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Donnatal

Generic: phenobarbital, hyoscyamine sulfate, atropine sulfate, scopolamine hydrobromide

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
Concordia
NDC
59212-422
RxCUI
1046787
Route
ORAL
ICD-10 indication
K58.9

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About Donnatal

What is this medication?

Donnatal is a prescription medication that functions as an adjunctive treatment for several gastrointestinal disorders. It is a combination drug containing phenobarbital and various belladonna alkaloids, including hyoscyamine, atropine, and scopolamine. This medication is primarily used to manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and acute enterocolitis by reducing the activity of muscles in the digestive tract. By acting as an antispasmodic, it helps to relieve painful stomach cramps, intestinal spasms, and bloating.

Beyond treating bowel issues, Donnatal is also utilized in the management of duodenal ulcers to help control stomach acid production and slow down the movement of food through the gut. The phenobarbital component serves as a mild sedative, which can assist in calming the nervous system and reducing the stress often linked to chronic digestive discomfort. Due to its specific combination of ingredients, healthcare providers typically prescribe it when other treatments have not successfully managed a patient's symptoms.

Copay & patient assistance

Detailed copay and financial assistance information is not publicly available for this medication at this time. Please consult your pharmacist or the manufacturer's official patient support program for more details.

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for Donnatal. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Dec 5, 2024

Indications and usage
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Based on a review of this drug by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council and/or other information, FDA has classified the indications as follows: "Possibly" effective: For use as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (irritable colon, spastic colon, mucous colitis) and acute enterocolitis. May also be useful as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Final classification of the less-than-effective indications requires further investigation. IT HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN CONCLUSIVELY WHETHER ANTICHOLINERGIC/ANTISPASMODIC DRUGS AID IN THE HEALING OF A DUODENAL ULCER, DECREASE THE RATE OF RECURRENCES OR PREVENT COMPLICATIONS.
Dosage and administration
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The dosage of Donnatal® Elixir should be adjusted to the needs of the individual patient to assure symptomatic control with a minimum of adverse effects. Donnatal® Elixir. Adults: One or two teaspoonfuls of elixir three or four times a day according to conditions and severity of symptoms. Pediatric patients: may be dosed every 4 to 6 hours. Use a pediatric dosing device or oral syringe to measure the dose. Starting Dosage Body weight Every 4 hours Every 6 hours 10 lb. (4.5 kg) 0.5 mL 0.75 mL 20 lb. (9.1 kg) 1 mL 1.5 mL 30 lb. (13.6 kg) 1.5 mL 2 mL 50 lb. (22.7 kg) 2.5 mL 3.75 mL 75 lb. (34 kg) 3.75 mL 5 mL 100 lb. (45.4 kg) 5 mL 7.5 mL
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS glaucoma; obstructive uropathy (for example, bladder neck obstruction due to prostatic hypertrophy); obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract (as in achalasia, pyloroduodenal stenosis, etc.); paralytic ileus, intestinal atony of the elderly or debilitated patient; unstable cardiovascular status in acute hemorrhage; severe ulcerative colitis especially if complicated by toxic megacolon; myasthenia gravis; hiatal hernia associated with reflux esophagitis; in patients with known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients. Phenobarbital is contraindicated in acute intermittent porphyria and in those patients in whom phenobarbital produces restlessness and/or excitement.
Warnings
WARNINGS Donnatal® Elixir can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Donnatal® Elixir. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. In the presence of a high environmental temperature, heat prostration can occur with belladonna alkaloids (fever and heatstroke due to decreased sweating). Diarrhea may be an early symptom of incomplete intestinal obstruction, especially in patients with ileostomy or colostomy. In this instance, treatment with this drug would be inappropriate and possibly harmful. Donnatal® Elixir may produce drowsiness or blurred vision. The patient should be warned, should these occur, not to engage in activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery, and not to perform hazardous work. Phenobarbital may decrease the effect of anticoagulants, and necessitate larger doses of the anticoagulant for optimal effect. When the phenobarbital is discontinued, the dose of the anticoagulant may have to be decreased. Phenobarbital may be habit forming and should not be administered to individuals known to be addiction prone or to those with a history of physical and/or psychological dependence upon drugs. Since barbiturates are metabolized in the liver, they should be used with caution and initial doses should be small in patients with hepatic dysfunction.
Drug interactions
Drug Interactions Phenobarbital may decrease the effect of anticoagulants, and necessitate larger doses of the anticoagulant for optimal effect. When the phenobarbital is discontinued, the dose of the anticoagulant may have to be decreased.
Adverse reactions
ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions may include xerostomia; urinary hesitancy and retention; blurred vision; tachycardia; palpitation; mydriasis; cycloplegia; increased ocular tension; loss of taste sense; headache; nervousness; drowsiness; weakness; dizziness; insomnia; nausea; vomiting; impotence; suppression of lactation; constipation; bloated feeling; musculoskeletal pain; severe allergic reaction or drug idiosyncrasies, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, and other dermal manifestations; and decreased sweating. Acquired hypersensitivity to barbiturates consists chiefly in allergic reactions that occur especially in persons who tend to have asthma, urticaria, angioedema, and similar conditions. Hypersensitivity reactions in this category include localized swelling, particularly of the eyelids, cheeks, or lips, and erythematous dermatitis. Rarely, exfoliative dermatitis (e.g. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis) may be caused by phenobarbital and can prove fatal. The skin eruption may be associated with fever, delirium, and marked degenerative changes in the liver and other parenchymatous organs. In a few cases, megaloblastic anemia has been associated with the chronic use of phenobarbital. Phenobarbital may produce excitement in some patients, rather than a sedative effect. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Advanz Pharma (US) Corp. at 1-877-370-1142 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Use in pregnancy
Pregnancy Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Donnatal® Elixir. There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks ( see WARNINGS ).

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.