An antispasmodic for cramping tummy pain
Hyoscine butylbromide
An antispasmodic that relaxes gut muscle to ease cramping abdominal pain, including in IBS.
What is Hyoscine butylbromide?
Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) is an antispasmodic. It relaxes the muscle in the wall of the gut and bladder, easing cramping tummy pain, including the pain of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is available on prescription and to buy from pharmacies for IBS.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Hyoscine butylbromide — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Hyoscine butylbromide is an antispasmodic medicine used to ease cramping pain in the stomach and gut. In the UK it is widely used for the abdominal cramps of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for other spasms in the digestive and urinary systems. It is available both on prescription and to buy from pharmacies for IBS, and an injectable form is used in hospitals.
How it works
It blocks the action of acetylcholine on the smooth muscle that lines the gut, which relaxes that muscle and relieves the painful squeezing of a spasm. Because it acts mainly on the gut wall and is poorly absorbed into the rest of the body, it tends to cause fewer widespread anticholinergic effects than some related medicines.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Boehringer Ingelheim (originator).
A long-established antispasmodic used for cramping abdominal pain and IBS in the UK.
What it treats
Conditions Hyoscine butylbromide is used for
Practical use
How to take Hyoscine butylbromide
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water, with or without food.
- It can be taken regularly or only when cramping pain comes on, as advised by your pharmacist or prescriber.
- If you bought it for IBS and your symptoms do not improve after a couple of weeks, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
- It can occasionally cause blurred vision, so do not drive until you can see clearly.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is nearly time for the next one — never double up.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Hyoscine butylbromide
Advantages
- Targets the gut wall directly, so it relieves crampy IBS and colicky pain with relatively few body-wide effects.
- Available without prescription from pharmacies for IBS, so it is easy to access.
- Can be used flexibly, either regularly or just when cramps strike.
Disadvantages
- Only eases spasm-type pain and does not treat the underlying cause of IBS.
- Can cause anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision or fast heartbeat in some people.
- Not suitable for everyone, including some people with glaucoma or bladder-emptying problems.
Practical use
Good to know
It works best for crampy, colicky pain rather than constant aching, and many people use it only when symptoms flare. It can be taken alongside other IBS measures such as dietary changes and fibre adjustment. Although it is poorly absorbed, it can still occasionally cause a dry mouth or blurred vision. If your tummy pain is severe, persistent, or comes with bleeding, weight loss, or a change in bowel habit, see a doctor rather than treating it yourself.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with closed-angle glaucoma, an enlarged prostate causing urinary retention, or a known bowel obstruction.
- People with the muscle condition myasthenia gravis or certain fast heart rhythm disorders.
- Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to it; check with a clinician if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Monitoring
- Whether the cramping pain improves as intended.
- Anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision or difficulty passing urine.
- Any new or worsening tummy symptoms that need a doctor's review.
Side effects
- Dry mouth, blurred vision, or a faster heartbeat.
- Constipation and difficulty passing urine in some people.
- Rarely, an allergic reaction or, with the hospital injection, dizziness from a drop in blood pressure.
Key interactions
- Other anticholinergic medicines (some antidepressants, bladder medicines, and sedating antihistamines) add to dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision.
- Medicines that speed or slow gut movement may interact with its effect on the bowel.
- Tell your pharmacist about all your medicines before buying it over the counter.
Available as: Tablets; also an injection used in hospital.
Answers
Hyoscine butylbromide: frequently asked questions
What is Buscopan used for?
Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) is used to relieve cramping, colicky pain in the tummy, including the abdominal cramps of irritable bowel syndrome. It relaxes the muscle in the gut wall.
Can I buy hyoscine butylbromide without a prescription?
Yes, it can be bought from pharmacies for IBS, as well as being available on prescription. A pharmacist can check it is suitable for you.
How quickly does it work?
It often eases cramping pain within a short time of taking a dose. If you are using it regularly for IBS and see no benefit after a couple of weeks, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
Does it cause drowsiness?
It is not generally sedating, but it can sometimes cause blurred vision or dizziness, so take care with driving until you know how it affects you.
Is it safe in pregnancy?
Check with your doctor, pharmacist or midwife before using it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so they can advise on the safest option for you.
The wider class
About Antispasmodics
Hyoscine butylbromide belongs to the antispasmodics class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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