HYOSCINE HYDROBROMIDE

Hyoscine hydrobromide, also known as scopolamine hydrobromide, is a medication used in the treatment of motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Uses

Hyoscine hydrobromide relaxes smooth muscle found in the gut (intestine) and bladder and/or tubes leading to the outside (the genito-urinary tract). It is sometimes known as an antispasmodic, antimuscarinic or anticholinergic drug.

Hyoscine hydrobromide is used to relieve cramps in the stomach, intestine and genito-urinary tract, and other conditions characterised by spasm of the smooth muscles found in these areas.

This drug is used to manage the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a common intestinal condition which causes spasm and pain in the intestine, as well as stomach pain, persistent diarrhoea (sometimes alternating with periods of constipation) and wind (flatulence).

It is also used to prevent muscle spasm during diagnostic procedures (such as inserting an endoscope down the gullet) or for the treatment of short-term spasms of the gall bladder (biliary colic) or the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder, called the ureter (renal colic).

Warnings

Hyoscine should be used with caution in: the elderly, children, patients with Down’s syndrome, high blood pressure, elevated thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism), heart failure, those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, sometimes called dyspepsia or heartburn), severe constipation, fever, ulcerative colitis, those having difficulty or pain passing urine (water), or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Side Effects

Dryness of the mouth
Dyshidrosis (type of skin condition involving small blisters on the hands and feet)
Rash
Itching
Increased heart rate
Producing less sweat than normal.

If any of these persist or become severe, see your doctor.

Precautions

Precautions

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you (or your child) start taking hyoscine, it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
If you are unwell and have a high temperature.
If you have digestive system problems such as reflux disease, diarrhoea, or ulcerative colitis.
If you have an eye condition called glaucoma.
If you have high blood pressure, a fast heart rate, or any other heart problems.
If you have problems with your liver, kidneys or prostate gland.
If you have epilepsy.
If you have a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.
If you have Down’s syndrome.
If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

Interactions

Additive sedative effects with alcohol or other CNS depressants. Reduced effects with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, tacrine).

Potentially Fatal: Effect potentiated by other anticholinergic drugs and TCAs.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Take the container with you, even if it is empty.