Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan)

Pronunciation: HY-oh-seen byoo-til-BROH-mide.

Generic name
hyoscine butylbromide
Drug class
Antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) antispasmodic
Form
10 mg tablet; 20 mg/mL solution for injection
Route
Oral (tablet) or injection (intramuscular/intravenous)
Legal status
Prescription or pharmacy medicine depending on country (over-the-counter in several markets); not authorised for human use in the United States

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Buscopan; Buscopan Forte (7) · Full directory

What hyoscine butylbromide is and how it works

Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) is an antispasmodic medicine that relaxes smooth muscle in the gut and urinary tract, easing cramping pain and spasm. It is available as tablets or, in hospital settings, as an injection for more acute spasm. (2) (4)

Take hyoscine butylbromide as directed on the pack or by your prescriber. It is not authorised for human use in the United States -- only a veterinary injectable version for horses is registered there. In the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand it is authorised for human use, often available without a prescription.

Mechanism of action: how hyoscine butylbromide works

Hyoscine butylbromide is a quaternary ammonium antimuscarinic that acts locally on smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal and genito-urinary tract, reducing spasm with limited central nervous system penetration due to its poor lipid solubility and quaternary structure. (2) (4)

What hyoscine butylbromide is used for

Gastrointestinal and genito-urinary spasm

Used for relief of spasm and cramping pain of the gastrointestinal or genito-urinary tract, including symptomatic relief of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms such as abdominal cramping. (2) (4)

Before taking hyoscine butylbromide

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take hyoscine butylbromide if you have myasthenia gravis. (all countries) (2) (4)
  • Do not take hyoscine butylbromide if you have paralytic or obstructive ileus, mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction, or megacolon. (all countries) (2) (4)
  • Do not take hyoscine butylbromide if you have urinary retention or narrow-angle glaucoma. (all countries) (4)
  • Do not take hyoscine butylbromide if you have unstable cardiovascular status or a tachyarrhythmia (abnormally fast heart rhythm). (all countries) (4)
  • Do not take hyoscine butylbromide if you have had a hypersensitivity reaction to it or any of its ingredients. (all countries) (2) (3)
  • This medicine is not authorised for human use in the United States. The only FDA-registered 'Buscopan' product is a veterinary injectable solution for horses, explicitly labelled 'not for use in humans.' (United States) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any history of tachycardia (fast heart rate), thyrotoxicosis (overactive thyroid), or heart problems, including cardiac insufficiency.
  • If you are having or have recently had cardiac surgery.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding -- not recommended due to insufficient safety data.
  • All other medicines you take, including antidepressants, antihistamines, and other anticholinergic or beta-adrenergic medicines.
(2) (3)

How to take hyoscine butylbromide

  • Swallow tablets whole with water; take exactly as directed on the pack or by your prescriber.
  • The injectable form is given by a clinician, usually in a hospital or clinic setting, for more acute spasm.
  • Do not exceed the dose stated on the packaging or advised by your prescriber.
(2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber if you are unsure.

Overdose

Seek urgent medical attention if you think you or someone else has taken too much hyoscine butylbromide, especially if there are signs of an anticholinergic reaction such as a very fast heartbeat, severe dry mouth, blurred vision, or confusion. (2)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Dry mouth.

What to notice: Dry mouth.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2) (4)

Fast heartbeat (tachycardia).

What to notice: Fast heartbeat (tachycardia).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2) (4)

Skin reactions.

What to notice: Skin reactions.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, and constipation.

What to notice: Blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, and constipation.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (4)

Serious warnings

Signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), especially after an injection — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash, hives, or sudden fall in blood pressure; shock.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. Anaphylaxis, including shock, has been reported after injectable administration -- patients are usually kept under observation after an injection. (3)

Sudden painful red eye with loss of vision — emergency

Symptoms: Eye pain, redness, and blurred or reduced vision developing during or shortly after use.

Action: Seek urgent ophthalmological (eye specialist) advice immediately -- this can be a sign of acute angle-closure glaucoma, a medical emergency. (2)

Fast or irregular heartbeat, especially with an existing heart condition or overactive thyroid — high caution

Symptoms: Palpitations, a noticeably fast or irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort.

Action: Tell your prescriber promptly -- use with caution in tachycardia, thyrotoxicosis, and cardiac insufficiency, since anticholinergic effects can worsen these conditions. (4) (3)

Interactions

  • Tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, and other anticholinergic medicines can increase anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation. (2)
  • Beta-adrenergic medicines may have an enhanced tachycardic (fast heart rate) effect when combined with hyoscine butylbromide. (2)
  • Other CNS depressant medicines may add to sedative or anticholinergic effects. (4)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Use in pregnancy is not recommended due to insufficient safety data. Discuss with your prescriber if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Breastfeeding

Use while breastfeeding is not recommended due to insufficient safety data. Discuss with your prescriber. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Children

Some products are authorised for children (e.g. tablets for ages 6-12 years in some markets) -- check the specific product's label or ask your pharmacist, as authorisation and dosing vary by country and age. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Elderly

No specific dose adjustment based on age alone is described in the sources reviewed; caution is still advised regarding anticholinergic effects and cardiovascular conditions common in older adults. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Hepatic_impairment

Not specifically addressed in the sources reviewed for this dossier -- tell your prescriber about any liver problems. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Renal_impairment

Not specifically addressed in the sources reviewed for this dossier -- tell your prescriber about any kidney problems. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Review of contraindications, especially myasthenia gravis, GI obstruction/ileus, urinary retention, and narrow-angle glaucoma.
  • Review of cardiovascular status, including any tachyarrhythmia.

