How Does Buscopan Help IBS Symptoms?

Please note that this article is for general information only and not personalised medical advice. You should not take this or any other medication without checking with your own doctor first.

Buscopan is a common IBS medication which you may have been prescribed by your doctor. In this article, I will explain what Buscopan is and how it works.

What is Buscopan?

Buscopan is an antispasmodic medication commonly used to provide irritable bowel syndrome relief. It specifically works for the management of abdominal cramps (1, 2).

All medications have two names: the brand name and then the name of the chemical compound which makes up the drug. ‘Buscopan’ is a brand name with the active ingredient hyoscine butylbromide (1).

Although you may have heard of Buscopan before, it is not the only antispasmodic medication available on the market. There are many different types which are widely available.

The UK NICE guidelines recommend that antispasmodic medications are considered on an ‘as required’ basis in IBS (3).

List of alternative antispasmodic medications (4);

• Pinaverium bromide
• Mebeverine 
• Otilonium
• Trimebutine
• Alverine
• Peppermint oil capsules
• Fenoverine
• Dicyclomine

How does Buscopan work?

The gut muscles, like any muscles, need to be able to contract to function normally. To do this, a chemical called acetylcholine binds to receptors on the muscle, causing it to contract.

The problem in IBS is that this system is hyperactive which can lead to muscle spasms. Buscopan works by blocking some of the acetylcholine receptors and stopping these overactive contractions AKA IBS spasms. 

Can Buscopan manage IBS symptoms?

Whilst Buscopan can help with stomach pains related to IBS, it is unlikely to manage all symptoms of IBS (4). This is because IBS is a multifactorial condition with a range of symptoms.

You should still expect to have to make dietary and lifestyle changes in order to get longer-term IBS symptom relief.

When should you take Buscopan for IBS?

Unlike other medications you needn’t take Buscopan regularly, instead you can take it as and when you need it for symptom relief (3). This is ideal for a condition like IBS which often comes in flare ups.

Is Buscopan safe?

As with any medication, there are always potential side effects or you may have another medical condition which means you should not take Buscopan for your IBS. Equally, you may be on other medications that could have a drug interaction with Buscopan.

You can get a full list of potential side effects here.

To prevent any harm to your health, it is always best to seek to advice of either your doctor or registered pharmacist prior to taking any medication.

Where can you buy Buscopan for IBS?

You can get a prescription for Buscopan but you can also buy it over the counter (1). This is also true of other antispasmodic medications.

Summary

Buscopan is a commonly used medication for IBS stomach pain and works by stopping muscles in the gut from going into spasm.

If you feel an antispasmodic medication like Buscopan may help your IBS please speak to your doctor before taking it to avoid potential side effects.

This post was written by Dietitian Kirsten Jackson and reviewed by Gastroenterologist Dr Hossam Al Hilou – May 2021

Last updated on May 28th, 2021 at 04:23 pm