Diphenoxylate/Atropine, Oral dy-fen-OKS-i-late AT-roh-peen

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antidiarrheal

Generic and brand names: diphenoxylate and atropine, oral; Lomotil; Lonox

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat diarrhea. It comes in tablet and liquid forms.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• glaucoma
• ulcerative colitis
• Down's syndrome
• jaundice
• liver or kidney disease
• myasthenia gravis
• trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate

Do NOT take this medicine to treat diarrhea caused by antibiotics or diarrhea caused by food poisoning. Talk with your provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more of it or take it longer than directed. Taking too much of this medicine or taking it too long can be habit-forming and increases the risk of side effects.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Drink plenty of caffeine-free, clear liquids such as ginger ale, water, or broth while you are taking this medicine.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, weakness, blurred vision, flushing, dry mouth, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing.

What should I watch out for?

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. An overdose of this medicine may cause a child to have brain damage or to stop breathing.

Contact your healthcare provider if diarrhea continues for more than a few days or if you develop a fever.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and other medicines that slow down the nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may cause dry mouth. Sucking on ice cubes may help.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe stomach pain, hallucinations, seizures, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, pinpoint pupils, severe nausea or vomiting, constipation, bloating, loss of appetite, trouble urinating.

Other: Dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, headache, fever, depression, itching, flushing, dry skin.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• anticholinergic medicines such as atropine sulfate, benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Levsin), methscopolamine (Pamine), propantheline, and trihexyphenidyl
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• loperamide (Imodium)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), methocarbamol (Robaxin), dantrolene Dantrium), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• naltrexone (ReVia)
• narcotic pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine (Compro), perphenazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• narcotic pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• pramlintide (Symlin)
• sleeping pills such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.