Buscopan® (Hyoscine Butylbromide) 10 mg, 20 tablets

What is Buscopan® (Hyoscine Butylbromide)?

Buscopan® is a medication that contains the active ingredient hyoscine butylbromide, which is used to relieve spasms in the digestive system.

It works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract, helping to alleviate discomfort associated with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive spasms.

Each tablet contains 10 mg of hyoscine butylbromide, and it is available in packs of 20 tablets.

What Are the Uses of Buscopan®?

Buscopan® is primarily used to treat mild to moderate spasms of the gastrointestinal tract. It is particularly effective in relieving abdominal pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The antispasmodic action of Buscopan® helps to reduce muscle contractions, providing relief from discomfort and pain associated with digestive tract disorders.

What Should You Know Before Taking Buscopan®?

Before starting Buscopan®, it is important to be aware of certain contraindications. This medication should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:

• Hypersensitivity to hyoscine butylbromide or any other ingredient in the product.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Megacolon.
• Mechanical gastrointestinal stenosis.
• Paralytic or obstructive ileus.
• Urinary retention due to subvesical obstruction, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Closed-angle glaucoma.
• Tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia.
• Fructose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
• It is also not recommended for children under 6 years of age.

What Are the Precautions When Using Buscopan®?

If you experience severe abdominal pain that persists or worsens, or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, changes in bowel movements, abdominal tenderness, low blood pressure, fainting, or blood in the stool, you should seek medical attention immediately.

These symptoms could indicate a serious condition that requires prompt medical evaluation.

How Does Buscopan® Interact with Other Medications?

Buscopan® may enhance the anticholinergic effects of other anticholinergic drugs, such as tiotropium, ipratropium, and atropine-like substances.

It can also interact with medications like amantadine, tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, quinidine, antihistamines, neuroleptics, and disopyramide.

Additionally, using Buscopan® with dopamine antagonists like metoclopramide may reduce the effectiveness of both medications on the gastrointestinal tract.

Can You Take Buscopan® During Pregnancy or While Breastfeeding?

There is limited or no experience with the use of hyoscine butylbromide during pregnancy.

Animal studies are insufficient to determine reproductive toxicity.

Therefore, as a precaution, it is recommended to avoid using Buscopan® during pregnancy.

Anticholinergic drugs can suppress lactation, and it is unknown whether hyoscine butylbromide or its metabolites pass into breast milk.

Therefore, the decision to continue breastfeeding or to take Buscopan® should be made after considering the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and the need for the medication for the mother.

How Should Buscopan® Be Taken?

For adults, the recommended dosage is 1-2 tablets three times a day, with a maximum daily dose of 60 mg of hyoscine butylbromide.

For children over 6 years old, the dosage is 1 tablet 1-2 times a day, with a maximum daily dose of 20 mg.

Buscopan® should not be taken for more than 5 days without determining the cause of the pain.

What Should You Do in Case of Overdose?

Symptoms of an overdose may include dry mouth, dilated pupils, urinary retention, and particularly tachycardia, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.

In case of overdose, gastrointestinal decontamination is recommended. If necessary, administer parasympathomimetic drugs such as neostigmine.

Patients with glaucoma should seek immediate ophthalmological care, and those with urinary retention may require catheterization.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Buscopan®?

Common side effects of Buscopan® include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Less commonly, it may cause skin reactions, tachycardia, and dizziness.

In rare cases, it can lead to more serious reactions such as anaphylactic shock, visual disturbances, or urinary retention.

How Should Buscopan® Be Stored?

Buscopan® should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25ºC (77ºF) and kept out of reach of children.

The medication should not be used beyond its expiration date, which is 3 years from the date of manufacture.