Bromid

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Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Bromid

Property Description
Active Ingredient Hyoscine Butylbromide (Scopolamine Butylbromide)
Primary Forms Tablets (Oral), Solution for Injection (Parenteral)
Pharmacological Class Anticholinergic Agent
Functional Class Spasmolytic (Antispasmodic)
Origin Semi-synthetic derivative
Chemical Structure Quaternary Ammonium Compound

What Type of Medicine is Bromid?

Bromid is a medicine whose active core is Hyoscine Butylbromide, a selective compound utilized to relieve acute cramping and muscle spasms in the visceral organs. Functionally, it is classified as a spasmolytic agent and belongs to the broader pharmacological class of anticholinergics. This categorization reflects its role in affecting nerve impulses that control involuntary muscle movement. The formulation of Bromid is typically considered a prescription-only medicine (Rx), which underscores its use in diagnostically confirmed conditions.

The active ingredient, Hyoscine Butylbromide (INN: Scopolamine Butylbromide), is a semi-synthetic derivative synthesized from the natural plant alkaloid, hyoscine (scopolamine). Chemically, it is defined as a quaternary ammonium compound. This specific chemical structure is integral to its function, as it restricts the molecule’s ability to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier. This design ensures that its therapeutic action remains concentrated on the peripheral nervous system, targeting the involuntary muscles and minimizing central nervous system effects.


Composition, Structure, and Therapeutic Purpose

Hyoscine Butylbromide is designed to provide targeted spasm relief by acting as a muscle relaxant focused on the smooth muscles of the digestive, biliary, and urinary tracts. The mechanism involves the antagonism of muscarinic receptors, which means it blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from signaling the smooth muscle cells to contract. This inhibitory action is the foundation of the drug’s general therapeutic purpose: to allow contracted smooth muscle tissues to relax, thereby alleviating the painful, intense cramping that characterizes visceral spasm. Hyoscine Butylbromide is utilized for its efficacy as a spasmolytic agent for this type of visceral discomfort. This indicates that the medicine is effective in easing acute discomfort caused by muscle tightness in the abdomen, such as during a renal colic episode.

The medicinal entity is presented in multiple forms to accommodate clinical needs. It is available as an oral dosage form (tablets) for systemic distribution via the gastrointestinal tract, and also as a solution for injection (parenteral form) for rapid onset of action in acute situations. The distinction between its oral and injectable presentations reflects a key differentiating factor in its clinical utility, allowing tailoring of the delivery speed to the urgency of the spasmolytic requirement.

Regulatory References

  1. Hyoscine Butylbromide on WHO Essential Medicines List

What side effects are possible with Bromid?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile of Bromid (Hyoscine Butylbromide) is primarily defined by effects linked to its anticholinergic mechanism, which are classified and documented by regulatory authorities. The adverse reactions are categorized by the body systems affected and their official incidence rates.


Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

Adverse events are ranked based on their reported frequency in official prescribing information:

  • Common (affecting 1 to 10 users in 100): Dry mouth, Tachycardia (increased heart rate), and Accommodation disorders (visual disturbances).
  • Uncommon (affecting 1 to 10 users in 1,000): Dyshidrosis (abnormal sweating) and various skin reactions (e.g., rash, pruritus).
  • Rare (affecting 1 to 10 users in 10,000): Urinary retention.
  • Not Known (cannot be estimated from available data): This category includes serious events documented primarily in post-marketing reports, such as Anaphylactic shock, Anaphylactic reactions, Dyspnoea, and Hypotension.

Serious Safety Considerations

Official documents highlight the potential for serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema. Specific constraints guide the use of Bromid to prevent exacerbation of underlying conditions. Use is generally not recommended in patients with conditions such as untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, gastrointestinal or urinary tract mechanical stenoses, megacolon, or myasthenia gravis. Caution is specifically advised for men with prostatic hypertrophy due to the increased risk of urinary retention.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Overdose of Hyoscine Butylbromide (Bromid) is characterized by an exaggeration of its anticholinergic effects, as documented in regulatory prescribing information.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Symptoms may include tachycardia (fast heart rate), dry mouth, urinary retention, reddening of the skin (flushing), accommodation disorders, and other visual disturbances. Severe intoxication, which may be life-threatening, can progress to Cheynes-Stokes respiration, respiratory paralysis, and circulatory failure leading to coma.

Required Emergency Actions

The official drug profile mandates immediate professional medical intervention for suspected overdose. Seek immediate medical attention or contact a poison control center right away. Urgent medical advice is required if severe, unexplained abdominal pain persists or occurs alongside symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or decreased blood pressure.

Management and Interventions

Overdose symptoms are described as responding to parasympathomimetics. Officially documented supportive measures may include gastric lavage with activated charcoal for oral overdose, and the use of catheterisation to manage urinary retention. In cases of respiratory paralysis, intubation and artificial respiration should be considered, while cardiovascular complications are treated according to usual therapeutic principles. Specific local treatment with pilocarpine is indicated for patients with pre-existing glaucoma.

