Hyoscine Butylbromide and Buscopan: They Are the Same Medication
Yes, hyoscine butylbromide is the same as Buscopan - they are identical, with Buscopan being the brand name for the drug hyoscine butylbromide. 1
Pharmacological Properties and Classification
- Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) is an antimuscarinic agent that acts as a gastrointestinal antispasmodic by suppressing spasms of the digestive system 1
- It belongs to the class of quaternary ammonium compounds, which are less lipid-soluble than atropine and therefore less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier 1
- Hyoscine butylbromide is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally, with bioavailability generally less than 1% 2
Mechanism of Action
- Primary mechanism: High affinity for muscarinic receptors located on smooth muscle cells in the gastrointestinal tract, exerting an anticholinergic action that produces a smooth muscle relaxing/spasmolytic effect 2, 3
- Secondary mechanism: Also binds to nicotinic receptors, inducing a ganglion-blocking effect, though this occurs primarily at higher concentrations 4, 3
- In human intestinal tissue studies, hyoscine butylbromide has demonstrated concentration-dependent reduction of:
- Muscle contractions (IC50 = 429 nmol/L)
- Calcium mobilization (IC50 = 121 nmol/L)
- Epithelial secretion induced by muscarinic agonists (IC50 = 224 nmol/L) 3
Clinical Applications
- Commonly used for abdominal pain associated with gastrointestinal cramping and spasms 1, 2
- Advocated as a gastrointestinal antispasmodic in the management of pain in patients with intestinal dysmotility 1
- Used in the treatment of abdominal cramping in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 1
- May be administered before or during certain endoscopic procedures, particularly ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) 5
- Can be used to manage diarrhea associated with coeliac plexus block 1
Administration Routes and Considerations
- Available in oral, rectal, and parenteral formulations 2
- For gastrointestinal spasms, intramuscular preparations may be more effective than oral forms due to the poor oral absorption 1
- Can be used for long-term management at home when administered intramuscularly 1
Precautions and Contraindications
- Should be used with caution in patients with cardiac comorbidities 5
- Contraindicated in patients with tachycardia, angina, and cardiac failure according to product monographs 5
- Also contraindicated in patients with prostatic hypertrophy with urinary retention 5
- As a quaternary ammonium compound, it has limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, resulting in fewer central nervous system effects compared to other anticholinergics 1, 2
In summary, hyoscine butylbromide and Buscopan refer to the same medication - an anticholinergic antispasmodic agent used primarily for gastrointestinal cramping and pain. The drug has demonstrated efficacy in reducing smooth muscle contractions in the gastrointestinal tract through its antimuscarinic action.