Hyoscine butylbromide, best known in Nigeria by the brand name Buscopan, is one of the most popular and frequently purchased over-the-counter medications in the country. It is an antispasmodic drug — meaning it relaxes smooth muscle — and it works by blocking the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors in the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary system, and urinary tract. When these muscles go into spasm (involuntary, painful contraction), hyoscine butylbromide relaxes them and relieves the associated cramping pain. It is specifically classified as a peripherally-acting anticholinergic, which means it acts mainly on smooth muscle in the gut and other organs rather than on the brain, so it does not cause the drowsiness, confusion, or central nervous system effects associated with other anticholinergic drugs.
In the NAFDAC register
28 registered products
from 26 registration holders
What it costs online
Our sampling found 7 listings (August 2026) — every one of them Buscopan, listed at ₦18,900–₦25,000. That is Buscopan's price, not the molecule's — one brand's price cannot honestly stand for a molecule the register lists under many, so no market-wide figure is shown — see the Buscopan page for what those listings cost.
Brands of Hyoscine Butylbromide in Nigeria
Comes as
- Tablet10 mg· 5 makers
Those 28 products from 26 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Boehringer Ingelheim | 10mg | Tablet |
 | Boehringer Ingelheim | 10mg + 500mg paracetamol | Tablet |
| Scopinal | Julphar | 10mg | Tablet |
Hyoscine Butylbromide Price in Nigeria
Hyoscine Butylbromide prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Hyoscine Butylbromide is Genuine
- 1Check for a valid NAFDAC registration number on the packaging — Buscopan is one of the most counterfeited drugs in Nigeria due to its popularity
- 2Use the NAFDAC Mobile Authentication Service (MAS): scratch the verification panel and send the code to 38353 to confirm authenticity
- 3For the original Boehringer Ingelheim Buscopan, check for the distinctive green packaging, the Boehringer logo, and consistent print quality. Compare with packaging images from the official website if unsure
- 4Purchase from licensed pharmacies and registered patent medicine stores — avoid buying Buscopan from open markets or unregistered vendors where counterfeit risk is highest
- 5Inspect the tablets — genuine Buscopan 10mg tablets are small, round, white, sugar-coated tablets. Reject any tablets that appear discoloured, chipped, or have an unusual smell or taste
- 6Check the expiry date and batch number — these should be clearly printed and legible. Products with smudged, missing, or altered dates should not be used
Where to Buy
Buying Hyoscine Butylbromide by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Hyoscine Butylbromide on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Hyoscine Butylbromide in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Hyoscine Butylbromide in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Hyoscine Butylbromide?
In Nigeria, Buscopan enjoys extraordinary popularity. It is the go-to drug for any form of abdominal cramping — from stomach aches and menstrual cramps to the pain of food poisoning and irritable bowel syndrome. Walk into any Nigerian pharmacy, patent medicine store, or even a roadside vendor's display, and you are almost certain to find Buscopan prominently featured. Nigerian women in particular rely heavily on Buscopan for menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhoea), and many consider it indispensable during their monthly periods. The drug is also widely used at hospitals and clinics for biliary and renal colic (severe pain from gallstones or kidney stones) in injectable form.
The original Buscopan brand by Boehringer Ingelheim remains the most recognised, but generic versions are increasingly available from both international and Nigerian manufacturers including Emzor. A popular variant, Buscopan Plus, combines hyoscine butylbromide 10mg with paracetamol 500mg, providing both antispasmodic and pain-relieving effects in a single tablet. While Buscopan is generally safe for short-term use in healthy adults, it is important to understand that it treats the symptom (cramps) rather than the underlying cause. Persistent or severe abdominal pain should always be evaluated by a doctor to rule out conditions requiring specific treatment, such as appendicitis, peptic ulcer disease, or ectopic pregnancy.
What is Hyoscine Butylbromide used for?
In Nigeria, Hyoscine Butylbromide is commonly used for:
- Abdominal cramps and spasmodic pain — the most common reason Nigerians purchase Buscopan, covering a wide range of causes including indigestion, food intolerance, and functional abdominal pain
- Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhoea) — one of the most popular uses among Nigerian women; Buscopan relaxes the uterine smooth muscle spasms that cause period pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — provides symptomatic relief of the cramping, bloating, and spasmodic pain that characterise IBS flare-ups
- Biliary colic — severe cramping pain from gallstones blocking the bile duct; the injectable form is commonly used in Nigerian hospital emergency departments
- Renal colic — cramping pain from kidney stones; often used alongside analgesics in emergency care
- Urinary tract spasms — bladder spasms that can cause pain and urinary urgency
- Diagnostic procedures — injectable hyoscine butylbromide is used to relax the bowel during certain imaging studies and endoscopy procedures
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
The standard oral dose is 10mg to 20mg (one to two tablets) taken three to four times daily as needed. Maximum daily dose is 80mg (eight 10mg tablets). Tablets should be swallowed whole with water. For Buscopan Plus: one to two tablets up to three times daily. Injectable form (hospital use): 20mg by intramuscular or slow intravenous injection, repeated after 30 minutes if necessary. Maximum parenteral dose is 100mg per day.