Therapeutic Uses of Bromid

What Bromid Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Bromid is generally used in situations involving certain distressing symptoms by addressing the intense cramping and associated physical discomfort in the body's internal organs. This application is commonly used across conditions presenting with acute episodes where painful contractions lead to noticeable physiological strain. The medicine is considered relevant for easing symptom clusters associated with the gastrointestinal tract, the biliary system, and the **genito-urinary tracts.


The medicine supports the patient during these episodes of heightened discomfort by providing relief from the characteristic sharp, colicky pain associated with conditions like renal colic, biliary spasm, and the symptomatic flare-ups of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is also utilized to ease the painful muscle contractions of primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps). Applied in clinical settings that involve acute or unstable symptom patterns, Bromid offers symptomatic relief that helps patients cope more steadily with difficult episodes and may help in addressing symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.


Quick Fact: Symptomatic Relief for Cramping Pain Bromid supports symptomatic management across conditions characterized by periods of heightened spasmodic pain in the digestive and urinary systems, including colicky presentations and functional discomfort.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The eligibility profile for Bromid (Hyoscine Butylbromide) is strictly defined by regulatory agencies across several population domains. The medicine is officially approved for use in adults and children aged 6 years and older.

Contraindicated Populations

Absolute prohibitions from use are based on clinical conditions that could be aggravated by the medicine. Bromid must not be used in patients with myasthenia gravis, untreated narrow angle glaucoma, or underlying tachycardia. It is also contraindicated in conditions involving the obstruction of hollow organs, such as paralytic ileus, megacolon, or mechanical stenosis in the gastrointestinal tract, and in patients with a high risk of urinary retention.

Restricted and Conditional Use

The medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation due to limited data to establish safety in these states. Pediatric use is generally not established or recommended in children under 6 years. Use requires special caution in patients with existing cardiac conditions. Furthermore, the injectable form is restricted for intramuscular injection in patients receiving anticoagulant drugs.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Bromid's official regulatory profile details interaction patterns primarily driven by its anticholinergic properties and its effect on gastrointestinal motility. The profile includes specific restrictions, prohibitions, and documented interaction consequences.

Interaction Type Interacting Substance/Class Official Regulatory Description
Contraindicated Combination Anticoagulant Drugs Prohibited for co-administration when Bromid is given via intramuscular injection due to the documented risk of intramuscular haematoma.
Pharmacodynamic Intensification Anticholinergic Agents (e.g., Tricyclic Antidepressants, Antihistamines, Antipsychotics) May result in an intensification of the overall anticholinergic effects.
Pharmacodynamic Antagonism Dopamine Antagonists (e.g., Metoclopramide) Leads to the diminution (reduction) of the gastrointestinal effects of both substances.
Tachycardic Effect Enhancement Beta-adrenergic Agents May enhance the existing tachycardic effects.
Pharmacokinetic Absorption Antacids or Adsorbent Antidiarrheals May reduce the absorption of Bromid, potentially decreasing therapeutic effectiveness.
Pharmacokinetic Absorption Other Oral Medications Bromid may delay the systemic absorption of these drugs by reducing gut motility.

The regulatory profile confirms that interactions with food have not been established. No mandatory timing rules or population-specific interaction cautions are explicitly stated in the official interaction sections of the labels. The structure is defined by the regulatory classification of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and route-specific constraints.

Mechanism of Action

Bromid operates as an inhibitor of the Cathepsin K enzyme, a specialized cysteine protease. Cathepsin K is mechanistically critical within osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption. Within the bone microenvironment, osteoclasts secrete Cathepsin K into the resorption lacuna, where it degrades type I collagen and other non-collagenous proteins, which are structural components of the bone matrix.

The mechanism involves the selective and reversible binding of Bromid to the active catalytic site of Cathepsin K, resulting in non-competitive inhibition of the enzyme's peptidase activity. This molecular interaction prevents the enzyme from executing its function in the cleavage of bone matrix proteins.

The intracellular consequence of this inhibition is a significant reduction in the enzymatic degradation of the bone matrix components. At the system level, this pharmacodynamic action effectively modulates bone remodeling by reducing the rate of bone resorption and decreasing bone turnover, thereby altering the balance of bone formation and breakdown within the skeletal system.

Dosage and Administration Information

How Bromid is Used

Bromid (hyoscine butylbromide) is utilized based on administration guidelines, with the route determined by the urgency of the condition. The medicine is available as 10 mg film-coated tablets for oral use, and as a 20 mg/mL solution for injection intended for parenteral routes, including Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular (IM), or Subcutaneous (SC) administration.


Dosing and Frequency Patterns

The medicine is generally intended for acute, short-term use, and continuous daily use is typically avoided without medical investigation.

