FAQ

Buscopan® is an antispasmodic medication which specifically relieves abdominal discomfort and pain due to cramps and spasms.

Buscopan® offers a targeted relief of your abdominal discomfort and cramps. It acts where the pain develops - in the abdomen. Buscopan® works directly on the muscles of your bowel to relieve the cramps and spasm that cause the discomfort. With Buscopan®, you can be confident that you are targeting the cause of your discomfort and cramps and thus that you efficaciously solve the problem avoiding simply masking it.
Buscopan® is one of the most used and trusted medicines in this indication.

For women and men who suffer from abdominal discomfort and pain due to cramps and spasm, Buscopan® Plus is the worldwide leading brand. Buscopan® Plus combines Hyoscine butylbromide, the world's leading recommended antispasmodic and Paracetamol, one of the world's best known and proven analgesics.

Buscopan® Plus provides a fast and effective relief because it has a dual action: It effectively takes away the cause of the pain because it develops a muscle-relaxing effect, acting only where the pain occurs, in the abdomen. Thanks to the analgesic, its effect starts soon after you take it.

Buscopan® and Buscopan® Plus both contain the active ingredient Hyoscine butylbromide, an antispasmodic that is designed to relieve abdominal cramps and spasm. Hyoscine butylbromide acts only where the pain and cramps occur - in the abdomen. In addition to Hyoscine butylbromide, Buscopan® Plus also contains Paracetamol, a well known and proven painkiller and thus offers a dual action. Buscopan® Plus effectively takes away the cause of the stronger pain for stomach aches and cramps (by relaxing the abdominal muscles) and has a fast effect by blocking the pain.

Buscopan® acts only where the cramps and pains occur - in the abdomen. Many analgesics act by reducing the pain awareness by blocking the pain signals, thereby masking the pain. Therefore, analgesics act in the whole body, they enter the blood stream and thus offer a greater potential for unpleasant side-effects. Compared to analgesics, Buscopan® only acts where the pain occurs and treats the cause of the pain. As it does not enter the blood stream, it has practically no side-effects.

Buscopan® products do not contain Gluten and can be taken during Gluten-free diets.

This is not recommended. An increase of the recommended dosage in general will not accelerate the effect and can perhaps even have negative effects. The dosage that is indicated on the instruction leaflet or that has been recommended by your doctor or pharmacist is best for the type and severity of your ailment potential causes and helpful treatments for this very common health problem.

There is no maximum time frame for taking Buscopan® or Buscopan® Plus, but please see your doctor if abdominal cramps persist for more than a few hours or days.

It is recommended to take Buscopan® unchewed and with enough water (usually a full glass). Fore more information, please refer to the package instruction leaflet of your country. If in doubt, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medication, you should ask for your doctor's advice if you are pregnant, likely to become pregnant or are breastfeeding or likely to breastfeeding during the course of your medication.
Long experience has shown no evidence of ill effects during human pregnancy. However, the usual precautions regarding the use of drugs in pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, should be observed.
Adverse effects on the newborn have not been reported. However, safety during lactation has not yet been established.

Common causes of stomach pain include:

• Sensitivity to certain foods which trigger stomach pain, such as fatty, spicy or rich foods, caffeine, alcohol and acidic citrus fruits.
• A hectic, stress-filled lifestyle, skipping meals, eating on the run and the anxieties which can cause a nervous stomach.
• A change from your normal daily routine, for example when travelling, which can unbalance your digestive system.

Given the large number of organs in this part of the body, the symptoms can obviously be caused by a wide variety of factors. In almost all cases, abdominal cramps and associated symptoms such as flatulence, a sensation of fullness, constipation or diarrhoea can be significantly alleviated with Buscopan®.

You should be especially cautious if your ailment lasts longer than several days or if the pain is more severe, if you have a fever, if you notice blood on your stools, or if you notice sudden weight loss. You should then consult a doctor and ask for advice.

No. Buscopan® is specially developed to relax the muscles of the digestive tract. Therefore, it acts only where abdominal cramps and pains occur. As it is barely absorbed, it does not enter the blood stream and thus has no effects on organs outside the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition to abdominal pain and cramp, IBS patients suffer often from symptoms of diarrhoea and/or constipation and/or flatulence.

No. IBS is a functional disorder of the bowel and is not related to cancer or tumour growth nor to any other illness. In fact, being diagnosed with IBS may mean that you have had examinations and tests which can positively rule out cancer.

IBS can affect people of all ages; however, the symptoms usually become less severe as people get older. The reason for this is not fully understood but leading a less stressful lifestyle, and learning to avoid trigger factors may help to reduce symptoms.

No. IBS is not a life threatening disease.

This is true for some women. Sometimes a few months on an oral contraceptive can sort out the problem. Of course, for women who require protection from pregnancy this can be a good solution to two needs. To find out whether this would be a suitable option for you, you should consult your doctor.

If you are worried about your health, it is always advisable to discuss it with your healthcare professional. This is especially true if you notice changes such as any of the following:

• more painful cramps
• irregular periods
• heavier bleeding
• fever or weight loss