Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) in abdominal colic

July 31, 2001

May 15, 2003

Kevin Mackway-Jones, Consultant (Manchester Royal Infirmary)

Stewart Teece, Manchester Royal Infirmary

In [a patient with colicy abdominal pain] is [buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) better than analgesics] at [controlling pain]?

A 38 year old man presents with moderate to severe non-specific abdominal pain that is colicy in nature. He has no significant past history. Examination reveals mild tenderness but no signs of peritonism. Oral analgesia seems unlikely to control his pain. You speak to a colleague who suggests that you use buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) - an antispasmodic. You wonder if there is any evidence that this works.

Medline 1966-02/03 using the OVID interface.

[exp abdominal pain OR (abdominal adj5 pain).af OR (stomach adj5 ache).af OR exp abdomen, actue OR {(abdom$.af OR tummy.af OR belly.af OR gut.af) AND (exp pain OR pain.af OR ache.af OR exp colic OR colic$.af OR discomfort.af)}] AND [exp butylscopolammonium bromide OR butylscopolammonium.af OR buscopan.af OR exp scopolamine OR scopolamine.af OR hyoscine.af OR exp scopolamine derivatives OR hyocine.af] LIMIT to human AND English.

Altogether 31 papers found of which none were relevant.

There is very little research into the effects of buscopan on any form of pain.

There is no evidence supporting the use of buscopan in non-specific abdominal pain.