Administration Route Standard Adult Dosing (Per Dose) Maximum Daily Dose Frequency Pattern
Oral (Tablets) 10 mg to 20 mg 80 mg Typically three to five times daily
Parenteral (Injection) 20 mg (IV, IM, or SC) 100 mg Single dose, repeatable after 30 minutes if necessary

Administration Procedures and Conditions

Oral tablets must be swallowed whole with water; they should not be crushed, broken, or chewed. When administered parenterally, the Intravenous (IV) injection must be performed slowly. The injection solution may be diluted with standard solutions such as 0.9% sodium chloride or glucose. In cases where a patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy, the IM route is avoided in favor of the IV or SC route to mitigate procedural complications.

For children aged 6 to 12 years, the oral tablet is administered at a 10 mg dose three times daily. If a dose is missed, standard practice is not to take a double dose to compensate.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Bromid

Evidence for Acute Abdominal Spasm and Colicky Pain

Bromid was evaluated in short-term Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and comparative studies used in research exploring how symptoms change over time. These studies primarily focused on adults presenting to urgent care settings but also included some research on children experiencing acute, non-specific abdominal discomfort. Researchers designed these studies to monitor the measurement of changes in pain intensity scores and recorded the time to initial change in perceived discomfort, and the documentation of the requirement for rescue pain medication.

In these acute research contexts, studies reported short-term measurements focused on outcomes capturing phases of heightened symptom activity. Findings were mixed; some trials described patterns of symptom evolution when evaluated against placebo, and other research noted outcomes measured in comparison to other analgesic options. What remains uncertain is the applicability of these results across all causes of acute abdominal pain. Follow-up durations were limited, meaning that long-term outcomes are not well characterized.

Evidence for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The research for Bromid in conditions characterized by fluctuating or episodic manifestations like IBS relies mainly on systematic reviews and meta-analyses that synthesize data from controlled trials. The research primarily focused on how symptoms were measured in adults diagnosed with IBS. Studies examined changes in patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort, specifically focusing on the frequency and severity of abdominal pain and episodes of bloating.

A significant limitation is that many existing studies are older and have follow-up durations that were limited, meaning there is limited information for long-term outcomes or patterns measured over many months or years. Additionally, there is documented variability in findings due to the high placebo effect observed in many IBS studies, which contributes to the difficulty in distinguishing the observed patterns.

Evidence in Specific Populations and Research Gaps

Studies were conducted in children experiencing non-specific colicky pain, where research highlights changes measured during the study period in this younger age group. However, data for certain groups remain insufficient; for example, there are limited specialized studies focusing specifically on older adults or individuals with significant coexisting illnesses. Research does not provide certainty on whether an individual in these groups will report similar outcomes to the patterns observed in the general study populations.

Key Studies & References

  1. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
  2. Systematic Review of Hyoscine Butylbromide in Acute Abdominal Pain (Example of source type used)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Bromid (FAQ)


Q: What is Bromid used for?

According to official regulatory documents, Bromid is approved for treating certain types of serious bacterial infections. It is generally used when other medicines are not suitable or have been ineffective. This antibiotic works by stopping the growth of the bacteria causing the infection.


Q: How long does it take for Bromid to start working?

Official information indicates that Bromid can start acting against the bacteria shortly after the first dose. The timeframe for observable results or improvement varies depending on the infection being treated and the patient's condition. Monitoring by a healthcare provider is typically necessary to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment.


Q: Can I drink alcohol while taking Bromid?

The official product information advises that combining this medicine with alcohol may increase the risk or severity of certain side effects. Therefore, the consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Bromid. Guidance on consuming alcohol should always be obtained from a healthcare provider during your treatment.


Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Bromid?

If a dose of Bromid is missed, patients are generally advised to consult the patient information leaflet or their healthcare provider for specific instructions. Specific steps for a missed dose, including timing, are detailed in the official prescribing information and should be followed under the guidance of a professional. Regulatory documents generally warn against taking a double dose to compensate for a missed dose.


Q: How should Bromid be stored?

Regulatory documents specify that Bromid should be stored in its original packaging at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. It is essential to keep the medicine out of the reach of children and to check the expiry date on the packaging before use. Do not store Bromid in the bathroom or near a sink.


Q: Is Bromid safe to use during pregnancy?

Official information states that the use of Bromid during pregnancy is generally not recommended, especially during the first trimester. Individuals who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should inform their doctor before starting this medication. A healthcare provider must assess the potential benefits versus the risks of using this medication in these situations.

How should Bromid be stored and disposed of?

The storage and disposal of Hyoscine Butylbromide (Bromid) must adhere strictly to official regulatory requirements to ensure product stability and safety.

Storage Conditions

Tablets must be stored at a temperature below 30°C and kept protected from moisture. The medicine must remain in its original blister strip, with the tablet removed only immediately prior to use. For the injection, the solution must be used immediately after opening the ampoule. If diluted, the prepared solution may be stored for a maximum of 24 hours in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.

Handling and Safety

All forms of the medicine must be stored out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Do not dispose of unused or expired medicine via wastewater or household waste. Official labeling instructs patients to ask a pharmacist how to properly throw away medicines they no longer need, ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical waste protocols.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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