HNBB Dosage for Adults
The recommended intravenous dose of hyoscine-N-butylbromide (HNBB) for adults is 20 mg, which provides optimal smooth muscle relaxation for gastrointestinal imaging procedures. 1
Evidence-Based Dosing
A prospective randomized study directly comparing three different doses (5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg) in 120 patients undergoing double-contrast barium meal examinations demonstrated that 20 mg consistently produced the best results across all measured parameters. 1
Comparative Efficacy by Dose
5 mg dose: Nearly half of examinations showed undesirable duodenal-gastric overlay, and this dose most frequently resulted in unacceptable early flooding of the duodenal bulb with barium. 1
10 mg dose: Also demonstrated frequent problems with premature gastric emptying and inadequate smooth muscle relaxation. 1
20 mg dose: Provided superior gastroduodenal distension, appropriate delay in gastric emptying, and minimal problematic overlap between barium-filled duodenal loops and the gastric antrum. 1
Route of Administration
HNBB should be administered intravenously for gastrointestinal imaging procedures. 1
Clinical Context
The 20 mg dose, while sometimes considered empirical in older literature, has been validated through controlled comparison studies and represents the optimal balance between efficacy and safety for routine diagnostic procedures requiring smooth muscle relaxation. 1
Key Clinical Consideration
Lower doses (5-10 mg) are inadequate for achieving the necessary degree of smooth muscle relaxation and result in suboptimal imaging quality, potentially compromising diagnostic accuracy. 1