3/29/2021 Buscopan: medicine to treat stomach cramps and IBS - NHS

(Link: www.nhs.uk/)

Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide)

On this page
1. About Buscopan
2. Key facts
3. Who can and cannot take Buscopan
4. How and when to take Buscopan
5. Side effects
6. How to cope with side effects of Buscopan
7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding
8. Cautions with other medicines
9. Common questions about Buscopan

1. About Buscopan
Buscopan relieves painful stomach cramps (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ache/),
including those linked with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/).

It can also help bladder cramps and period pain (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/period-pain/).

Buscopan contains the active ingredient hyoscine butylbromide.

It's not the same as hyoscine hydrobromide (Link: www.nhs.uk/medicines/hyoscine-

hydrobromide/), which is a different medicine taken to prevent travel sickness (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/).

Buscopan comes as tablets available on prescription. You can also buy it from pharmacies.

It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital.

2. Key facts
Buscopan relieves the pain of stomach cramps by helping your gut to relax.
The medicine works very quickly. Painful cramps should ease within 15 minutes.
It's unusual to have any side effects, but some people get a dry mouth, constipation and
blurred vision.
Buscopan comes on prescription and as 2 different products (Buscopan IBS Relief and
Buscopan Cramps) that you can buy from a pharmacy or shop.
If you're self-treating with Buscopan, do not take it for longer than 2 weeks without
checking with a doctor.

3. Who can and cannot take Buscopan

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Buscopan can be taken by adults and children from 6 years of age.

Important
Do not give Buscopan Cramps tablets to children under the age of 6 years.

Do not give Buscopan IBS Relief tablets to children under the age of 12 years.

Buscopan is not suitable for some people.

Do not take Buscopan if you have:

had an allergic reaction to Buscopan or any other medicines in the past

a rare type of glaucoma (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/glaucoma/) called angle-closure
glaucoma (Buscopan can increase the pressure in the eye and make your glaucoma worse)
a very enlarged bowel
myasthenia gravis (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/myasthenia-gravis/) (an illness where the
muscles become weak and tire easily)

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Buscopan if you:

are trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding

cannot digest some sugars (as Buscopan tablets contain sugars)
have a very fast heart rate or any other heart problems (Buscopan tablets may make the
heart beat speed up even more)
have difficulty peeing (for example, men with prostate problems)
have a bowel blockage - symptoms include severe tummy pain and difficulty pooing,
together with feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
have an overactive thyroid (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/overactive-thyroid-
hyperthyroidism/)
have a high temperature
have digestive problems such as reflux (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-
reflux/) disease, severe constipation (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/) or
ulcerative colitis (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/)

There are some extra safety checks to think about if you have bought Buscopan Cramps and
Buscopan IBS relief from a pharmacy without a prescription.

For safety, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Buscopan Cramps and Buscopan
IBS if you:

are 40 years or over

have recently passed blood in your poo
are feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
have lost your appetite or lost weight
are looking pale and feeling tired
have unusual vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-
discharge/)
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think you may have food poisoning (especially if you have recently travelled abroad)

Only take Buscopan IBS relief tablets if your doctor has said that you have irritable bowel
syndrome.

4. How and when to take Buscopan

Each Buscopan tablet contains 10mg of hyoscine butylbromide.

Buscopan tablets are available on prescription as a pack of 56 tablets.

Buscopan also comes as 2 different products that you can buy from a pharmacy or shop:

Buscopan Cramps –as a box of 20 tablets

Buscopan IBS Relief – as boxes of 20 or 40 tablets

Buscopan tablets are all the same strength (10mg) whether you get them on prescription or
whether you buy them as Buscopan Cramps or Buscopan IBS Relief.

Dosage
The usual dose of Buscopan for stomach cramps (or cramping pain) in adults and children
aged 12 years and over is 2 tablets taken 4 times a day.

For children aged 6 to 11 years, the usual dose is 1 tablet taken 3 times a day.

