A travel-sickness medicine
Hyoscine hydrobromide
An antimuscarinic medicine used to prevent travel and motion sickness, as tablets or a skin patch.
What is Hyoscine hydrobromide?
Hyoscine hydrobromide is a medicine used to prevent travel (motion) sickness, the nausea and being sick that some people get in cars, boats, planes or on fairground rides. It comes as tablets (such as Kwells and Joy-Rides) and as a skin patch worn behind the ear (Scopoderm), and works best when taken before a journey rather than once you already feel sick. It commonly causes a dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness. It is not the same as hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan), which is used for tummy cramps.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Hyoscine hydrobromide — 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 hydrobromide is an antimuscarinic medicine used to prevent and treat motion (travel) sickness. It calms the signals from the balance system in the inner ear that trigger nausea and vomiting during travel. In the UK it is sold over the counter as tablets, including chewable ones for adults and children such as Kwells and Joy-Rides, and as a skin patch worn behind the ear (Scopoderm) that releases the medicine slowly over a few days. It is best started before travel.
How it works
Motion sickness happens when the brain receives confusing messages about movement from the inner ear, eyes and body. Hyoscine hydrobromide blocks muscarinic receptors involved in passing these signals to the part of the brain that controls nausea, calming the response and reducing the feeling of sickness. Because the same receptors are found in many places, blocking them also dries up saliva, relaxes the focusing muscle of the eye (blurring near vision) and can cause drowsiness. It works best taken before symptoms start.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Generic (long-established).
A long-established antimuscarinic used in the UK to prevent travel (motion) sickness, available as tablets and a skin patch.
Practical use
How to take Hyoscine hydrobromide
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take a tablet shortly before your journey, or apply the patch behind the ear several hours before travelling, as it prevents sickness better than it treats it.
- If using the patch, wash your hands after applying or removing it, and keep the medicine away from your eyes.
- Do not drive or use machinery if it makes you drowsy or blurs your vision, and go easy on alcohol.
- Follow the directions for how often it can be used, and do not take more than recommended.
- Remember it is different from Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide), which is for cramps, not travel sickness.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Hyoscine hydrobromide
Advantages
- An effective, well-established way to prevent travel and motion sickness.
- Comes as quick tablets and as a behind-the-ear patch that lasts several days for long journeys.
- Available over the counter, with chewable tablet options for adults and children.
Disadvantages
- Commonly causes a dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness.
- Works much better taken before travel than once you already feel sick.
- Not suitable for everyone, including some people with glaucoma or prostate problems.
Practical use
Good to know
Timing matters: take a tablet a little before you set off, or apply the patch behind the ear several hours before travel, as it prevents sickness far better than it treats it once it has started. The patch is convenient for long journeys because it lasts a few days, but wash your hands after handling it and avoid getting the medicine in your eyes, as this can blur vision and widen the pupil. Dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness are common, so do not drive or operate machinery if affected, and be careful with alcohol, which adds to drowsiness. It is important not to confuse it with hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan), a related but different medicine used for stomach and bowel cramps. People with glaucoma, prostate or bladder problems should check before using it.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with closed-angle glaucoma should not use it, as it can raise pressure in the eye.
- Used with caution in those with prostate enlargement or difficulty passing urine, and some bowel problems.
- Care is needed in older people and those with heart, liver or kidney problems; check before use.
Monitoring
- For short travel use, mainly checking it suits you and is well tolerated.
- Watching for confusion or urinary problems, especially in older people.
- Reviewing suitability in people with glaucoma, prostate or bowel conditions.
Side effects
- Dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness are common.
- Constipation, difficulty passing urine or a faster heartbeat in some people.
- Rarely, confusion or restlessness, particularly in older people, and eye effects if it reaches the eye.
Key interactions
- Alcohol and other sedating medicines add to drowsiness.
- Other antimuscarinic medicines (some for bladder, Parkinson's or depression) add to dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation.
- It may affect how some other medicines are absorbed by slowing the gut.
Available as: Tablets, including chewable tablets, and a skin patch worn behind the ear.
Answers
Hyoscine hydrobromide: frequently asked questions
When should I take it for travel sickness?
Take a tablet shortly before you set off, or apply the patch several hours before travelling, as it prevents sickness much better than it treats it once started.
Is this the same as Buscopan?
No. Buscopan is hyoscine butylbromide, a related but different medicine used for tummy cramps; this one, hyoscine hydrobromide, is for travel sickness.
Why does it dry my mouth and blur my vision?
It blocks receptors found throughout the body, which also reduces saliva and relaxes the focusing muscle of the eye; these effects usually wear off.
Can I drive after taking it?
Do not drive or use machinery if it makes you drowsy or blurs your vision, and be careful combining it with alcohol.
How do I use the behind-the-ear patch?
Apply it to clean, dry skin behind the ear before travel, wash your hands afterwards, and keep the medicine away from your eyes.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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