HyoMax

Hyoscyamine is a prescription medication used to used to control symptoms associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Hyoscyamine is also used in the treatment of bladder spasms, peptic ulcer disease, diverticulitis, colic, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hyoscyamine may also be used to treat rhinitis.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

HyoMax is part of the drug class:

• Belladonna alkaloids, tertiary amines

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), fluphenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil) mesoridazine (Serentil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), perphenazine (Trilafon), phenelzine (Nardil), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), promethazine (Phenergan), protriptyline (Vivactil), thioridazine (Mellaril), tranylcypromine (Parnate), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), triflupromazine (Vesprin), trimeprazine (Temaril), trimipramine (Surmontil), amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), protriptyline (Vivactil), and clomipramine (Anafranil)
• Medications containing belladonna (Donnatal),
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar), rasagiline (Azilect)

• Certain antihistamines
• Antacids

This is not a complete list of hyoscyamine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of hyoscyamine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

• Store hyoscyamine at room temperature.
• Store medication away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not take hyoscyamine if you are allergic to it, or if you have kidney disease, a bladder or intestinal obstruction, severe ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon, glaucoma, or myasthenia gravis.

Before taking hyoscyamine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, congestive heart failure, a heart rhythm disorder, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, or hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Avoid taking antacids at the same time you take hyoscyamine. Antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb hyoscyamine. If you use an antacid, take it after you have taken hyoscyamine and eaten a meal.

Hyoscyamine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking hyoscyamine.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Hyoscyamine can decrease sweating and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your medication may come with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Hyoscyamine is usually taken before a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Do not crush, chew, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or crushing the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Your doctor may want you to break an extended-release tablet and take only half of it. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Measure the oral liquid form of hyoscyamine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

The sublingual tablet form of this medication must be placed under the tongue, where it will dissolve. Do not swallow the sublingual tablet whole or wash it down with water. You may drink water after the pill has completely dissolved in your mouth.

Before using hyoscyamine oral spray for the first time, you must prime the spray pump. To do this, spray 3 test sprays into the air and away from your face. Prime the spray pump at least 1 test spray any time you have not used the oral spray for longer than 2 days. Spray until a fine mist appears.

After using the oral spray, try not to swallow right away. Do not rinse your mouth or spit for 5 to 10 minutes after using the oral spray.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Do not use hyoscyamine oral spray for more than 30 sprays, even if there is medicine still left in the bottle.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how HyoMax affects you.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
• Good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help with dry mouth. See a dentist often.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with care. You could have more side effects.
• Different brands of HyoMax may be for use in different ages of children. Talk with the doctor before giving this medicine to a child.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using HyoMax while you are pregnant.

Applies to hyoscyamine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral capsule extended release, oral liquid, oral solution, oral spray, oral tablet, oral tablet chewable, oral tablet disintegrating, oral tablet extended release, sublingual tablet

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included tachycardia, premature ventricular depolarizations, and ventricular tachycardia.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects due to the anticholinergic effects of hyoscyamine (the active ingredient contained in HyoMax) have commonly included dry mouth and mucous membranes. Other reported side effects include delayed gastric emptying time, reduced gastric acid secretion, constipation, and gastroesophageal reflux.[Ref]

General

Hyoscyamine (the active ingredient contained in HyoMax) toxicity (anticholinergic side effects) often presents as fever, tachycardia, agitation, and dry skin/mucous membranes.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary complications include urinary retention (due to anticholinergic effects on the urinary sphincter), which is common and dose-related, and impotence in male patients.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions to hyoscyamine (the active ingredient contained in HyoMax) are rare. Reactions can include urticaria, eczema, papillary hyperplasia, mucopurulent discharge, eosinophilia, pruritus, edema, hypotension, abdominal pain, tachypnea, nausea and vomiting.[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included lethargy and somnolence. Higher doses may be associated with mental confusion and/or excitement. The elderly appear to be more prone to the anticholinergic effects of hyoscyamine (the active ingredient contained in HyoMax) on the CNS.[Ref]

Ocular

Ocular side effects due to the anticholinergic activity of hyoscyamine (the active ingredient contained in HyoMax) have included inhibition of the iris sphincter muscle (possibly resulting in mydriasis), follicular conjunctivitis, and inhibition of the ciliary muscle (which can produce blurred vision). All muscarinic antagonists can precipitate glaucoma.[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included inhibition of exocrine sweat glands. This is usually not clinically significant except when perspiration becomes a major factor in body temperature control.[Ref]

Some side effects of HyoMax may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.