Hyoscyamine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome User Reviews (Page 3)

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2018

"This drug is wonderful for cramping and pain associated with IBS. It doesn't do much to stop the diarrhea, at least in comparison to Immodium, but it does make it a lot more tolerable when you aren't in pain during an attack. Unfortunately, it can take quite a while to work (~an hour) and does tend to make your mouth, eyes, nose, and throat VERY dry for the remainder of the day. This is cited as a mild side effect, but it's pretty bad at times."

• Ins...
• March 31, 2012

"My irritable bowel syndrome started up at the beginning of 2011. The first time I had it was when I was in school, first hour. I thought it was menstrual cramps, so I just waited for it to go away. When it didn't, I asked the teacher to go to the restroom. When I got back, it was still sore, and I ended up in tears from the pain, and my friend had to take me to the nurse. Mom didn't know what it was, so we waited a few (agonizing) months, and when it didn't go away, Mom took me to the hospital and got some blood work done. I was prescribed hyoscyamine, and it works great! I've been taking it about a year now, and I've rarely been having IBS problems. Whenever I forget to take it, though, the IBS comes back like a shovel. This medicine certainly works."

• Anonymous
• May 18, 2009

"When I first began having real problems with irritable bowel syndrome, I tried Vicodin. I didn't know what was wrong with me. My doctor prescribed hyoscyamine, and it worked so well. Hyoscyamine has been the only medication that has helped with my IBS. Changes in what I eat have helped, too. Stress reduction also helps... walking, better sleep. I highly recommend this medication. It is an anti-spasmodic."

• Taj...
• January 14, 2014

"Hyoscyamine has largely worked for me, but not all the time. Diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in 1991. The doctor started me on Levsinex (hyoscyamine) 0.375 mg twice per day. I take one in the morning and one before noon. The doctor also prescribed methylcellulose fiber to 'train' my colon, which I've been taking once at night before bed. Psyllium fiber gives me chest pain. I stay away from fried and fatty foods, dairy, alcohol, but I do cheat a little when I'm safe at home. I have been tracking my 'episodes,' which seem to occur once per month, but are still wildly unpredictable. I'll go three times in one hour. Severe cramps, intestines sound like a pinched garden hose; a complete purge of the colon."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2012

Hyoscyamine "These antispasmodics did nothing for me. I was still doubled over in pain hours later. I also was very light-headed and dizzy, and my physician ignored my reactions to the medicines. Not a good experience."

• Anonymous
• November 29, 2010

"When my symptoms first began (about 7 years ago), I suffered through a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, tests for parasites through two different 'specialists.' The results were that they couldn't find anything wrong, so I must have IBD. I was told there was nothing I could do but 'learn to live with it.' I found that it took 13 Imodium at one time to stop an 'episode.' Returned to the MD and begged him to prescribe something/anything to help - Hyoscyamine Sulfate! It works! I take two when the problem starts, and within about a half hour, it has stopped. I recommended it without hesitation! The only problem is that my insurance won't cover it, and I just had to pay $150 for 180 tablets."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2010

Hyoscyamine "I've been taking this medicine for almost two years (took hyoscyamine for several years before that), and it really makes a big difference with my irritable bowel syndrome. I really only need to take two pills each morning, and that gets me through my day. If my family eats out at a restaurant, I take two pills before leaving home. I do experience a bit of dry mouth, and my eyes also get dried out (not the best side effect, but not the worst, either!). Overall, I highly recommend this medicine for those who suffer from IBS."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2009

"I've been using this medication for almost 5 years. I can't believe that this isn't prescribed more often than it is because it works! I had such pain with the spasms and mucus till I started using this. I do have to drink a lot more water because it makes me thirsty, and it can complicate constipation. However, my doctor allows me to take it on the onset of an episode instead of 3 or 4 times a day. I've been able to gain weight, and my energy has increased since using this medication. I really am happy with this medication and feel it has allowed me to live a much more normal life, almost pain-free. Of course, I've changed my diet and stay away from triggers too! Good luck, and I hope you have the results I've had."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2023

