Hyoscine: What is it and what is it for?

What is hyoscine?

Hyoscine is a synthetic active compound classified ascholinergic antispasmodic, a drug derived from scopolamine withanalgesic and relaxing effecton the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal, biliary and genitourinary tracts of patients. (1)

What is hyoscine for?

• Hyoscinehas an antispasmolytic mechanism of action (for the relief of muscle spasms or contractions that are abnormal) and anticholinergic (which inhibits acetylcholine, a substance that controls the actions of muscles).
• It is used to treat:
  • Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Discomfort or discomfort caused by abdominal cramps.
  • Spastic painsof the digestive tract.
  • Menstrual pain.
  • Motion sickness. (2)
  • Dyskinesia (involuntary muscle activities or movements that also affect the bile ducts).
  • In case ofdysmenorrheaand nocturnal enuresis (the loss of control in the bladder during night hours).
  • In spasms caused in gastroduodenal endoscopy.
  • Renal and biliary colic. (3)

Hyoscine dosage and routes of administration

Hyoscine comes asa 10 mg tablet and is also used by solution and 20 mg intravenous injection.

Hyoscine doses depend on the types of cases that occur (in both children and adults), but should usually not exceed6 tablets of 100 mg per day. In general, the doses of this medicine are as follows:

• Adults and children over 6 years: 1 to 2 coated tablets, 3 to 5 times daily for 10 mg tablet orally.
• Adults and adolescents over 12 years: 1-2 ampoules (20-40 mg) by slow intravenous injection, intramuscular or subcutaneous, at the discretion of the attending physician.

Important: The tablet doseshould not exceedthe amount indicated in the manufacturer’s SmPC in children.

What products contain hyoscine?

Some of the medicines that contain hyoscine are:

• Buscapina®
• Buscapina composite®
• Precicol®
• Doltrix®

Buscapina®

• Buscopin® is a medicinemade from scopolamine or hyoscine, a semi-synthetic alkaloid in belladonna.
• It is mainly used torelieve pain caused by spasms in the gastrointestinal, biliary and genitourinary tracts.
• For more information about this drug be sure to consult: Buscapina: What is it and what is it for?.

Buscapina composite®

• The compound® buscapine is the formulation ofhyoscine butylbromide andmetamizole sodium, in combination of 10 mg / 500 mg respectively.
• It is used totreat abdominal pain and smooth muscle crampingin the chest cavity, due to its antispasmodic and analgesic effect.
• Learn more about this medicine inCompound Buscapina: What is it and what is it for?

Precicol®

• Precicol® ismade from two active ingredientswhich are hyoscine butylbromide andparacetamol.
• It is used toreduce fever and abdominal painin children and nursing babies.
• If you want to know more about this medicine, we invite you to consult: Precicol: What is it and what is it for?.

Doltrix®

• Doltrix® is composedof 10 mg of butylhyoscine and 250 mg oflysine clonixinate, with antispasmodic and analgesic effect.
• It is used to treatvisceral pain, renal and ureteral colic, urolithiasis, bladder colic and dysmenorrhea among other disorders.
• For more information about this medicine, we invite you to consult:Doltrix: What is it and what is it for?.

Hyoscine Side Effects

Treatment with hyoscine may causecertain adverse reactions in some patients, the most common being the following:

• Dry mouth.
• Hypotension.
• Seasickness.
• Blurred vision.
• Urinary retention.

You should know: It is advisable todiscontinue the useof this medicine and consult your doctor, if you notice the appearance of any of these symptoms during treatment with this drug.

Contraindications and warnings of hyoscine

Hyoscine is contraindicated in the following cases:

• People with hypersensitivity to the active substance.
• Patients with tachycardia.
• Adults and the elderly at high risk of heart failure.
• Precautions should be exercised with patients suffering from untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.

To highlight: It is recommended to provide your doctor with allthe information about your health historybefore starting treatment with hyoscine.

Avoid it if you have:

• Prostatic hypertrophy.
• Urinary retention.
• Mechanical stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Myasthenia gravis (acute weakness of the muscles).
• Treatments with anticoagulants.

Warnings:

• Hyoscine should be administered with caution in case offever.
• Some studies indicate a risk of serious adverse effects in patients with underlying heart disease.
• Medical vigilance should be maintained, in case of administering with other medications for other pathologies such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, H1 antihistamines.
• Do not prolong hyoscine treatment during pregnancy or lactation.
• Keep this drug out of reach of children.