✕

Download the Practo app for free

Get Rs. 200 HealthCash
Download the app now
✔ Book instant appointments 24x7
✔ Bookmark doctors for quick access
✔ Consult online with a doctor in 60s
✕
Free ₹200 worth HealthCash on app
Use HealthCash to order medicines, health products & much more
Get App
0

Drotaverine

Get ₹200 healthcash on app

Use HealthCash to order medicines & much more

Description

Drotaverine is a pain-relieving medicine. It is used to relieve pain due to various conditions like muscle spasms, menstruation, kidney stones, gall stones, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. It is also used to reduce labour pains. It works by reducing the contraction of smooth muscles. Drotaverine has some side effects like nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, dizziness, etc. These side effects are mild and may subside by themselves. Consult your doctor if they bother you or worsen. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to it. Avoid driving vehicles or operating machines after taking this medicine as it may cause sleepiness. Drotaverine is available in tablet, capsule, syrup, suspension and injection dosage forms. The oral forms (tablets, capsules, syrup, suspension) of this medicine can be taken with or without food. Take this medicine at the dose and for the duration prescribed by your doctor regularly at the same time for better results. Do not take more than the prescribed dose. Complete the treatment and do not discontinue the medicine without consulting your doctor. Drotaverine injection is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital setting. Drotaverine is not recommended for use in children below one year of age as the safety and efficacy of this medicine for use is not available. Injections can be given to children below one year. Inform your doctor if you have liver, kidney, heart problems. Also, inform your doctor about all the medicines including herbal supplements you are using. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
QUICK LINKS:
Side effectsConcernsUsage

How will this medicine affect me?

Consult top doctors online and get an answer now.
Consult now

Looking for a doctor?

Book an appointment with the top doctors near you
Book now

Should you be taking this medicine?

Consult with a Doctor for the best diagnosis.

Looking for a doctor?

Book an appointment with the top doctors near you

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Drotaverine

Nausea and vomiting

Dry mouth

Change in pulse rate

Dizziness

Headache

Difficulty in breathing

Allergic skin reaction

Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet

Fall in blood pressure

Hypoesthesia (Decreased sense of touch or sensation)

Anaemia

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Frequent acid reflexes from stomach)

Decreased urine output

Uses of Drotaverine

What is it prescribed for?

Pain Relief

Drotaverine is used to relieve spasms of smooth muscles like the stomach, intestine, heart, and other organs. It also relieves headache, menstrual pain, chest pain, pain due to irritable bowel syndrome, pain due to hard deposits in the kidney or gallbladder (smooth organ below the liver), pain due to spasm of muscles during childbirth.
Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action

    The amount of time taken for Drotaverine to show its effect is not known.

  • Duration of effect

    The duration of time for which Drotaverine remains effective is not known.

  • Safe with alcohol?

    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

  • Is it habit forming?

    No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Drotaverine.

  • Usage in pregnancy?

    Drotaverine is not recommended for use in your pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.

  • Usage while breast-feeding?

    Drotaverine is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before using this medicne.

Allergy

Avoid taking Drotaverine if you are allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions to this medicine are rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.

Sever liver/kidney diseases

Drotaverine is not recommended for use if you have severe liver or kidney problems as this medicine may worsen your condition.

Heart Failure

Drotaverine is not recommended for use if you have heart problems characterized by insufficient blood flow.

Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Drotaverine is not recommended for use in your pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.

Breast-feeding

Drotaverine is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before using this medicne.

General warnings

Liver disease

Use Drotaverine with caution if you have liver problems as it may lead to undesirable effects. Your doctor may suggest tests to closely monitor your liver function if necessary while taking this medicine

Kidney disease

Use Drotaverine with caution if you have kidney problems as it may lead to undesirable effects due to the accumulation of this medicine.

Heart disease

Drotaverine can cause a fall in blood pressure levels. Hence, use this medicine with caution if you have disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Other medicines

Drotaverine is known to interact with many other medicines. Report to your doctor if you are using any other medicines including herbs and supplements.

Driving or operating machines

Drotaverine may cause sleepiness, blurred vision or dizziness in some people. Hence, it is advised not to drive vehicles or operate heavy machines after taking this medicine.

Missed Dose

Oral forms (tablet, capsule, suspension, syrup): Do not skip any dose of Drotaverine. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one. Injection: Since Drotaverine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.

Overdose

Oral forms (tablet, capsule, suspension, syrup): Contact your doctor if an overdose with Drotaverine is suspected. Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, increased heart rate, fall in blood pressure etc. Injection: Since Drotaverine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the chances of an overdose are very low.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.

Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Interaction with Medicine

Atropine

Diclofenac

Levodopa

Diazepam

Disease interactions

Porphyria

Porphyria is a rare disorder that mainly affects your skin or nervous system. This disorder is usually inherited, which means it is caused by gene mutations passed from parents to children. Drotaverine may worsen the conditions associated with photosensitivity, such as acute porphyria. Consult your doctor before using this medicine in such conditions.

Hypotension

Hypotension is low blood pressure. Use Drotaverine with caution if you have this condition as it may even decrease your blood pressure.

Food interactions

Information not available.

Lab interactions

Information not available.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible drug interactions. You should consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of the drugs you’re taking.
Oral form (tablet, capsule, suspension, syrup): Take Drotaverine as instructed by your doctor. Follow all the instructions mentioned on the label. This medicine can be taken with or without food. Do not take more or fewer doses than prescribed. Parenteral form (injection): Drotaverine is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital setting. Your doctor will determine the dose and duration of treatment depending on the severity of your health condition.

Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works

Drotaverine acts on the smooth muscles to relieve pain and spasms.

Legal Status

Approved

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Classification

Category

Antispasmodics, Selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors

Schedule

Schedule H

Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Drotaverine. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1712095>

Hospitals, M., 2021. Drotaverine | Side Effects | Precautions | Warnings | Medicine. [online] Medicoverhospitals.in. Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].

https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/medicine/drotaverine>

Sunfarm.pl. 2021. Drotafemme Forte / SUN-FARM. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].

http://www.sunfarm.pl/en/50/Drotafemme_Forte>

Pharmaguide.org. 2021. No-Spa (Drotaverine) 40mg & No-Spa Forte Tablets. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 27 September 2021].

https://pharmaguide.org/no-spa.html>
Something doesn’t feel right?
Report an error

Information on this page was last updated on 17 Nov 2021

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.