Does Medicare Cover Bentyl Prescriptions?

Christian Worstell
In this article...
  • Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription plans may provide coverage for Bentyl, a medication used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Find out more.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal condition that causes uncomfortable abdominal symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas. The specific cause of IBS is not completely understood, but medical professionals believe that it could be linked to various factors such as stress, food intolerance, bacterial infections resulting in bacterial overgrowth, gut flora imbalances and nervous system disorders. IBS symptoms are often managed with dietary changes and medications, such as Bentyl (dicyclomine), that help reduce muscle spasms in the intestines. 

Does Medicare Cover Bentyl?

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plans do not currently cover dicyclomine under the brand name Bentyl, but approximately 99% of Medicare prescription drug plans cover generic dicyclomine. Specific costs and coverage options may vary depending on plan availability and whether a recipient has met the Medicare deductible.

Costs for generic dicyclomine during the Medicare deductible phase range from $0 to $11.50. After the required Medicare deductible costs are met and beneficiaries move into the copay or coinsurance phase, the copay price for generic dicyclomine is approximately $0 to $1

How Does Dicyclomine Work?

Dicyclomine is an antispasmodic medication that relaxes the intestinal and stomach muscles to slow down the gut's natural movements and prevent cramping. For individuals with IBS, this may help relieve pain from muscle cramps and prevent diarrhea. While specific dosage instructions can vary, dicyclomine is typically taken up to four times daily.

Dicyclomine Side Effects

Side effects such as drowsiness and constipation are common when taking dicyclomine, so physicians sometimes recommend starting with smaller doses and gradually increasing doses as the body adjusts to the medication. 

Is Dicyclomine Considered a High-Risk Medication for Older Adults? 

Dicyclomine is considered a higher-risk medication for adults aged 65 or older due to side effects such as drowsiness and constipation. While these side effects are generally considered normal, the medicine can exacerbate constipation in older adults and worsen cognitive behavior and behavioral problems in older individuals with dementia. 

Does Dicyclomine Interact With Other Medications?

Dicyclomine may interact with antihistamines and anti-arrhythmic medications. Antacids are known to lower the effectiveness of dicyclomine, so it's important for individuals who take both medications to space out doses as directed by a physician. Dicyclomine may also affect how the body absorbs antifungal and heart failure medications.

Christian Worstell
About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@MyHelpAdvisor.com.

Read More
Pharmacist helps her patient in the pharmacy
Medicare Part D helps beneficiaries manage the costs of prescription drugs. Find out information about ...
A couple uses their laptop computer while having coffee
This step-by-step guide can help you compare Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans to find the right type ...
Woman gets help at pharmacy
Some of Medicare's Part D plans have been rated five stars. Learn how these ratings are determined ...