Oh, here you go! Drs. Wolfe and Hope, "Worst Pills, Best Pills" has this to say about Donnatal:
(Quote): "Donnatal is actually a combination of Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, and -- are you ready -- Phenobarbital."
"Warning: special mental and physical adverse effects. Older adults are especially sensitive to the harmful anticholinergic effects of a family of drugs called belladonna alkaloids. Atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine are all in this family. Drugs in this family should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Mental effects: confusion, delirium, short-term memory problems, disorientation, and impaired attention. Physical effects: dry mouth, constipation, difficulty urinating (especially for a man with an enlarged prostate), blurred vision, decreased sweating with increased body temperature, sexual dysfunction, and worsening of glaucoma."
(Unquote)
I take this stuff ONLY when I'm absolutely desperate, doubled over in pain, and can't take it any more. Thankfully, that hasn't happened in almost a year now. My prescription is still full of the stuff; I'm hoping they'll come out with something far safer before it's empty.
Consider Heather's peppermint caps. She used to take Donnatal also, but she says the caps actually work better as an anti-spasmodic than Donnatal. I'd go for the caps if they didn't cause me such indigestion...
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Donnatal -- Watch Out!
