Bentyl Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Bentyl (dicyclomine) is a medication that treats irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. IBS can cause painful spasms of the digestive system. Bentyl helps treat IBS by calming these spasms, which can lessen painful stomach cramps. Bentyl is available in several different dosage forms and it also comes as a lower-cost generic.

If your healthcare provider has mentioned Bentyl as a treatment option, you may be wondering how you’ll take it. In this guide, we’ll review the approved Bentyl dosages and dosage forms for adults with IBS.

What dosage forms does Bentyl come in?

Bentyl is available in multiple dosage forms, including an oral tablet, capsule, and solution. It’s also available as an injection given into your muscle (IM). The different Bentyl forms and doses available are listed in the table below. 

You can take Bentyl with or without food. The oral solution comes in different flavors depending on who makes it, including cherry brandy and tropical fruit punch. The oral solution does not contain alcohol.

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In most cases, the IM injection is given in a hospital or clinic setting. And it’s usually only meant for people who are unable to take oral dosage forms.

Good to know: Many people use the brand name Bentyl and generic name dicyclomine interchangeably. However, brand-name Bentyl is no longer available in the oral dosage forms. They’re only available as generic dicyclomine. Only the IM injection is available in both a brand-name and generic form.

What’s the typical Bentyl dosage for adults?

In this next section, we’ll review the recommended Bentyl dosage for adults. Your healthcare provider may have you take a different dose based on how well the medication works for you and what side effects you experience. Be sure to follow their directions.

Oral dosages 

The recommended starting oral Bentyl dosage is 20 mg by mouth four times a day (80 mg daily). After 1 week, your healthcare provider may raise your dose to 40 mg four times a day (160 mg daily). This is the recommended target Bentyl dosage. But if you’re experiencing side effects, your provider may decide not to raise your dose, or they may even lower it.

After 2 weeks, if your symptoms don’t improve, or if you’re unable to tolerate 80 mg of Bentyl per day, your healthcare provider may have you stop taking it. 

IM injection dosage

If you can’t take oral medications, your healthcare provider may prescribe you Bentyl as an IM injection.

The recommended Bentyl dosage by injection is 10 mg to 20 mg four times a day. It’s not recommended to use the IM injection for more than 1 or 2 days at a time.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

You might need a different Bentyl dosage if you’re taking an interacting medication. And Bentyl isn’t recommended if you have certain medical conditions, such as myasthenia gravis or glaucoma.

If you have liver or kidney problems, your healthcare provider may recommend some extra monitoring to make sure potential risks don’t arise. It’s also possible that Bentyl may not be the best treatment option for you. Speak with your provider to determine the best treatment option for your IBS symptoms.

Let your healthcare provider know about any medical conditions you have and other medications you take, including over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements. This can help them identify any potential drug interactions before they happen.

What happens if you miss a dose of Bentyl?

If you forget to take a dose of Bentyl, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose. You can take the next dose at your regularly scheduled time. Don’t take two doses at once to make up for the missed dose.

If you’re consistently missing doses of Bentyl, speak with your healthcare provider. They can help get you back on a regular dosing schedule. If you’re having trouble remembering to take your medications, there are tools available to help. Some tips include placing a reminder note somewhere you’ll see it often (like a bathroom mirror) or using a pill organizer.

What should you do if you take too much Bentyl?

Taking one extra dose of Bentyl by accident probably shouldn’t cause any major problems. You may experience more side effects, such as dizziness, dry mouth, or blurred vision.

But large doses of Bentyl can be serious and cause symptoms such as seizures, muscle weakness, and paralysis. If you or a loved one takes too much Bentyl, contact your healthcare provider or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

How to save on Bentyl

There are many ways to save on Bentyl, which is available as a generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price. Generic Bentyl’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $8.16 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Divya Bhaskar, PharmD Candidate

In her spare time, Divya has volunteered for UCSF’s Project Pediatrics and Science & Health education partnership. This program focuses on conveying age-appropriate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to children.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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