Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

This medicine should not be used in children. Children, especially very young children, are very sensitive to the effects of difenoxin and atropine. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment. Also, the fluid loss caused by diarrhea may result in a severe condition. For this reason, it is very important that a sufficient amount of liquids be given to replace the fluid lost by the body. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Geriatric

Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing may be more likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of difenoxin. Also, the fluid loss caused by diarrhea may result in a severe condition. For this reason, elderly persons should not take this medicine without first checking with their doctor. It is also very important that a sufficient amount of liquids be taken to replace the fluid lost by the body. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Ambenonium
  • Nalmefene
  • Naltrexone
  • Potassium Citrate
  • Safinamide
  • Samidorphan

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Alfentanil
  • Alprazolam
  • Amantadine
  • Amifampridine
  • Amphetamine
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Benzphetamine
  • Bromazepam
  • Bromopride
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Butorphanol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Cetirizine
  • Citalopram
  • Clobazam
  • Clonazepam
  • Clopidogrel
  • Clozapine
  • Codeine
  • Daridorexant
  • Desmopressin
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Diazepam
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Donepezil
  • Doxylamine
  • Duloxetine
  • Escitalopram
  • Esketamine
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fentanyl
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Furazolidone
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Gepirone
  • Glucagon
  • Glycopyrrolate
  • Glycopyrronium Tosylate
  • Granisetron
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroxyamphetamine
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Ketamine
  • Lacosamide
  • Lasmiditan
  • Lemborexant
  • LetibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Levorphanol
  • Linezolid
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lithium
  • Lofexidine
  • Lorazepam
  • Loxapine
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Meclizine
  • Meperidine
  • Metaxalone
  • Methacholine
  • Methadone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Metoclopramide
  • Midazolam
  • Milnacipran
  • Mirtazapine
  • Moclobemide
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Nalbuphine
  • Olanzapine
  • Oliceridine
  • Ondansetron
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Paroxetine
  • Pentazocine
  • Periciazine
  • Phenelzine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Pregabalin
  • Primidone
  • Procarbazine
  • Quetiapine
  • Rasagiline
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Revefenacin
  • Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
  • Scopolamine
  • Secretin Human
  • Selegiline
  • Sertraline
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sufentanil
  • Tapentadol
  • Tiotropium
  • Topiramate
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Trazodone
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilazodone
  • Vortioxetine
  • Zolpidem
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Arbutamine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
  • Drug abuse (history of)—There is a greater chance that this medicine may become habit-forming
  • Colitis (severe)—A more serious problem of the colon may develop if you use this medicine
  • Down's syndrome—Side effects may be more likely and severe in these patients
  • Dysentery—This condition may get worse; a different kind of treatment may be needed
  • Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease—There is a greater chance that this medicine may cause breathing problems in patients who have any of these conditions
  • Enlarged prostate or
  • Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination—Problems with urination may develop with the use of this medicine
  • Gallbladder disease or gallstones—Use of this medicine may cause spasms of the biliary tract and make the condition worse
  • Glaucoma—Severe pain in the eye may occur with the use of this medicine; however, the chance of this happening is low
  • Heart disease—This medicine may have some effects on the heart, which may make the condition worse
  • Hiatal hernia—The atropine in this medicine may make this condition worse; however, the chance of this happening is low
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)—The atropine in this medicine may cause an increase in blood pressure; however, the chance of this happening is low
  • Intestinal blockage—This medicine may make the condition worse
  • Kidney disease—The atropine in this medicine may build up in the body and cause side effects
  • Liver disease—The chance of central nervous system (CNS) side effects, including coma, may be greater in patients who have this condition
  • Myasthenia gravis—This medicine may make the condition worse
  • Overactive or underactive thyroid—Unwanted effects on breathing and heart rate may occur
  • Overflow incontinence—This medicine may make the condition worse

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.