A patient who has been prescribed dicyclomine hydrochloride asks the nurse about possible side effects. Which of the following side effects should the nurse mention as common with this medication?

A. Increased sweating: Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic agent, which typically reduces sweating rather than increases it. In fact, patients may be at risk for heat-related illness due to decreased ability to sweat effectively in hot environments. B. Frequent urination: Anticholinergic drugs like dicyclomine generally cause urinary retention, not frequency. Clients may actually report difficulty initiating urination or decreased urinary output while on this medication. C. Weight gain: Weight gain is not a common side effect of dicyclomine. It is not associated with metabolic changes or appetite stimulation significant enough to cause noticeable weight increase in most patients. D. Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a frequent and expected anticholinergic side effect of dicyclomine. It results from the medication’s inhibition of salivary gland secretion, and patients should be advised to sip water or use sugar-free candy to manage it.