Generic Name
Aminopentamide

Brand Name
Centrine

Type of Drug
Antispasmodic (relieves spasms in the gastrointestinal tract), smooth muscle relaxant

Form and Storage
Tablet or injectable
Store in tightly closed container at room temperature unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.

Indications for Use
Used to treat vomiting, diarrhea, gastritis, and straining in maldigestion syndromes.

General Information
FDA approved for use in veterinary medicine. Available by prescription. Decreases the stomach's motility, acidity, and secretions. Also decreases the colon's tone and contractions.

Usual Dose and Administration
Dose and duration of treatment depends on reason for treatment and response to treatment.

Side Effects
May see dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, or difficulty urinating.

Contraindications/Warnings
Do not use in patients who are hypersensitive (allergic) to it or other anticholinergic drugs.

Do not use in patients with glaucoma, stomach or intestinal obstruction, heart disease, infectious intestinal diseases, certain other intestinal diseases, urinary obstruction, myasthenia gravis, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, prostate disease, or esophageal reflux.

Use with caution in young and old patients.

No information from manufacturer regarding use during pregnancy or lactation. Use with caution.

Drug or Food Interactions
Effects may be enhanced if used with antihistamines, procainamide, quinidine, meperidine, benzodiazepine tranquilizers, or phenothiazines.

May enhance the effect of nitrofurantoin, thiazide diuretics, and adrenergic agents (agents, such as epinephrine, which stimulate certain nerve cells including those involved in 'fight or flight' responses).

May halt the effect of metoclopramide.

May have increased side effects if used with primidone, disopyramide, nitrates, or long-term corticosteroid use.

No known food interactions.

Overdose/Toxicity
No specific information for aminopentamide, but effects are suspected to be the same as atropine's effects. May see dry eyes and mouth, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, constipation, inability to urinate or to fully empty the bladder, sedation or excitement, staggering, seizures, decreased rate of breathing, blurred vision, enlarged pupils, increased or decreased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, or death.