Belladonna Alkaloids/Phenobarbital, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antispasmodic; anticholinergic

Generic and brand names: belladonna alkaloids and phenobarbital, oral; Antispasmodic Elixir; Barbidonna; Barbidonna Elixir; Barbidonna No. 2; Bellacane Elixir; Belladenal; Chardonna 2; Donna-Sed Elixir; Donnamar; Donnapine; Donnatal; Donnatal Elixir; Donnatal Extentabs; Donnatal No. 2; Donphen; Hyosophen; Hyosophen Elixir; Kinesed; Malatal; Relaxadon; Spaslin; Spasmolin; Spasmophen; Spasmophen Elixir; Spasquid Elixir; Susano; Susano Elixir

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination product taken by mouth to treat cramps in your stomach and intestines. It also reduces stomach acid.

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
• a blockage in the gastrointestinal system or urinary tract
• a muscle disease such as myasthenia gravis
• an enlarged prostate gland
• an overactive thyroid
• asthma or other long term lung disease
• brain damage or Down's syndrome
• glaucoma
• heart problems such as heart failure, or a fast heart beat
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease
• porphyria (chemical imbalance that can affect the nerves and skin)
• problems with substance abuse
• severe ulcerative colitis.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 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?

This medicine works best when taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals.

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more of it or take it longer than directed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually.

If you are taking antacids, take them 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

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

You may sweat less while you are taking this medicine. Avoid extreme heat, saunas, hot tubs, and exercising too much. You can overheat which can cause heat stroke.

This medicine may make your eyes more sensitive to light. Wearing sunglasses will help decrease your discomfort.

This medicine may cause dry eyes and make contact lenses uncomfortable. Lubricating drops may help.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects such as nervousness or drowsiness. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.

Dry mouth is a common side effect of this medicine. If it continues or gets worse, tell your healthcare provider. It is important to drink plenty of water while you are taking this medicine.

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); seizures.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe vision problems or eye pain, confusion, clumsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations, muscle weakness, fast heartbeat, flushing, diarrhea, trouble urinating, high or low blood pressure. Important: These symptoms are also signs of overdose.

Other: Constipation, dry mouth, decreased sweating, nausea, vomiting, change in taste, stuffy nose, restlessness, drowsiness, mild dizziness, headache, dilated pupils.

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. Also, using these medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any of these medicines:

• amantadine (Symmetrel)
• antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Amphojel, and Tums (take them 2 hours apart from this medicine)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril), meclizine (Antivert, Dramamine), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• antipsychotic medicines such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel) and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• atenolol (Tenormin)
• birth control pills
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• medicines used to treat diarrhea such as Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol (take them 2 hours apart from this medicine)
• muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), methocarbamol (Robaxin), dantrolene (Dantrium), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Roxanol), codeine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin, Roxicodone), propoxyphene (Darvocet), meperidine (Demerol), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), and thioridazine
• sedatives such as phenobarbital, pentobarbital (Nembutal), and butabarbital (Butisol)
• tranquilizers such as clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), flurazepam (Dalmane), diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. 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.