Children
For children aged 6 to 12 years: 10mg (one tablet) taken three times daily as needed. Hyoscine butylbromide is NOT recommended for children under 6 years of age. For the Buscopan Plus combination, follow the age and weight guidelines for paracetamol dosing. Always consult a healthcare professional before giving antispasmodic medication to children, as abdominal pain in children can indicate serious conditions that require medical evaluation.
Elderly
Standard adult doses are generally appropriate for elderly patients. However, elderly patients may be more susceptible to anticholinergic side effects including constipation, dry mouth, and urinary retention. Start with the lower dose (10mg) and increase only if needed. Elderly patients with glaucoma, prostate enlargement, or heart conditions should consult their doctor before use.
Buscopan works best when taken at the onset of cramps — it relieves the spasm but does not address the underlying cause of pain. If cramps are predictable (such as menstrual cramps), some women take Buscopan preventatively just before or at the start of their period. Do not use Buscopan continuously for more than a few days without medical advice. If abdominal pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by fever, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool, see a doctor immediately rather than relying on Buscopan.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Dry mouth — the most frequently reported side effect, due to the anticholinergic action
- •Constipation — particularly with repeated use
- •Blurred vision — usually mild and temporary
- •Increased heart rate (tachycardia) — usually mild
- •Dizziness
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) — rare but seek emergency care if you experience facial swelling, difficulty breathing, or widespread rash
- Urinary retention — inability to pass urine, particularly in men with prostate enlargement. Seek medical attention if you cannot urinate after taking Buscopan
- Acute glaucoma — hyoscine butylbromide can trigger a dangerous rise in eye pressure in people with undiagnosed narrow-angle glaucoma; seek emergency eye care if you develop sudden severe eye pain, blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights
- Paralytic ileus — very rare, but the bowel can stop moving entirely; seek emergency care for severe abdominal distension, vomiting, and inability to pass gas or stool
- Severe skin reactions — rare blistering or peeling skin reactions
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your cramps do not improve after taking Buscopan for 3 days, or if they worsen. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe abdominal pain that doesn't respond to Buscopan (this could indicate appendicitis, bowel obstruction, or ectopic pregnancy), inability to urinate, severe eye pain with vision changes, chest pain or very fast heartbeat, or signs of a severe allergic reaction. In Nigeria, where many people self-treat abdominal pain with Buscopan, it is critically important to recognise when professional medical evaluation is needed rather than continuing to self-medicate.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Hyoscine Butylbromide if you have:
- Known allergy to hyoscine butylbromide or any ingredient in the formulation
- Myasthenia gravis — a neuromuscular disease that Buscopan can worsen
- Megacolon (an abnormally distended colon) — Buscopan can worsen this condition
- Narrow-angle glaucoma — Buscopan can trigger a dangerous increase in eye pressure
- Mechanical intestinal obstruction — Buscopan can mask the pain of a bowel obstruction, delaying lifesaving surgery
- Prostate enlargement with urinary retention — Buscopan can make it harder to pass urine
Drug interactions
- •Other anticholinergic drugs (tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, antihistamines like promethazine, antipsychotics) — combined use increases the risk of anticholinergic side effects including dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, and confusion
- •Metoclopramide and domperidone — these drugs promote gut movement and their effects may be reduced by hyoscine butylbromide, which slows gut movement; the two actions oppose each other
- •Beta-adrenergic drugs (salbutamol) — Buscopan may enhance the heart rate-increasing effect of these drugs
- •Alcohol — may increase dizziness when combined with Buscopan
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is limited data on hyoscine butylbromide use during pregnancy. As a peripherally-acting anticholinergic that does not significantly cross the blood-brain barrier or placenta, it is generally considered to have a favourable safety profile. Some obstetricians in Nigeria use the injectable form during labour to help relax the cervix and facilitate delivery, though this practice is debated. For menstrual cramps, pregnancy should be excluded before attributing cramping to menstruation. The drug is excreted in breast milk in very small amounts and is generally considered compatible with breastfeeding at standard oral doses. However, as always, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Used for these conditions
Related Resources for Hyoscine Butylbromide
Guides, articles, and tools related to Hyoscine Butylbromide and other digestive health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Hyoscine Butylbromide on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Hyoscine Butylbromide.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.