At some point everyone has a tummy ache.. The reasons can be diverse, from poor digestion to pain linked to menstruation (in the case of women). However, there are medications to alleviate these symptoms such as buscapine.
This article explains everything you need to know about buscapine. It explains what it is, what it is used for, the different commercial presentations, the recommended dosage and what side effects it presents.
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What is buscapine?
Buscapine a drug indicated to relieve moderate pain in the belly area.. It is a drug that has several presentations, and in most cases its minor side effects do not manifest themselves.
Buscapine is the trade name of an active ingredient called butylscopolamine, which works as an abdominal antispasmodic. This means that its function is to eliminate abdominal muscle contractions. This allows to combat muscular pains of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing to feel relief.
It is a medicine that does not require a prescription. To use it, you only have to follow the instructions and follow the recommended dosage. Depending on the presentation it is different, but the package insert must be respected to avoid any negative reaction. In case the pain persists or increases after 48 hours, it is necessary to go for a medical check-up.
What is it used for?
Buscapine relieves belly pain due to its antispasmodic properties.. Thanks to butylscopolamine, this drug acts directly on the musculature of the gastrointestinal tract. This is a notable difference compared to general analgesics, which only block the sensation of pain without eliminating the spasms.
The active compound of buscapine comes from the synthesized extract of the duboisia plant. Butylscopolamine is the most efficient to eliminate the abdominal spasm that causes pain in this area.
This pain is very common among the adult population, and is usually caused by irritation of the intestine or stomach. This is due to the consumption of irritating or fatty foods, which also causes gas associated with abdominal pain. The consumption of foods to which the body is intolerant is another cause, as well as stress.
Buscapine also relieves menstrual and urinary tract pain. This is because the specific action of buscapine is to stop continuous and prolonged spasms, which are the cause of belly pain.
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How does it work?
Butylscopolamine has the ability to block the action of nerve endings.. Specifically, these are the endings of the central nervous system and the parasympathetic branch of the peripheral nervous system. The functions of these nerve structures are to emit pain signals to warn that there is a problem.
However, these pains sometimes end up being the main problem. Buscapine acts directly on the belly area to eliminate spasms and pain signals.
It should be clear that buscapine has no effect on the initial origins of the discomfort. The recommendation in case of stomach pain is to check and eliminate the cause of the pain.
Presentations and recommended doses
Buscapine has different presentations for every need.. However, it should be noted that not all presentations are available in all countries where buscapine is marketed. Below is a list of the most common presentations and their recommended doses.
It is important to remember that if any of the recommended doses do not work and the pain does not go away or increases, seek medical advice immediately. If the pain does not go away, do not increase the dose.
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1. Simple buscapine
Simple buscapine is the most common and easy to find presentation.. It is called simple because, unlike other presentations, it does not contain any other compound besides butylscopolamine, the active ingredient of buscapine.
The recommended dose is one or two tablets three to five times a day. It should not exceed 10 tablets a day in any case. In some countries buscapine is available in pearl form, which allows for rapid absorption.
2. Buscapine Fem
Buscapina Fem is indicated to relieve menstrual pain.. This version of buscapine combines its active ingredient with that of ibuprofen 400 mg. In this way it achieves a triple action: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It is effective, causing immediate relief.
The recommended dose of buscapine is one tablet every 8 hours, without exceeding 3 tablets per day. It can be used by girls as long as they are older than 12 years old. If discomfort persists, it is advisable to see a doctor.
3. Buscapina Duo
Buscapina Duo adds to its formula the effect of paracetamol.. This presentation of Buscapina has 500 mg of paracetamol, and in some countries it is marketed as Buscapina Compositum or Buscapina Compuesto.
Buscapina Duo is recommended for moderate to severe stomach pain. It combines the antispasmodic action with the analgesic action of paracetamol. It is indicated for people over 12 years of age, and the dosage is one to two tablets every 8 hours without exceeding 6 tablets a day.
4. Buscapine for injection and suppositories
There is also buscapine for injection and its suppository version.. These two alternatives of buscapine are not as common, and are usually prescribed in advance by a physician who supervises the treatment.
The dosage must also be established by the physician, as well as its application. It can be intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular. The same is true for buscapine in suppository form, which must be applied rectally by a doctor.
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Side effects.
Buscapine has side effects like all medications.. These side effects are rare, but the necessary precautions should be taken and consult a doctor if they appear.
Side effects of buscapine usually occur in 1 in 10 people. The most frequent are tachycardia, dizziness, dry mouth and mild visual disturbances.
To a lesser extent, the use of buscapine has had side effects such as urinary retention or constipation. To a much lesser extent (1 in every 100 users of buscapine), side effects on the skin such as urticaria, itching and alteration of sweating (either in quantity or intensity of odor) also occur.
These side effects are very uncommon, but it is important to know that there is always a possibility that they may appear. A doctor should be consulted if any of these reactions appear and cause discomfort.
Contraindications
In some cases, buscapine is contraindicated in the following cases. For example, if there is a previous disease or condition that should not be combined or treated with buscapine. The package insert of this drug specifies warnings for some cases in which the use of buscapine is not recommended.
However, it should be noted that it is not a drug with many contraindications. One of the most important is pregnancy. Buscapine should not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. After three months, a doctor should be consulted and only if the health professional prescribes it can it be used.
Other contraindications are given if there is high pressure in the eye and it has not been treated or if there is a history of allergy to butylscopolamine.
It is also recommended not to combine buscapine with other drugs such as antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, quinidine, disopyramide or amantadine. Such a combination may generate interactions, so it is best to consult your doctor before taking buscapine.
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