The usual dose of Buscopan for symptoms of IBS diagnosed by a doctor in adults and children
aged 12 years and over is 1 tablet taken 3 times a day.

You can increase this to 2 tablets taken 4 times a day if needed.

Buscopan is not recommended to treat IBS in children under 12 years.

When to take it
Take Buscopan tablets as and when you have stomach cramps or period pain.

Buscopan does not usually upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food.

Only take Buscopan IBS Relief if a doctor has confirmed that you have IBS.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until
it's nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten
one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways that are suitable for you and
your medicines.

What if I take too much?

If you take an extra dose of Buscopan, it's unlikely to harm you.

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Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried, or if you have taken more than 1 extra
dose.

5. Side effects
Like all medicines, Buscopan can cause side effects in some people, but most people have no
side effects or only minor ones.

Common side effects

These side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:

dry mouth
constipation
blurred vision
fast heart rate

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people may have a serious side effect when taking Buscopan.

Stop taking Buscopan and call a doctor straight away if you:

get a painful red eye with loss of vision (this could be caused by an increase in pressure in
your eye)
find it hard to pee

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/) to Buscopan.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
you're wheezing
you get tightness in the chest or throat
you have trouble breathing or talking
your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment
in hospital.

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These are not all the side effects of Buscopan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your
medicine packet.

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit Yellow Card for further information (Link: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/).

6. How to cope with side effects of Buscopan

What to do about:

dry mouth – chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets

constipation – eat more high-fibre foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals,
and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a
daily walk or run. If this does not help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
blurred vision – do not drive until you can see clearly again. Do not take your next dose
of Buscopan if your vision is still blurry. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if your vision
has not returned to normal a day after taking your last dose.
fast heart rate – if this occurs regularly after taking Buscopan, try to take your medicine
at a time when you can sit or lie down when the symptoms are worst. It may also help to
cut down on alcohol, smoking, caffeine and big meals, as these can make the problem
worse. If you're still having symptoms after a week, speak to your doctor. You may need
to change to a different type of medicine.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Buscopan is not usually recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Tiny amounts of Buscopan may get into breast milk, but it's not known if it harms your baby.
There's a small risk that Buscopan may reduce your milk production.

Tell your doctor if you're:

trying to get pregnant

pregnant
breastfeeding

For more information about how Buscopan can affect you and your baby during pregnancy,
read this leaflet on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPs) website (Link:
http://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Hyoscine/).

8. Cautions with other medicines

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Some medicines and Buscopan can interfere with each other and increase the chances of you
having side effects.

Do not take Buscopan at the same time as some travel sickness (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/) medicines, such as domperidone (Link:
www.nhs.uk/medicines/domperidone/) and metoclopramide (Link:
www.nhs.uk/medicines/metoclopramide/).

This is because they can cancel each other out and stop each other from working.

Metoclopramide and domperidone increase the movement of the gut, whereas Buscopan
reduces it.

Some medicines increase the risk of side effects if you take them at the same time as
Buscopan, including:

codeine (Link: www.nhs.uk/medicines/codeine/)

medicines for allergies such as antihistamines
some medicines for depression, such as amitriptyline (Link:
www.nhs.uk/medicines/amitriptyline-for-depression/)
some medicines for mental health problems like schizophrenia (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/schizophrenia/) or bipolar disorder (Link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/bipolar-disorder/), such as clozapine or chlorpromazine
amantadine (taken for Parkinson's disease (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-
disease/))
quinidine or disopyramide (heart medicines)
some inhaled asthma (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/) medicines, including
salbutamol (Link: www.nhs.uk/medicines/salbutamol-inhaler/), ipratropium, tiotropium

It's usually best not to take Buscopan together with other IBS remedies, as they work in the
same way.

You're unlikely to get extra relief for your symptoms, and it may cause more side effects.
Take only 1 IBS remedy, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

Mixing Buscopan with herbal remedies and supplements

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements at the same
time as Buscopan.

Medicine safety
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal
medicines, vitamins or supplements.