"I took hyoscyamine for 2 days. It didn't calm my spastic colon or take away the bloat. What it did was make me feel dizzy, almost in a hallucinating state. My heart was racing, my leg was twitching, and the spasms got worse. Oh, and constipation? I still can't poop. That drug slows your bowels and your salivary glands. I must say the worst side effect I got from this was ending up in the emergency room because my salivary glands swelled and hurt to touch. It's scary when a drug that is supposed to help causes serious side effects. I'd rather deal with the pain than end up looking like Shrek again."

• lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2022

"This was the worst drug for me. I ended up using it for a little over four years, thinking it was helping me and my severe IBS, but in reality, it was just slowing my GI tract down to a crawl. So much so, that my IBS worsened. I became reliant on suppositories and enemas to have a BM. The constipation, caused by hyoscyamine, caused bloating, nausea, and GERD, which had me taking more hyoscyamine, which just further worsened the issue. It was like a horrific death cycle I wasn’t able to break free of because I didn’t know the hyoscyamine was causing the problems. I lost so much weight and became so insanely sick. Unfortunately, trying to get off this drug was also awful. My GI system had become so reliant on it that it didn’t seem to know how to digest and work by itself. Still, I quit cold turkey, and after 3 or so months, I was thankfully able to get my body back to a reasonable place so I could find an IBS treatment that actually works. Stay away from this drug."

• Mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2014

"I'm 18, female. I seem to have drawn the short straw with this medicine. I'm very lightheaded, sensitive to light, and lethargic. On top of that, I've had headaches and dry mouth, and I've lost my appetite. I suppose my symptoms have improved, but things are only better in the hours after taking the pill. Since I didn't have severe irritable bowel syndrome, just cramping and frequent trips to the bathroom, the side effects negate the benefits. I cannot function as well as I would like. My lightheadedness has kept me from moving around much. I'll definitely be asking to have my dose lowered or the medication stopped, because I'd rather be in some pain than be on the verge of passing out whenever I stand."

• Sar...
• September 1, 2013

Hyoscyamine "This is the first prescription I've taken for irritable bowel syndrome. It worked very well, but I could not continue taking it because of the severe side effects. It gave me the most extreme dry mouth I've ever had and dry eyes too. I had to stop taking it because the side effects were not just a little bothersome, they were severe and intense."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2009

Hyoscyamine "I recently took this drug for 5 days and had complete relief from my irritable bowel syndrome. However, that said, the side effects were horrible. I was the 'poster child' for adverse reactions: arrhythmia, constipation, hallucinations. My brain felt like it was in slow motion while my body was moving at a rapid pace. I saw my doctor, who explained to me that each individual is different. I gave it a 5 because it did help my bowels feel fantastic."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2011

"I am 18 years old, in college, and after 6 months of figuring out what I had and many medications, nothing worked until hyoscyamine. I take 1 when I get pain, and it helps within 5 minutes. If you have a chance to get it, do it. So worth it."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2012

Hyoscyamine "I switched from Bentyl to this because this is an extended-release formula. I tried it for 5 months and went back to Bentyl. It didn't work any better, and it dried me out so much I could hardly swallow. After a bad flare-up, I ended up at the ER, and they thought I was very dehydrated, but I wasn't, it was just the medicine. I am going to talk with my GP about using something with phenobarbital, as I have heard a lot of positive things about it. I already take a migraine medicine with phenobarbital, so I should tolerate it well."

• IBS...
• August 30, 2024

"I was prescribed this medication several years ago and used it PRN. I really wasn’t sure if it helped, so I didn’t take it very often. I recently asked my new primary care doctor to refill it, which he did. The pharmacist made a huge point of saying several times that it’s not FDA approved. What the heck??? Also, if you have to do random UAs at your doctor's office in order to continue getting Rxs for controlled medications, know that this medication has phenobarbital in it. Who knew?? I found that out today. I’m sure my PCP doesn’t even know this…. Yet. It’s worked very well for my GI issues, so I’m still onboard with taking it."

