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Motofen

difenoxin and atropine sulfate · Tablet

Prescription NDA Schedule CIV RLD Official labelling
Informational index, not medical advice. Content is reproduced from public FDA and NLM data. Always confirm against the manufacturer's current prescribing information. Report adverse events to FDA MedWatch.

Overview

Brand name
Motofen
Generic name
difenoxin and atropine sulfate
Dosage form
Tablet
Route
Oral
Marketing category
NDA · NDA
Labeler
Legacy Pharma USA Inc.
Product type
Human Prescription Drug
DEA schedule
CIV
Active ingredients
2
NDC product codes
2
Packages
2
Data completeness
76% of corroborating sources present

Active ingredients

Source: NDC Directory
Active ingredients and strengths as listed in the NDC Directory.
Ingredient Strength RxCUI Monograph
Atropine Sulfate .025 mg/1 1190546 View
Difenoxin Hydrochloride 1 mg/1 1190738 —

Forms, strengths and routes

Source: NDC Directory
Dosage form
Tablet
Route of administration
Oral
Presentations
4

Pharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.

Pharmacologic class

Source: NDC Directory
Established pharmacologic classes (EPC), mechanisms of action (MoA), chemical structures (CS) and physiologic effects (PE).
Class Type Browse
Anticholinergic [EPC] EPC All 41 members
Antidiarrheal [EPC] EPC 2 members — no class page
Cholinergic Antagonists [MoA] MoA All 41 members
Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist [EPC] EPC All 33 members
Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonists [MoA] MoA All 33 members

Regulatory status

Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory
Application number
017744
Application type
NDA · New Drug Application
Approval date
July 14, 1978
Sponsor
LEGACY
Products on application
2
Submissions recorded
22
Products approved under application 017744.
Product Trade name Form Strength Ingredient Status TE Flags
017744-001 MOTOFEN HALF-STRENGTH TABLET ATROPINE SULFATE; DIFENOXIN HYDROCHLORIDE Discontinued —
017744-002 MOTOFEN TABLET ATROPINE SULFATE; DIFENOXIN HYDROCHLORIDE Prescription — RLD RS

Therapeutic equivalence

Source: Orange Book
TE code
—
Reference Listed Drug
Yes
Reference Standard
Yes

Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.

Approval history

Source: Drugs@FDA
Most recent submissions on application 017744.
Type No. Action Status Date Review
Supplement 26 Labeling Approved March 28, 2017 Standard
Supplement 23 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved December 17, 2001 Standard
Supplement 22 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 17, 2001 Standard
Supplement 21 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved May 25, 2001 Standard
Supplement 20 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved September 3, 1999 Standard
Supplement 19 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved January 7, 1999 Standard
Supplement 18 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved January 7, 1999 Standard
Supplement 17 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved October 8, 1998 Standard
Supplement 15 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 13, 1997 Standard
Supplement 16 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved January 27, 1997 Standard
Supplement 13 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 29, 1996 Standard
Supplement 12 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 29, 1996 Standard
Supplement 11 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 29, 1996 Standard
Supplement 14 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 19, 1996 Standard
Supplement 10 Labeling Approved April 29, 1992 —
Supplement 5 Labeling Approved December 3, 1991 —
Supplement 6 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved January 29, 1991 Standard
Supplement 4 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved August 19, 1988 Standard
Supplement 3 Labeling Approved July 20, 1988 —
Supplement 2 Labeling Approved April 21, 1982 —
Supplement 1 Labeling Approved December 28, 1981 —
Original application 1 Type 1 - New Molecular Entity and Type 4 - New Combination Approved July 14, 1978 Standard

Review documents

  • 0 · Supplement · March 29, 2017
  • 0 · Supplement · March 29, 2017

Prescribing information

Source: openFDA Drug Labeling

Reproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260323). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.

HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20260323

Indications and Usage

openFDA Drug Labeling

INDICATIONS AND USAGE MOTOFEN ® is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the management of acute nonspecific diarrhea and acute exacerbations of chronic functional diarrhea.

Dosage and Administration

openFDA Drug Labeling

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended starting dose of MOTOFEN ® tablets in adults is 2 tablets then 1 tablet after each loose stool or 1 tablet every 3 to 4 hours as needed, but the total dosage during any 24-hour treatment period should not exceed 8 tablets. In the treatment of diarrhea, if clinical improvement is not observed in 48 hours, continued administration of this type of medication is not recommended. For acute diarrheas and acute exacerbations of functional diarrhea, treatment beyond 48 hours is usually not necessary. Studies in children below the age of 12 have been inadequate to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of MOTOFEN ® in this age group. MOTOFEN ® is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age.

