What is Belladonna Opium?

Belladonna is a natural substance made from a toxic plant. The medicinal form of belladonna has many effects in the body, such as decreasing muscle activity.

Opium is also a natural substance made from the seeds of a plant. The medicinal form of opium is a narcotic pain reliever.

The combination of belladonna and opium is used to treat moderate to severe pain caused by muscle spasms in the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

Belladonna and opium may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Belladonna Opium?

Do not take belladonna and opium rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

Do not use belladonna and opium if you are also using furazolidone (Furoxone), linezolid (Zyvox), moclobemide, pramlintide (Symlin), procarbazine (Matulane), naltrexone (ReVia), or potassium supplement tablets or capsules.

You should not use belladonna and opium if you have glaucoma, urination problems, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, a head injury, seizures, diarrhea caused by infection, severe liver or kidney disease, severe bleeding, myasthenia gravis, asthma, or if you are intoxicated or debilitated.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, a stomach or intestinal disorder, breathing problems, mental illness, spinal curvature, gallbladder disease, Addison’s disease, underactive thyroid, drug or alcohol addiction, or if you are allergic to any narcotic medications.

Opium may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Belladonna and opium rectal suppositories should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Belladonna Opium?

Do not use belladonna and opium if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you use belladonna and opium before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to belladonna or opium, or if you have:

glaucoma
urination problems or an enlarged prostate
severe kidney disease
a blockage in your stomach or intestines
a history of head injury or brain tumor
epilepsy or other seizure disorder
an infection causing diarrhea
severe liver disease
severe bleeding
a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis
asthma or severe breathing disorder
if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medications; or
if you are bed-ridden or otherwise debilitated

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use belladonna and opium. Before using, tell your doctor if you have:

liver or kidney disease
heart disease, high or low blood pressure
a stomach or intestinal disorder
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other breathing problems
depression or mental illness
curvature of the spine
gallbladder disease
Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorders
underactive thyroid
drug or alcohol addiction; or
an allergy to atropine or any narcotic pain medicine such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others), oxycodone (OxyContin), and others

FDA pregnancy category C. Belladonna and opium may be harmful to an unborn baby. It could also cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother uses the medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Belladonna and opium can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

Belladonna Opium Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Belladonna Opium?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

painful or difficult urination
urinating less than usual or not at all
fast heart rate
weak, shallow breathing
extreme weakness, feeling like you might pass out
headache, confusion; or
severe constipation and stomach pain

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness
blurred vision
nausea, vomiting, constipation
dry mouth, dry eyes
decreased sense of taste; or
impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Belladonna Opium Interactions

What other drugs affect Belladonna Opium?

Many drugs can interact with belladonna and opium. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
cimetidine (Tagamet)
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate)
cold or allergy medicines
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), nortriptyline (Pamelor), trazodone (Desyrel), and others
medicine to treat a mental illness, such as clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and others
diazepam (Valium) or similar medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta, Ziac), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), and others; or
other narcotic pain medicine such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxymorphone (Numorphan, Opana), and others

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with belladonna and opium. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Belladonna Opium?

Belladonna and opium can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of belladonna and opium.

Belladonna and opium can cause constipation. Avoid using any type of laxative without asking your doctor.

Belladonna Opium Dosage

How should I take Belladonna Opium?

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Do not take belladonna and opium rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Wash your hands before and after inserting the rectal suppository.

Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the belladonna and opium suppository. Use this medicine at a time when you can lie down afterward and hold the medicine in for a few minutes.

Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands. Moisten the suppository with water to make it easier to insert.

Lie on your back with your knees up toward your chest. Gently insert the suppository into your rectum about 1 inch.

For best results, stay lying down after inserting the suppository and hold it in your rectum for a few minutes. The suppository will melt quickly once inserted and you should feel little or no discomfort while holding it in. Avoid using the bathroom for at least an hour after using the suppository.

Drink plenty of water to prevent constipation while using belladonna and opium.

Belladonna and opium rectal is most often used 1 or 2 times per day. Do not use the suppositories more than 4 times per day. Follow your doctor’s instructions. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using this medication.

Do not stop using the medication suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using belladonna and opium rectal.

Store the rectal suppositories at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not refrigerate or freeze this medication.

Ask your pharmacist how to properly dispose of any unused suppositories that are no longer needed.

Keep track of how many suppositories have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Opium is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I overdose on Belladonna Opium?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or excited, confusion or unusual behavior, muscle weakness, weak or shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Belladonna Opium?

Since this medication is often used only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra suppositories to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com

Belladonna Opium