Can be concurrently used with analgesics, antimuscarrinics or benzodiapines with beneficial effect.

It may attentuate the clinical effects of levodopa when given concurrently.

Relief of smooth muscle spasm due to gastritis

Drotavarine is generally well tolerated and free from side effects, addiction, dryness of mouth, blurring of vision and blood dyscrasias.

It does not cause gastric irritation or other gastrointestinal effects.

Safety in pregnancy, children, hypertension, glaucoma, and prostatic hypertrophy.

Severe renal/hepatic/cardiac dysfunction. Hypersensitivity to the drug.

Special precaution:

In severe renal/hepatic/cardiac dysfunction drotaverine administration is not recommended.

Indication-

Relief of smooth muscle spasm due to gastritis

Dosage-

Usual dose is 40-80mg thrice daily.

In children, doses should be adjusted to age and body weight 1-6 yrs age group: 20mg three to four times a day.

Over 6 yrs: 40mg thrice daily. In peptic ulcer drotaverine can be combined with antimuscarrinics to acheive the optimal effect.

Pharamacology:

Drotaverine is an isoquinolone antispasmodic recently introduced in India. Drotaverine produces its effect by inhibiting phosphodiesterase- IV which is specific for smooth muscle. It has a rapid and direct action on the smooth muscle. It acts at the cyclic site correcting cyclic AMP and calcium imbalance and thereby relieves the smooth muscle spasm.

Pharmacokinetics:

Following oral dosing the adsorption of drotaverine is rapid from the small intestine with an absorption half-life of about 12 min. The T max is about 45- 60 minutes.

The primary elimination half-life, following IV use is 2.4 hrs and terminal elimination half-life is 16 hrs. The pharmacokinetics of drotaverine is not affected by the route of administration.

Not indicated

Pregnancy-

The therapeutic use of drotaverine in the last 30 yrs has not shown any adverse effect in pregnancy.

Drotaverine is considered safe and effective when used as recommended during pregnancy.