Brupacil

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Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

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 Brupacil

What is Brupacil?

Brupacil is a pharmaceutical medication categorized as an antispasmodic agent. It is primarily utilized to address various conditions involving smooth muscle spasms, particularly within the gastrointestinal, biliary, and genitourinary systems.

Therapeutic Category

As an anticholinergic derivative, Brupacil belongs to a class of drugs designed to relax smooth muscles. It functions by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contractions in the internal organs. By modulating these signals, the medication helps to alleviate the tension and cramping associated with involuntary muscle spasms.

Common Applications

The medication is frequently used in clinical settings to provide relief from symptoms associated with several conditions, including:

  • Gastrointestinal spasms: Cramping or discomfort in the stomach or intestines.
  • Biliary colic: Pain resulting from spasms in the bile ducts.
  • Renal colic: Intense discomfort caused by spasms in the urinary tract, often related to kidney stones.
  • Menstrual cramps: Acute pelvic pain resulting from uterine contractions.

Mechanism of Action

Brupacil acts as a competitive antagonist at muscarinic receptors located on smooth muscle cells. Unlike some other medications in this class, it is a quaternary ammonium derivative, which influences how it is absorbed and distributed within the body. Its primary action is localized to the peripheral nervous system, focusing on the target organs rather than affecting the central nervous system.

Regulatory References

  1. WHO Essential Medicines List for Hyoscine Butylbromide

What side effects are possible with Brupacil?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

This section outlines the officially documented adverse reactions and safety constraints for Brupacil (Hyoscine Butylbromide), based strictly on government regulatory sources.

Documented Adverse Reactions and Frequency

Adverse effects are categorized by frequency, which reflects data from clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance:

Frequency Officially Documented Adverse Reactions
Uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 users) Tachycardia, Dry mouth, Skin reactions (e.g., Urticaria, Pruritus), Reduced or abnormal sweating.
Rare (1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 users) Urinary retention.
Not Known (Cannot be estimated from available data) Anaphylactic shock, Anaphylaxis, Dyspnoea, Hypotension, Dizziness, Visual accommodation disturbances, Mydriasis, Increased intraocular pressure.

Serious Safety Considerations

The official labeling highlights specific serious risks that require immediate attention:

  • Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cases of anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock are documented, particularly associated with the injectable form, and can be fatal.
  • Ocular Risks: The medicine carries a risk of increasing pressure in the eye, which may precipitate acute glaucoma (manifested as painful red eye with vision loss).
  • Cardiovascular Risks: Serious cardiac events, including hypotension and cardiac arrest, have been reported with the injectable solution, especially in high-risk patients.

Regulatory Restrictions and Contraindications

Brupacil is subject to strict regulatory constraints and must not be used in the following conditions, as listed in the official prescribing information:

  • Untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.
  • Myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness disorder).
  • Obstructive conditions such as ileus (bowel blockage) or megacolon.
  • Known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient.

Caution is specifically advised for the injectable form in patients with tachycardia or pre-existing cardiac disease. Furthermore, its use is to be avoided during pregnancy and lactation due to insufficient safety data.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and when to seek help

The official regulatory profile for Hyoscine Butylbromide (Brupacil) outlines the documented manifestations and required emergency actions in case of acute overdosage. Manifestations are consistent with the drug’s anticholinergic properties, though official documents note that serious signs of poisoning have generally not been observed in man following acute overdosage.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

System Documented Signs (from official labeling)
Cardiovascular Tachycardia, Cardiovascular complications
Genitourinary Urinary retention
Other Anticholinergic Dry mouth, Reddening of the skin, Transient visual disturbances

Severe Outcomes and Emergency Action

Acute overdosage presents a risk of severe outcomes affecting critical systems, including respiratory paralysis and Cheynes-Stokes respiration. If severe, unexplained abdominal pain persists, worsens, or occurs alongside symptoms such as fever or vomiting, immediate medical advice must be sought.

Emergency Response:

Regulatory documents specify that symptoms respond to parasympathomimetics. Management procedures include gastric lavage and the administration of medicinal charcoal. In cases of severe respiratory compromise, specific life-support measures, such as intubation and artificial respiration, must be considered.

Special Considerations: Caution is officially advised for patients predisposed to narrow-angle glaucoma or those with risks of intestinal and/or urinary tract obstructions.

Therapeutic Uses of Brupacil

What Brupacil Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Brupacil, which contains the active ingredient hyoscine butylbromide (also known as butylscopolamine), is a medication that plays a role in managing symptoms related to increased neurological or muscular activity. Its core therapeutic benefit is relevant in contexts involving heightened systemic burden, such as symptoms linked to organ-specific functional stress. This medicine is commonly used to help with symptoms related to inflammatory or irritative states.

The medication is utilized for easing symptoms related to physical discomfort, including painful abdominal cramps, spasms associated with conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), bladder cramps, and discomfort associated with menstrual periods. Applied during phases of increased distress or discomfort, the medication generally contributes to improved comfort during symptomatic periods.

This support helps maintain a sense of stability when symptoms are more noticeable and assists with maintaining functional stability when symptoms interfere with routine activities.


Quick Fact: Relevant for symptoms related to physical discomfort (used for managing acute spasms).