Contraindications

openFDA Drug Labeling

CONTRAINDICATIONS MOTOFEN ® is contraindicated in patients with diarrhea associated with organisms that penetrate the intestinal mucosa (toxigenic E. coli, Salmonella species, Shigella ) and pseudomembranous colitis associated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Antiperistaltic agents should not be used in the conditions because they may prolong and/or worsen diarrhea. MOTOFEN ® is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age because of the decreased margin of safety of drugs in this class in younger age groups. MOTOFEN ® is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to difenoxin, atropine, or any of the inactive ingredients, and in patients who are jaundiced.

WARNINGS MOTOFEN ® IS NOT AN INNOCUOUS DRUG AND DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. MOTOFEN ® IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE. OVERDOSAGE MAY RESULT IN SEVERE RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION AND COMA, POSSIBLY LEADING TO PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE OR DEATH (SEE OVERDOSAGE ). THEREFORE, KEEP THIS MEDICATION OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE – THE USE OF MOTOFEN® DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE ADMINISTRATION OF APPROPRIATE FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE THERAPY. DEHYDRATION, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN, MAY FURTHER INFLUENCE THE VARIABILITY OF RESPONSE TO MOTOFEN ® AND MAY PREDISPOSE TO DELAYED DIFENOXIN INTOXICATION. DRUG-INDUCED INHIBITION OF PERISTALSIS MAY RESULT IN FLUID RETENTION IN THE COLON, AND THIS MAY FURTHER AGGRAVATE DEHYDRATION AND ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE. IF SEVERE DEHYDRATION OR ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE IS MANIFESTED, MOTOFEN ® SHOULD BE WITHHELD UNTIL APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE THERAPY HAS BEEN INITIATED. Ulcerative Colitis – In some patients with acute ulcerative colitis, agents which inhibit intestinal motility or delay intestinal transit time have been reported to induce toxic megacolon. Consequently, patients with acute ulcerative colitis should be carefully observed and MOTOFEN ® therapy should be discontinued promptly if abdominal distention occurs or if other untoward symptoms develop. Liver and Kidney Disease – MOTOFEN ® should be used with extreme caution in patients with advanced hepatorenal disease and in all patients with abnormal liver function tests since hepatic coma may be precipitated. Atropine – A subtherapeutic dose of atropine has been added to difenoxin hydrochloride to discourage deliberate overdosage. Usage of MOTOFEN ® in recommended doses is not likely to cause prominent anticholinergic side effects, but MOTOFEN ® should be avoided in patients in whom anticholinergic drugs are contraindicated. The warnings and precautions for use of anticholinergic agents should be observed. In children, signs of atropinism may occur even with recommended doses of MOTOFEN ® , particularly in patients with Down’s Syndrome.

Adverse Reactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

ADVERSE REACTIONS In view of the small amount of atropine present (0.025 mg/tablet), such effects such as dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, flushing, hyperthermia, tachycardia and urinary retention are very unlikely to occur, except perhaps in children. Many of the adverse effects reported during clinical investigation of MOTOFEN ® are difficult to distinguish from symptoms associated with the diarrheal syndrome. However, the following events were reported at the stated frequencies: Gastrointestinal: Nausea, 1 in 15 patients; vomiting, 1 in 30 patients; dry mouth, 1 in 30 patients; epigastric distress, 1 in 100 patients; and constipation, 1 in 300 patients. Central Nervous System: Dizziness and light-headedness, 1 in 20 patients; drowsiness, 1 in 25 patients; and headache, 1 in 40 patients; tiredness, nervousness, insomnia and confusion ranged from 1 in 200 to 1 in 600 patients. Other less frequent reactions: Burning eyes and blurred vision occurred in a few cases. The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients receiving chemically-related drugs: numbness of extremities, euphoria, depression, sedation, anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema, urticaria, swelling of the gums, pruritus, toxic megacolon, paralytic ileus, pancreatitis, and anorexia. THIS MEDICATION SHOULD BE KEPT IN A CHILD-RESISTANT CONTAINER AND OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN SINCE AN OVERDOSAGE MAY RESULT IN SEVERE RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION AND COMA, POSSIBLY LEADING TO PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE OR DEATH.

Drug Interactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

Drug Interactions Since the chemical structure of difenoxin hydrochloride is similar to meperidine hydrochloride, the concurrent use of MOTOFEN ® with monoamine oxidase inhibitors may, in theory, precipitate a hypertensive crisis. MOTOFEN ® may potentiate the action of barbiturates, tranquilizers, narcotics, and alcohol. When these medications are used concomitantly with MOTOFEN ® , the patient should be closely monitored. Diphenoxylate hydrochloride, from which the principal active metabolite difenoxin is derived, was found to inhibit the hepatic microsomal enzyme system at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day in studies conducted with male rats. Therefore, difenoxin has the potential to prolong the biological half-lives of drugs for which the rate of elimination is dependent on the microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme system.

