alosetron vs dicyclomine
Side-by-side comparison of alosetron and dicyclomine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lotronex
Bentyl
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It helps to reduce diarrhea and stomach pain.
Dicyclomine is a medicine that helps with irritable bowel syndrome. It reduces muscle spasms in the gut.
Alosetron is used to treat severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. It is for women whose IBS symptoms have lasted for 6 months or longer. You should have already ruled out other possible causes of your symptoms. This medicine is only for you if other treatments have not worked well enough.
Dicyclomine treats irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can cause stomach pain and changes in bowel habits. This medicine helps to relieve these symptoms.
Alosetron blocks a substance called serotonin in your gut. Serotonin can speed up bowel movements. By blocking serotonin, alosetron slows down your bowel and reduces diarrhea.
Dicyclomine works by blocking a substance called acetylcholine. This substance tells the muscles in your gut to contract. By blocking acetylcholine, dicyclomine helps to relax these muscles and reduce spasms.
- • Constipation
- • Abdominal discomfort and pain
- • Nausea
- • Gastrointestinal discomfort and pain
- • Dizziness
- • Dry mouth
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- • Sleepiness
- Medicine not working 11
- Diarrhea 10
- Feeling sick to your stomach 8
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 7
- Stomach pain 6
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,251
- Loose, watery stools 1,193
- Feeling very tired 1,119
- Aches or soreness 1,002
- Pain in your head 861
Alosetron can cause serious gut problems, like ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel) and severe constipation. These problems can lead to hospitalization, surgery, or even death. Stop taking alosetron right away if you get constipated or have symptoms of ischemic colitis, like bloody diarrhea or bad stomach pain. Call your doctor immediately.
Dicyclomine can worsen heart problems. It can also cause heat stroke because it reduces sweating. Some people, especially older adults or those with mental illness, may get psychosis or delirium. Overdose can cause muscle weakness and paralysis, especially in people with myasthenia gravis. This medicine may not be safe if you have a bowel obstruction, ulcerative colitis, or an enlarged prostate.
It is not known if alosetron can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if alosetron passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take alosetron.
If you are pregnant, only use dicyclomine if clearly needed. Dicyclomine passes into breast milk and can harm a nursing baby. You should not breastfeed while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This alosetron vs dicyclomine Comparison
alosetron is classified in the 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D) drug class, while dicyclomine sits within the Anticholinergic / Antispasmodic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alosetron has 42 submissions while dicyclomine has 5,426. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between alosetron and dicyclomine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.