9. Common questions about Buscopan

How does Buscopan work?

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Buscopan relieves stomach cramps and period pains by helping your digestive system
and bladder relax.

It does this by reducing the wave-like contractions of the muscle in the walls of the
stomach, bowel and bladder.

Buscopan helps to treat stomach cramps and period pains, but does not cure them.

When will I feel better?

Buscopan tablets start to work within 15 minutes. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if
your symptoms do not improve within 2 weeks.

Can I take Buscopan for a long time?

Do not take Buscopan for longer than 2 weeks. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms
change, get worse or have not improved in the meantime.

Your doctor will want to rule out an illness that may be causing your symptoms.

If it's on the advice of your doctor, you can take Buscopan for longer.

Buscopan is safe to take for a long time (more than 3 months) as long as you take the
recommended dose and you're not having any side effects.

What's the difference between Buscopan products?

Buscopan Cramps and Buscopan IBS Relief are essentially identical.

The tablets in each contain the same active ingredient (hyoscine butylbromide) and in
the same strength (10mg).

But the 2 products are marketed differently:

Buscopan Cramps is targeted at stomach cramps. It can also be used to relieve

period pain and the cramping pains some people get with IBS. It's only available
from behind the pharmacy counter, and can be taken by adults and children over
the age of 6 years.
Buscopan IBS Relief is targeted at IBS that's been confirmed by a doctor. It's for
adults and children 12 years old and over. And the dose can be varied according to
how severe your symptoms are. It's available from supermarkets as well as
pharmacies.

Where can I buy Buscopan?

Buscopan IBS Relief is available from most pharmacies and supermarkets.

Buscopan Cramps is only available from behind the pharmacy counter.

Can I take Buscopan with other IBS remedies?

Usually it's best not to take Buscopan at the same time as other IBS remedies – just take
one or the other.

Can I take Buscopan with painkillers?

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Yes, you can take Buscopan at the same time as everyday painkillers like paracetamol
(Link: www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/) and ibuprofen (Link:
www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/).

Are there other IBS remedies?

There are other IBS remedies, including peppermint oil (Colpermin) and mebeverine
(Colofac).

Peppermint oil and mebeverine are also antispasmodic remedies. They work in a similar
way to Buscopan to relax stomach muscles and ease painful cramps.

Both peppermint oil and mebeverine are available to buy from high street pharmacies.
Mebeverine is also available on prescription.

Will it affect my fertility?

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking Buscopan will reduce fertility in either
men or women.

But if you're trying to get pregnant, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking
it. They may want to review your treatment.

Will it affect my contraception?

Buscopan does not affect any type of contraception, including the contraceptive pill
(Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill/) or
emergency contraception (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/emergency-
contraception/).

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Buscopan can give you blurred vision or make you dizzy. If this happens to you, do not
drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until it's worn off.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

Yes, you can drink alcohol with Buscopan.

But try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a
week.

A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units
of alcohol.

Can lifestyle changes help?

There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to prevent or ease painful
stomach cramps and IBS.

It can really help to understand which, if any, foods trigger your cramps and then
reduce or remove them from your diet.

Common triggers include caffeine, fizzy drinks and fried food.

It can also help to control your stress levels – for example, by doing breathing exercises
or trying a relaxation therapy such as yoga, Pilates or meditation.
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Aim to exercise 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Regular activity is good for your
digestive system.

Related conditions
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-
syndrome-ibs/)
Period pain (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/period-pain/)
Stomach ache (Link: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ache/)

Useful resources
HealthUnlocked: Buscopan forum (Link: https://healthunlocked.com/buscopan)
British Dietetic Association: IBS and diet (Link:
https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/IBSfoodfacts.pdf)
Guts UK: charity (Link: https://gutscharity.org.uk/)
IBS Network: charity (Link: https://www.theibsnetwork.org/)
Pain Concern: charity (Link: http://painconcern.org.uk/)

Page last reviewed: 8 November 2018

Next review due: 8 November 2021

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