During treatment

  • Watch for anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.
  • Observation after injectable administration for signs of a hypersensitivity reaction.
  • Seek urgent ophthalmological review for any painful red eye with vision loss.
(2) (3)

Storage

Store below 25 degrees C, in the original packaging to protect from light. Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current UK SmPC and New Zealand data sheet; verify against the current full label before prescribing.

United Kingdom

Indication: Gastrointestinal and genito-urinary spasm, including IBS symptom relief

Dose summary: Adults: 2 tablets (20 mg) four times daily; for IBS, may start at 1 tablet three times daily, increasing to 2 tablets four times daily if needed. Children 6-12 years: 1 tablet three times daily. Ampoules (20 mg/mL) available for acute spasm by injection, with observation recommended after administration.

Renal context: Not established in the sources reviewed for this dossier. (2) (3)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Not specifically addressed in the sources reviewed for this dossier.

Overdose note

Overdose may present with anticholinergic toxicity (tachycardia, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, confusion); manage supportively with monitoring, including cardiac monitoring where tachyarrhythmia is a concern. (2) (4)

Frequently asked questions

Is Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

It is authorised for human use in the UK, EU (via national authorisations), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is NOT approved for human use in the United States -- the only FDA-registered 'Buscopan' product there is a veterinary injectable for horses, explicitly labelled 'not for use in humans.' (1) (2) (5) (6) (7) (4)

What should I do if I get sudden eye pain and blurred vision while taking Buscopan?

Seek urgent ophthalmological (eye specialist) advice immediately. A painful red eye with vision loss during or after use can be a sign of acute angle-closure glaucoma, which needs emergency treatment. (2)

Who should not take Buscopan?

Avoid Buscopan if you are hypersensitive to hyoscine butylbromide, have myasthenia gravis, mechanical gastrointestinal stenosis, paralytic or obstructive ileus, megacolon, or narrow-angle glaucoma. Use it with caution if you have a condition involving a fast heart rate, such as thyrotoxicosis or heart failure, since Buscopan can further increase heart rate. (2)

What is the usual adult dose of Buscopan?

For general spasm relief, the usual UK label dose is 2 tablets (20 mg) four times daily. For irritable bowel syndrome, treatment often starts at 1 tablet three times daily and can be increased to 2 tablets four times daily if needed. Follow your own product's label and your clinician's or pharmacist's instructions, since doses can vary by country and product. (2)

What is the mechanism of action of hyoscine butylbromide?

Hyoscine butylbromide is a quaternary ammonium antimuscarinic that acts locally on smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal and genito-urinary tract, reducing spasm with limited central nervous system penetration due to its poor lipid solubility and quaternary structure. (2) (4)

What is the generic name of Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan)?

The generic name is hyoscine butylbromide. (2)

What class of drug is hyoscine butylbromide?

Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) is classed as: Antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) antispasmodic. (2)

References

  1. BUSCOPAN (n-butylscopolammonium bromide) injectable solution -- veterinary label, horses onlyU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH) -- veterinary product label · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
  2. Buscopan 10 mg Tablets -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Sanofi · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
  3. Buscopan Ampoules 20 mg/mL Solution for Injection -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Sanofi · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
  4. Buscopan (tablets and injection) New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
  5. Buscopan (hyoscine-N-butylbromide) -- Netherlands Public Assessment Report / national marketing authorisationCollege ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen (Netherlands Medicines Evaluation Board) -- national marketing authorisation within the EU regulatory framework · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
  6. Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6
  7. BUSCOPAN (hyoscine butylbromide) 10 mg tablets and 20 mg/mL injection -- ARTG registrationTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 7

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient hyoscine butylbromide names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • None -- no human hyoscine butylbromide product is FDA-approved. A veterinary-only injectable ('Buscopan', for equine colic) exists and is explicitly labelled 'not for use in humans.' (1)confirmed not authorised in this market for human use · not applicable · not applicable

United Kingdom

  • Buscopan (tablets, ampoules, IBS Relief) (2) (3)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 10 mg tablet, 20 mg/mL injection · Sanofi

Canada

  • BUSCOPAN
  • HYOSCINE BUTYLBROMIDE INJECTION SANDOZ STANDARD

Australia

  • Buscopan; Buscopan Forte (7)TGA ARTG registered confirmed · 10 mg tablet, 20 mg tablet (Forte), 20 mg/mL injection · Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare Pty Ltd

New Zealand

  • Buscopan (4)Medsafe approved confirmed · 10 mg tablet, 20 mg/mL injection · sanofi-aventis new zealand limited
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Buscopan (5)

This page provides general reference information about hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber or pharmacist managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment decisions should be made with your prescriber or pharmacist.

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