Bentyl and Confusion: What Users Say

• Ibs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 13, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I am a very tiny 104 lb 21-year-old who's been suffering from IBS-D post-cholecystectomy. Now it's been a year since I deal with trapped wind, intestinal pain & bloating, diarrhea. It is literally my ileum & descending colon that I feel spasming horrendously, I can only imagine it feels like labor. I have a love-hate relationship with Bentyl. I'm an emergency Bentyl user (read the potential long-term use effects). This helps at least 90% of the time. And when it kicks in, I think, 'that attack wasn't that bad'. It stops the spasming and it decreases the pain, score 10, pain during drops to a 2 60ish minutes later. 8/10 because of side effects. Mine include blurry vision and confusion. I had to leave work one time because I was just confused, had blurred vision, and was having an anxiety attack. Believe me. Stay at home for the few hours or take it at night. I honestly hope I helped someone because IBS sufferers need to support each other."

• Niy...
• March 25, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "So I had a bad case of gastroenteritis and ended up in the ER due to bad stomach pains (LIKE REALLY BAD), vomiting, and unable to have bowel movements. The ER doc prescribed me Bentyl, and when I tell you I’m so happy to have found this forum, I am ecstatic! Not because this drug helped me, but because there’s others who had the same HORRIBLE effects I had. Minutes from taking Bentyl, my mind was distorted, restless and I almost unhooked myself from the IV and walked out. I remember refusing treatment (ultrasound) which isn’t like me at all. I packed my bags and demanded to be discharged. I was a total lunatic, my mind was racing, I was very confused and I couldn’t focus. The car ride was the worst! I was hallucinating and in this weird foggy state for TWO DAYS. I thought it was tied to my viral illness, but no, it was from Bentyl. So when I say I’ll never take this again, I will never. I had crazy thoughts, I couldn’t sleep for two days, it was hell on earth. Never again!"

• Mar...
• June 26, 2015

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Great at first until you have to take as therapy for years. I have headaches, confusion, memory loss, mania, loss of sleep. I already have anxiety disorders. This stuff can facilitate glaucoma, Alzheimer's. Blurs vision from the start! Terrible, no integrated health care so docs can learn to see the whole patient and avoid severe disruption of life. I'd rather nurse the severe trouble of advanced diverticular disease, IBS, fructose malabsorption, hiatus hernia type 2, GERD, LPRD. I would rather not be blind and lose what is left of my mind. Terrible medication in the long run. Patients should be educated, better monitored for complications for all medical issues."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2011

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have had stomach issues since I was a kid. I was recently prescribed Bentyl up to 4 times a day. It works great, calms my stomach and digestive system down like nothing else I have tried over the counter in the stores has. It can make me a little fuzzy-headed or tired on occasion, but it doesn't happen every time. I will take that small side effect over my stomach problems any day. I highly recommend it."

• LCi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This worked like magic on my horrible, knife-like abdominal cramps and bloating. Within 30 minutes, my tummy felt great! But... Bentyl leaves me unable to work and barely functional. When I would take it, it would make me so confused I couldn't remember where I was, why I was there, or what I had just been doing. I would stop talking to someone mid-sentence and not remember what we were talking about or how I got there. I often couldn't answer simple questions. I also became very dizzy. I would only take it again if the IBS symptoms occurred at home and at bedtime. Such a shame. Nothing took away my pain like Bentyl did."

• Tip...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 30, 2023

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Ah, Bentyl. I have mixed feelings about it. Since being hospitalized for 4 days because of an intestinal blockage that caused an infection, non-stop diarrhea and vomiting with symptoms of sepsis, this has been a lifesaver. Literally. I take 20 mg, sometimes I'll cut it in half and take 10 mg in the morning and the other before bed. Always 30 min before a meal. Has it decreased my anxiety before eating out? Heck yeah. Has my IBS been a little more under control than before? Absolutely. Let's talk side effects. Yes, I may giggle or cry out of nowhere. Sometimes I can feel disoriented or confused, especially once it kicks in and for the following hour or two. Hot flashes, don't recommend taking Bentyl if you plan to be under the sun all day. Yeah, you will feel like you're dehydrated. It depends on how much I've eaten the day before or if I decided to have caffeine before taking it (bad idea). Tachycardia sometimes, but that all gets blocked out by no more diarrhea or running to a bathroom."