HYOSCINE-N-BUTYLBROMIDE

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.

• 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

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking hyoscine butylbromide it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• If you have prostate problems.
• If you have any other digestive system problems, such as reflux disease, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, or severe constipation.
• If you have high blood pressure, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
• If you have glaucoma. This is a condition where the pressure in your eyes is raised.
• If you have been told by a doctor that you have a fast heart rate.
• If you have Down’s syndrome.
• If you are less than 12 years old or over 65 years old.
• If you have been told you have nerve damage, a condition called autonomic neuropathy.
• If you have a condition that causes muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.
• 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

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and non-prescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:

• Other antispasmodics (e.g. atropine, propantheline or dicycloverine)
• Antihistamines, such as those used to treat allergies, travel sickness or cough and cold remedies (e.g. promethazine, chlorphenamine, or diphenhydramine)
• Anti-sickness medicines (e.g. hyoscine hydrobromide, cyclizine, domperidone or metoclopramide)
• Antidepressants (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants [TCAs] such as amitriptyline or clomipramine, and any monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAOIs] such as moclobemide)
• Antiarrhythmics, to control heartbeat rhythm problems (e.g. disopyramide)
• Antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole)
• Antipsychotics, used in conditions such as schizophrenia (e.g. haloperidol, chlorpromazine or clozapine)
• Others: amantadine (used in Parkinson’s disease), tiotropium and ipratropium (both used to treat lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]).

Symptoms of an overdose include: lack of urination, dryness of the mouth, reddening of the skin, rapid heart beat, lack of bowel movements, temporary disturbances in sight, and Cheynes–Stokes respiration (an abnormal breathing pattern, in which breathing is rapid for a period and then absent for a period) has also been reported.

If overdose is suspected, bring the victim to the nearest hospital right away.

Available brands:

• Buscomed (Medlink)
• Buscopan (Boehringer Ingelheim)
• Hyosan (Yanzhou Xier Kangtai)
• RiteMED Hyoscine N-Butylbromide (RiteMED)
• Scolmin (Nutramedica)