Belcopan 20 mg/ml Injection

Belcopan 20 mg/ml injection is produced by Square Pharmaceuticals PLC, Pabna and contains Hyoscine Butylbromide, an antispasmodic medicine used to relieve painful cramps and spasms of the stomach, intestines, bile ducts and urinary or genital tract. It is commonly prescribed for abdominal colic, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) cramps and menstrual cramps.

Hyoscine Butylbromide is an anticholinergic agent: it blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on the smooth muscle of the gut and other hollow organs, relaxing the muscle and stopping the painful squeezing spasms. Because it carries a quaternary ammonium structure, very little crosses into the brain, so it relieves cramps with much less drowsiness than older atropine-like drugs.

Hyoscine Butylbromide is indicated for:

• Abdominal cramps and colic — spasm of the stomach and intestines
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — relief of cramping abdominal pain
• Biliary and renal colic — as part of doctor-directed treatment
• Spasm of the urinary tract and dysmenorrhoea (period cramps)
• Diagnostic procedures — injections are used in hospitals to relax the gut during endoscopy or imaging

It treats the spasm, not the underlying cause — severe or persistent abdominal pain must be evaluated by a registered doctor before repeated use.

Usual adult dosage of Belcopan:

• Tablets: 10-20 mg (commonly 1-2 tablets) three to four times daily as needed; maximum usually 6 tablets (60 mg) a day for short-term use
• Swallow whole with water; it may be taken with or without food
• Injection: 20 mg IM/IV used in hospital settings under medical supervision

Use the lowest dose that controls the cramps, for the shortest time. If pain persists beyond a few days, worsens, or comes with fever or vomiting, stop self-medicating and see a doctor. Exact dose and duration must be decided by a registered doctor; in children, use only the doctor's age- and weight-based prescription.

Side effects of Hyoscine Butylbromide mostly reflect its anticholinergic action:

• Common: dry mouth, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, constipation, difficulty passing urine
• Less common: dizziness, flushing and reduced sweating, skin rash
• Rare but serious: severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), eye pain with sudden vision change suggesting acute glaucoma, urinary retention

Because sweating may be reduced, avoid overheating in hot weather. Seek urgent care for painful red eye with blurred vision, inability to pass urine, palpitations that do not settle, or any swelling of the face and throat.

Take care with Hyoscine Butylbromide in these situations:

• Glaucoma risk: can precipitate acute angle-closure glaucoma — report eye pain or visual halos immediately
• Prostate enlargement: may worsen urinary difficulty
• Heart conditions: caution with fast heart rhythms, heart failure or recent heart attack
• Fever or hot climates: reduced sweating can cause overheating
• Severe, unexplained or persistent abdominal pain should be investigated — masking it with antispasmodics can delay diagnosis of appendicitis or obstruction
• May cause blurred vision; avoid driving if affected

Hyoscine Butylbromide interactions worth knowing:

• Other anticholinergics: tricyclic antidepressants, some antihistamines, antipsychotics and amantadine — additive dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention and confusion risk
• Prokinetics (domperidone, metoclopramide): opposing actions on gut movement reduce both drugs' effects
• Beta-agonists and similar drugs: may add to the fast-heart-rate effect
• Drugs slowing gut transit: absorption of other oral medicines may change slightly

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you take, particularly psychiatric, allergy and heart medicines.

Hyoscine Butylbromide must not be used in:

• Known hypersensitivity to hyoscine butylbromide or any component of the injection
• Narrow-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma, untreated
• Myasthenia gravis
• Mechanical bowel obstruction, paralytic ileus or megacolon
• Significant urinary retention, including from prostatic enlargement
• Tachycardia-related heart conditions where a faster heart rate would be dangerous

If any of these apply to you, inform your doctor so a safer alternative can be chosen.

Pregnancy: Long experience with hyoscine butylbromide has shown no clear evidence of harm in pregnancy, but data are not extensive. Use it only when a doctor judges it necessary, at the lowest effective dose, and avoid routine use especially in the first trimester unless advised.

Lactation: Because of its quaternary structure, very little is expected to pass into breast milk, and short courses are generally considered acceptable during breastfeeding. Anticholinergics can theoretically reduce milk supply with repeated use, so nursing mothers should use it briefly and on a doctor's advice.

Store below 30°C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture. Keep the injection in its original packaging until use and keep it out of the reach and sight of children. Injections are stored and handled by healthcare facilities. Do not use the medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack.