How does it work?

Hyoscine works at specific areas on a cell called receptors. The receptors that hyoscine interacts with are called muscarinic receptors (there are many different types of receptor). Hyoscine works by preventing certain chemicals produced by the body, from interacting with the muscarinic receptors located on the smooth muscle of the gut. This causes the gut muscle to relax, removing the pain of colic resulting from the gut muscle contraction and spasm. This drug can also be used to treat painful periods in women.

What is it used for?

Abdominal pain associated with menstrual periods

Abdominal pain which comes and goes (colic)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Use with caution in

Breastfeeding

Children

Diarrhoea

Down's syndrome

Fever (pyrexia)

Heart attack

Heartburn

High blood pressure

Hyperthyroidism

Inflammation of the bowel and back passage

People over the age of 75 years

Pregnancy

Not to be used in

Abnormal muscle weakness

Enlarged prostate

Failure of function of part of the gut causing an obstruction (paralytic ileus)

Glaucoma

Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)

Narrowing of the outlet of the stomach making it difficult for food to pass into the intestines (pyloric stenosis)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than the possible risk to the baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

This medication is available without prescription, only when supplied in small quantities.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)

Increased need to pass urine

Blurred vision

Dry mouth

Constipation

Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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