• Mut...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2013

Hyoscyamine "This medication works for me for a few hours, most of the time, when I get in a bind and have to leave the house, but I experience a wicked backlash of increased diarrhea for days after the one dose wears off."

• San...
• September 4, 2009

"Getting the real deal of Hyoscyamine is made extremely difficult. The ancient Greeks had Hyoscyamine, but pharmacies want to push the various alloys and synthetics. I don't want HyoMax or Levsin or Hyoscyamine sulfate. They give you what they think is selling at the time. Hyoscyamine works if you can get the real deal."

• Pat...
• August 1, 2021

"I have been suffering with IBS for years, lately, it went from constipation to diarrhea. Recently, I started vomiting, with severe stomach pain. The diarrhea would send me to the bathroom 8-10 times a day. I was afraid to leave my house. A week ago, the doctor started me on Metamucil and hyoscyamine. Afraid to brag, but the last three days have been such an improvement. Hope it continues."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2021

"This drug was horrible for me. I suffer from IBS, and my doctor said this would help me feel a lot better. I took it one time and was up all night with horrible symptoms. Made everything so much worse. I am so glad this works for some people, but I will never take it again."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 5, 2017

"If I take it as soon as the mildest cramping begins, it works well. However, I may still run to the bathroom for 2 or more hours before I am completely relieved of pain and cramping. Also, you need to drink a significant amount of water throughout the day; it dries out your mouth and throat. For me, I can take half a pill and not dry up so severely."

• Col...
• February 9, 2018

Hyoscyamine "My son has taken this for IBS, and it worked the first time but took 9 days to kick in, so now I think it didn't really work because the 2nd episode (now) it's not working at all. He is in so much pain. He did have his appendix out 1 yr ago and NEVER had IBS before that. He had a colonoscopy 30 days ago, which was fine, so I know that it's nothing medically, and they did an endoscopy at the same time, so nothing in his GI tract is abnormal. He is a picky eater and eats a lot of cheese and bread, so he is going to go GF and dairy-free and see if that helps. He is also soy-free due to allergy. He has oral allergy syndrome, so he doesn't eat foods that are raw but eats applesauce, bananas, and other fruits and veggies in smoothies. I am going to talk to his surgeon to see if I could have an adhesion from the appendectomy."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2011

"This medicine proved very effective for controlling my irritable bowel syndrome. However, at 0.0375 mg, I found it rather sedating. So, I split the tablets, and it still controlled my symptoms. It also helps with the stress incontinence I have as a result of prostate surgery. Overall, it was a miracle for me."

• Lil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 21, 2021

"I originally was prescribed this for a 'nervous stomach' due to diarrhea from severe anxiety. It works to control my bowels and stop the cramps. I have been on and off the meds for about 10 years, using it to help with flares - it is now known I have IBS. If I take it more than 3 days - 3 times a day as prescribed, I have severe constipation. I use it as needed, taking a single dose every day, and more if I have a flare, stopping for a few days only if I have harder stools."

• Al4...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2023

"I have experienced bowel problems since my teens and was finally prescribed Donnatal, and I had great success. As I got older, my symptoms subsided to the point that I no longer needed to take any medication. Occasionally, I would have minor flare-ups, but they would always subside. I am now in my 70s and have begun to experience IBS symptoms again. After researching for an alternative to Donnatal, which is outrageously expensive, I learned of Levsin. I asked my doctor to prescribe it, and I am very pleased with the results. The only negative about taking this medication is that I must take 4 tablets each day, but I have not had any adverse side effects to this point. Levsin is well worth the results for me, and my hope is that it will continue to give me positive results."