Dicyclomine Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you're taking dicyclomine for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and you've had trouble filling your prescription lately, you may be wondering if there's a shortage. Here's an honest, up-to-date look at the dicyclomine supply situation in 2026 and what it means for you as a patient.

Is There an Official Dicyclomine Shortage in 2026?

As of 2026, dicyclomine is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list. The FDA maintains a public database of active drug shortages — and dicyclomine does not appear on it. This is a meaningful distinction from medications like some GLP-1 agonists or ADHD drugs, which have faced nationally declared shortages.

However, absence from the FDA shortage list does not mean every pharmacy in every city will have every dosage form in stock at all times. Patients do experience real localized gaps, and it's worth understanding why.

Why Are Some Patients Still Having Trouble Finding Dicyclomine?

Even for medications not in official shortage, patients can run into stocking gaps for several reasons:

Pharmacy inventory decisions: Each pharmacy manages its own inventory. Low-volume drugs (relative to their location) may be ordered less frequently.

Dosage form availability: The 40 mg tablet and oral syrup are less commonly stocked than the standard 20 mg tablet. Patients on those forms are more likely to encounter out-of-stock situations.

Wholesale distribution gaps: Temporary distribution bottlenecks at the wholesale level can cause brief shortfalls even when total supply is adequate.

Brand discontinuation: The brand-name Bentyl oral tablets, capsules, and syrup were discontinued. Some patients and providers still search for "Bentyl" and may be confused when pharmacies say they no longer carry that brand, even though the generic dicyclomine is available.

What About the Bentyl Brand Discontinuation?

One source of confusion for patients is the discontinuation of Bentyl-brand oral dosage forms. The brand name Bentyl for tablets, capsules, and oral solution is no longer manufactured. The Bentyl brand continues only as an intramuscular injection. All oral forms of dicyclomine are now available exclusively as generics.

This is not a shortage — it's a brand strategy change. Generic dicyclomine is widely available and therapeutically identical to the discontinued Bentyl oral forms. If your prescription says "Bentyl tablets," your pharmacist can dispense generic dicyclomine instead. Ask your pharmacist to clarify if you're unsure.

Dicyclomine Supply: What the Data Shows

Dicyclomine is manufactured by multiple generic drug companies. Multiple manufacturers for a given generic drug typically means better supply stability. In 2023, over 2 million prescriptions were filled for dicyclomine, making it one of the more commonly dispensed generics in the U.S. — which further incentivizes consistent supply.

What Should I Do If I Can't Find Dicyclomine?

If your usual pharmacy is out of stock, here are your best options:

Call ahead to other pharmacies in your area — the 20 mg tablet is the most widely stocked form.

Ask your current pharmacy to order it — most can get common generics within 1–2 business days.

Use medfinder to have pharmacies called on your behalf and receive results by text.

Ask your prescriber about a temporary alternative (hyoscyamine is the closest option).

How medfinder Helps IBS Patients Find Dicyclomine

Dealing with an IBS flare while also trying to track down your medication is stressful. medfinder is a service that calls pharmacies near you, checks stock for your exact medication and dosage, and sends you the results as a text message. It works for dicyclomine and all other medications — not just drugs in official shortage. You tell medfinder what you need and where you are, and the heavy lifting is done for you.

The Bottom Line on Dicyclomine Availability in 2026

Dicyclomine is not in an FDA-declared national shortage in 2026. Supply is generally stable, and the medication is widely available as a generic. Localized stockouts do happen, but they are usually brief and solvable. For specific steps on finding it near you, see our guide to finding dicyclomine in stock near you.