Recommended Dosage of Drotaverine
The recommended dosage of drotaverine is 80 mg administered orally three times daily for adults. This dosing regimen has been shown to be effective in managing various conditions including abdominal pain associated with gastrointestinal disorders 1.
Adult Dosing
- For treatment of abdominal pain in acute infectious gastroenteritis: 80 mg orally three times daily for 3 days 1
- For management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): 80 mg orally three times daily for 4 weeks 2
- For prevention of urinary retention after surgery: 40 mg intramuscularly as a single dose 3
Route of Administration
- Oral administration is most common for gastrointestinal conditions 1, 2
- Intramuscular administration (40 mg) has been shown effective for prevention of urinary retention in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia 3
Duration of Treatment
- Short-term treatment (3 days) is typically used for acute conditions like infectious gastroenteritis 1
- Longer treatment duration (4 weeks) may be necessary for chronic conditions like IBS 2
Clinical Efficacy
- Drotaverine significantly reduces abdominal pain intensity compared to placebo in patients with IBS and acute infectious gastroenteritis 1, 2
- When used at 80 mg three times daily, drotaverine provides significant improvement in global relief of abdominal pain (85.9% vs 39.5% with placebo) 2
- As an antispasmodic, drotaverine appears to work primarily by affecting visceral sensation rather than motility 4
Special Considerations
- Higher doses (up to 80 mg/kg in experimental models) have been studied for potential neuroprotective effects, but these are not standard clinical doses 5
- The combination of drotaverine (80 mg) with paracetamol (500 mg) has shown enhanced efficacy in managing abdominal pain in acute infectious gastroenteritis 1
Potential Side Effects
- Drotaverine is generally well-tolerated with no major side effects reported in clinical trials 1, 2
- The safety profile appears favorable compared to other antispasmodic agents 4
While there are limited comprehensive guidelines specifically addressing drotaverine dosing, the evidence from multiple clinical trials consistently supports the 80 mg three times daily dosing regimen for most indications in adults 1, 2, 4.