Description

openFDA Drug Labeling

DESCRIPTION Each five-sided dye free MOTOFEN ® tablet contains: 1 mg of difenoxin (equivalent to 1.09 mg of difenoxin hydrochloride) and 0.025 mg of atropine sulfate (equivalent to 0.01 mg of atropine). Difenoxin hydrochloride, 1-(3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl)-4-phenyl-4-piperidinecarboxylic acid monohydrochloride, is an orally administered antidiarrheal agent which is chemically related to the narcotic meperidine. The structural formula is: Atropine sulfate is present to discourage deliberate overdose. Atropine sulfate, an anticholinergic, is benzeneacetic acid, α-(hydroxymethyl)-, 8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl ester, endo-(±)-, (2:1) (salt), monohydrate and has the following structural formula: Inactive Ingredients: calcium stearate, cellulose, lactose, corn starch. Difenoxin Hydrochloride Atropine Sulfate

OVERDOSAGE Diagnosis and Treatment In the event of overdosage (initial signs may include dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, flushing, hyperthermia and tachycardia followed by lethargy or coma, hypotonic reflexes, nystagmus, pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression) gastric lavage, establishment of a patent airway and possibly mechanically assisted respiration are advised. The narcotic antagonist naloxone may be used in the treatment of respiratory depression caused by narcotic analgesics of pharmacologically related compounds such as MOTOFEN ® tablets. When naloxone is administered intravenously, the onset of action is generally apparent within two minutes. Naloxone may be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly providing a slightly less rapid onset of action but a more prolonged effect. To counteract respiratory depression caused by MOTOFEN ® overdosage, the following dosage schedule for naloxone should be followed: Adult Dosage: The usual initial adult dose of naloxone is 0.4 mg (one mL) administered intravenously. If respiratory function does not adequately improve after the initial dose, the same IV dose may be repeated at two-to-three minute intervals. Children: The usual adult dose of naloxone for children is 0.01 mg/kg of body weight administered intravenously and repeated at two-to-three minute intervals if necessary. Since the duration of action of difenoxin hydrochloride is longer than that of naloxone, improvement of respiration following administration may be followed by recurrent respiratory depression. Consequently, continuous observation is necessary until the effect of difenoxin hydrochloride on respiration (which effect may persist for many hours) has passed. Supplemental intramuscular doses of naloxone may be utilized to produce a longer lasting effect. TREAT ALL POSSIBLE MOTOFEN ® OVERDOSAGES AS SERIOUS AND MAINTAIN MEDICAL OBSERVATION FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS, PREFERABLY UNDER CONTINUOUS HOSPITAL CARE. Although signs of overdosage and respiratory depression may not be evident soon after ingestion of difenoxin hydrochloride, respiratory depression may occur from 12 to 30 hours later.

How Supplied / Storage and Handling

openFDA Drug Labeling

HOW SUPPLIED MOTOFEN ® is available as a white, dye-free, five-sided, scored tablet with “0200” on the scored side and "M" on the other side. Each tablet contains 1 mg difenoxin and 0.025 mg atropine sulfate. Supplied in bottles of 100 tablets (NDC 83107-011-10). Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Adverse event reports

Source: openFDA FAERS
26,514
FAERS reports mentioning this drug
as of 2026-09-25T03:42:24+00:00
A report count is not a risk measure. FAERS accepts voluntary and mandatory reports without establishing causation, and reporting is influenced by how widely a drug is used, how long it has been marketed, and media attention. FDA states that reports “do not prove that the drug caused the event”. Compare rates, not totals.

Attributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: ATROPINE SULFATE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.

Packaging and NDCs

Source: NDC Directory
Every National Drug Code package associated with this medication. The NDC is the identifier used for dispensing, billing and pharmacovigilance in the United States.
Package NDC Product NDC Labeler Description Marketing start
83107-011-10 83107-011 Legacy Pharma USA Inc. 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (83107-011-10) January 1, 2026
54766-200-10 54766-200 Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc. 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (54766-200-10) April 11, 2017
83107-011 83107-011 Legacy Pharma USA Inc. — January 1, 2026
54766-200 54766-200 Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc. — April 11, 2017

Sources for this page

Every dataset that contributed a fact to this page.
Dataset Agency Used for
NDC Directory FDA Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages
Drugs@FDA FDA Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status
Drug Labeling FDA / NLM Prescribing information reproduced above
FAERS FDA Adverse event report counts

Generated September 25, 2026 · 11 sections on this page.