
Butylscopolamine — also known as scopolamine butylbromide, butylhyoscine andhyoscine butylbromide — is a peripherally acting antimuscarinic, anticholinergic agent 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 byBoehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Germany, who also offer a combination of butylscopolamine andparacetamol, marketed under the name Buscopan Plus (in some countries as Buscapina,Buscopan Compositum). In some countries, Buscopan Plus is instead combined with butylscopolamine and Metamizole (for instance, Brazil), but this combination has been replaced with paracetamol in most of the world after concerns about long term usage ofMetamizole causing Agranulocytosis.
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 undesirableCNS side-effects associated with scopolamine/hyoscine.
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