Butylscopolamine, also
known as scopolamine
butylbromide, butylhyoscine and hyoscine
butylbromide, is a peripherally acting antimuscarinic, anticholinergic agent[1] used as an abdominal-specific antispasmodic. It is a quaternary ammonium compound and a semisynthetic derivative of scopolamine. It is marketed under the
trade name Buscopan by Boehringer
Ingelheim GmbH, Germany, who also offer a combination of butylscopolamine and paracetamol, marketed under the nameBuscopan
Plus (in some countries, Buscopan Compositum).
Butylscopolamine is used to treat pain and discomfort caused by
abdominal cramps, menstrual
cramps, or other spasmodic activity in the digestive
system. It is also effective at preventing bladder
spasms. It is not an analgesic in the normal sense, since it doesn't
'mask' or 'cover over' the pain, but rather works to prevent painful cramps and
spasms from occurring in the first place. The attachment of the butyl-bromide
moiety effectively prevents the movement of this drug across the blood-brain barrier, effectively
minimising undesirable CNS side-effects associated with
scopolamine/hyoscine
