Buscopan is a treatment for stomach pains and IBS, and it can also help with period cramps. It comes as a tablet, and it’s split into three different products, though all three contain the same active ingredient in the same dosage.
These three products are Buscopan tablets, Buscopan Cramps and Buscopan IBS Relief. Buscopan Tablets are only available on prescription, whereas Buscopan Cramps can be bought from a pharmacist and Buscopan IBS Relief is available over the counter. Buscopan is also sometimes used as an injection treatment in hospitals.
How does Buscopan work?
Buscopan’s active ingredient, hyoscine butylbromide, works by helping your bladder and digestive system to relax. It belongs to a category of medicines called antispasmodics, which means that they stop the muscles in your digestive system from contracting or ‘spasming’, which is what can cause stomach pains and cramps in IBS.
Buscopan only relieves symptoms of pain and discomfort. It won’t cure conditions like IBS over the long term, so as soon as you stop taking it your symptoms might come back. As a result, it’s usually recommended that you try to get to know your triggers, so that you can minimise your symptoms without having to rely on treatment.
What doses of Buscopan are there?
Buscopan Tablets, IBS Relief and Cramps are all only available as one dose: 10mg. The injection treatment is 20mg/ml, but this is only usually administered in a hospital. Because it only comes as one strength, you should let your clinician know if it’s not working to help you with your symptoms so that you can try another form of treatment.
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How to take Buscopan
The way you take Buscopan will depend on which version you’re taking and what symptoms or condition you’re trying to treat.
For all three products, swallow the tablet whole with water - don’t chew or crush it. Buscopan Tablets aren’t always suitable for you to take for long periods of time, so make sure you follow the advice of your clinician before taking them.
When taking Buscopan for IBS (all three products), take one tablet, three times a day. This dose can be increased, if needed, to up to a maximum of two tablets four times a day.
If you’re taking Buscopan Cramps for pains that aren’t IBS, then the usual dose is two tablets, four times a day.
Buscopan IBS Relief tablets aren’t suitable for children under twelve. Children between six and twelve years old can take Buscopan Tablets and Buscopan Cramps at a maximum dose of one tablet, three times a day.
How long does it take Buscopan to work?
Buscopan starts to work within fifteen minutes. If your symptoms haven’t improved after taking the maximum daily dose for two weeks then you should let our clinician know. Buscopan isn’t normally suitable to take for long periods of time, so you’ll need to try a different treatment.
What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Buscopan?
If you accidentally take too much Buscopan then you should seek medical help and advice straight away. If you miss a dose of Buscopan then you can take it when you remember, so long as it’s not too close to your next dose. If it is, simply skip that dose and carry on as normal. Don’t double up on doses to make up for missed ones.
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FAQ: Buscopan
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Buscopan different from other treatments for IBS?
Answer:
There aren’t any treatments that cure IBS, you can only control the condition by trying to avoid foods and situations that trigger your symptoms. As a result, all medications will work only to help you with your symptoms.
Other treatments that might help with IBS symptoms include laxatives, which work to relieve symptoms of constipation, or alternatively there are medications that you can take which work to prevent or control diarrhoea. You might also want to take more general pain-relieving medicines.
Not everyone responds in the same way to particular IBS treatments, so your suitability will depend on your health and symptoms.
Is Buscopan similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
There isn’t a generic version of Buscopan. This means that it’s the only treatment that contains the active ingredient hyoscine butylbromide. As a result, although it will work in a similar way to other antispasmodic treatments, it won’t be exactly the same, and you might find it to be more or less suitable for you than other antispasmodics.
Which version of Buscopan should I use?
Answer:
All three versions of Buscopan contain the same dosage of the same active ingredient, and all three are tablets. So really, there’s not a great deal of difference between them. Buscopan IBS Relief isn’t suitable for people under the age of twelve, whereas Buscopan Tablets and Cramps can be taken by children over six.
Our clinician should be able to advise you on which version of Buscopan could be best for you once you’ve talked to us about your health.
Do I need a prescription for Buscopan?
Answer:
It depends. Buscopan Tablets require a prescription, Buscopan Cramps can be bought from a pharmacy and Buscopan IBS Relief tablets can be bought over the counter from some shops and pharmacies.
How effective is Buscopan?
Answer:
Hyoscine butylbromide has been shown to be an effective treatment for IBS - improving symptoms in 71% of people compared with 54% with placebo.
Why should I buy Buscopan online with Treated?
Answer:
We can get you the treatment you need once you’ve talked to us about your health. We know that IBS and stomach cramps can be a frustrating barrier to living your everyday life. That’s why we offer proven treatments like Buscopan on a subscription basis so that you always have the treatment you need to hand.
You’ll also gain access to our expert team, who’ll be on hand to answer any questions or concerns you might have. And if your treatment isn’t working for you as you’d hoped then you can change, pause or cancel your subscription whenever you want.
Eamonn, M., Quigley, Khalif, I., Quigley, E., Makarchuk, P., Golovenko, O., Podmarenkova, L. and Dzhanayev, Y. (2009).
Interactions between Symptoms and Motor and Visceral Sensory Responses of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients to Spasmolytics (Antispasmodics). J Gastrointestin Liver Dis March, 18(1), pp.17–22.
Ford, A.C., Talley, N.J., Spiegel, B.M.R., Foxx-Orenstein, A.E., Schiller, L., Quigley, E.M.M. and Moayyedi, P. (2008).
Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 337(nov13 2), pp.a2313–a2313.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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