be used with caution and should be initiated at the lowest dose in patients with hepatic dysfunction. In addition, patients with chronic medical conditions should also be cautious when starting treatment with Donnatal, such as autonomic neuropathy, hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and arrhythmias. rapid and high blood pressure.

6. Contraindications to the drug Donnatal

Patients are not indicated to use the drug Donnatal if they have one of the following conditions:
Glaucoma Obstructive prostatic hyperplasia Obstructive conditions of the gastrointestinal tract such as duodenal atresia Intestinal paralysis , ileus in the elderly or debilitated patients Unstable cardiovascular condition Severe ulcerative colitis, especially if complicated by toxic megacolon Myasthenia gravis, Reflux esophagitis, Acute porphyria intermittent history of poor tolerance to phenobarbital causing restlessness or euphoria In patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any component of the drug In summary, Donnatal is a multi-component combination drug intended to provide It has anticholinergic effects, helps to prevent peripheral spasms and mild sedation, thereby improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome as well as inflammatory diseases of intestinal mucosa. Because of the possible side effects while using Donnatal, patients need to follow the doctor's instructions on dosage and detect any abnormal signs early to promptly examine and ensure effective treatment. treatment and patient safety.
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Reference source: rxlist.com - redhillbio.com