buscopan

Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) injection: risk of serious adverse effects in patients with underlying cardiac disease

Prescribing information has been updated to help to minimise the risk of serious adverse reactions in patients with cardiac disease.

Advice for healthcare professionals:
– hyoscine butylbromide injection can cause serious adverse effects including tachycardia, hypotension, and anaphylaxis
– these adverse effects can result in a fatal outcome in patients with underlying cardiac disease, such as those with heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypertension
– hyoscine butylbromide injection should be used with caution in patients with cardiac disease
– monitor these patients, and ensure that resuscitation equipment, and personnel who are trained how to use this equipment, are readily available
– hyoscine butylbromide injection remains contraindicated in patients with tachycardia

Misuse of hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan)

NHS England and Public Health England have issued a letter in order to raise awareness of the misuse of hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) which has been reported from HM prisons. Prescribers need to consider the appropriateness of new requests for hyoscine, particularly from patients recently discharged from prison.