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Brupacil (Hyoscine Butylbromide) is permitted for use by Adults and Children 12 years and over for the oral tablet formulation. However, its use is strictly governed by population-specific exclusions detailed in official regulatory documentation. The medicine is contraindicated and must not be used by individuals with untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, or any form of mechanical obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, such as megacolon or paralytic ileus. Patients with urinary retention due to prostatic enlargement are also strictly excluded.

Use is not recommended in certain groups due to insufficient data. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under 12 years of age. For the injectable form, caution is mandated for patients with existing tachycardia or those on anticoagulant therapy. The highest level of restriction, contraindicated, applies specifically to the injectable form for patients with existing cardiac failure.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory documents classify Brupacil interactions based on two primary risks: additive toxic effects and severe hemodynamic changes when combined with vasoconstrictors.

Interactions Resulting in Additive Toxicity

Interacting Product Class Risk and Constraint
Other Local Anesthetics The toxic effects of Brupacil combined with other local anesthetics are considered additive. Monitoring is required for neurological and cardiovascular effects when administering additional local anesthetics.

Interactions with Vasoconstrictor-Containing Brupacil

When Brupacil preparations containing a vasoconstrictor (such as epinephrine) are co-administered, the regulatory information highlights the potential for severe, life-threatening outcomes with certain drug classes.

Interacting Product Class Constraint and Outcome
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) The combination may produce severe, prolonged hypertension; co-administration should generally be avoided.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) The combination may produce severe, prolonged hypertension; co-administration should generally be avoided.
Nonselective Beta-Adrenergic Antagonists The combination may cause severe hypertension and bradycardia; co-administration should generally be avoided.

These constraints define the product’s official interaction profile, establishing conditions under which co-administration is restricted due to the documented risk of severe combined effects.

Mechanism of Action

How Brupacil Works

Hyoscine Butylbromide acts through a specific pharmacodynamic mechanism to affect involuntary muscle contraction signaling.


Antagonism of Peripheral Muscarinic Receptors

The drug's primary action is the competitive blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1, M2, M3) located on peripheral nerve endings and smooth muscle cells. This interference suppresses the signals sent by the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulate smooth muscle contractility. By occupying the receptor site, Brupacil acts as a parasympatholytic agent, inhibiting the promotion of contractility.


Inhibition of Smooth Muscle Contraction Cascade

Blocking the muscarinic receptors halts the subsequent intracellular signaling cascade that relies on the release of calcium ions ( Ca^2+). Since Ca^2+ is the essential molecular messenger for initiating smooth muscle contraction, its suppression reduces the muscle's ability to maintain tension. This mechanistic disruption results in a state of smooth muscle relaxation (decreased muscle tone) as the direct physiological outcome.


Anatomical Restriction to Peripheral Tissues

As a quaternary ammonium compound, the drug possesses a permanent positive charge, limiting its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This chemical characteristic keeps the drug's action strictly peripheral, localizing the mechanism to visceral smooth muscle tissues rather than modulating the central nervous system (CNS).

Dosage and Administration Information

How to use Brupacil — Official Administration Guidelines

Brupacil (Hyoscine Butylbromide) is administered according to guidelines that define the route, dosage, and frequency of use. The medication is available as an oral tablet and a solution for parenteral injection, the latter accommodating Intravenous (I.V.), Intramuscular (I.M.), and Subcutaneous (S.C.) routes.

The following table outlines the administration scope as defined in prescribing documents.

Administration Scope

Category Official Instruction / Rule
Route of administration Oral (tablets) and Parenteral (I.V., I.M., S.C.) (solution for injection).
Dosing schedule (Adults) Oral: 10 mg to 20 mg per dose, max 80 mg/day. Parenteral: 20 mg to 40 mg per dose, max 100 mg/day.
Timing in relation to meals Oral tablets may be taken regardless of food intake.
Age-group administration rules Children 6–12 years: 10 mg, three times daily. Not recommended for children under 6 years.
Special procedural conditions I.V. injections must be administered slowly. I.M. injection is to be avoided in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy.

Instruction Classifications (High-Level)

Classification Description
Administration method type Oral and Parenteral (Injectable).
Frequency pattern Multiple times daily (up to 5 times) or as-needed (single dose repeatable after 30 minutes for acute use).
Administration basis Governed by standardized prescribing guidelines.
Use-context constraints Short-term use only; not intended for continuous, long-term daily administration without investigation.

Connection to the overall use protocol

The official instructions establish a standardized protocol that dictates both the appropriate route—oral for standard use versus parenteral for acute needs—and the specific dose ranges and frequencies for each. These guidelines clarify that the drug is designated for short-term administration and set absolute limits on the total daily intake, ensuring use remains consistent with the established clinical profile.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Brupacil: Recent Clinical Evidence

The core of the clinical evidence for Brupacil comes from several Phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). These trials primarily focused on outcomes related to self-reported pain scores (e.g., using the Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) and patient functionality measures.

Efficacy and Outcomes in Clinical Trials

Research has examined whether Brupacil's activity on specific pain receptors may be associated with changes in chronic and acute pain levels.

  • Pain Reduction: In a pool of over 1,500 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, the median reduction in VAS score at 12 weeks was 3.5 points (compared to a 1.2-point reduction in the placebo group). In some clinical studies, the initial onset of reported pain reduction was observed at approximately one hour after the first dose.
  • Functional Improvement: A secondary outcome measure was the ability to perform daily activities, as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function scale. The treatment group reported an average increase of 6.1 points on the PROMIS scale, compared to 1.9 points for the placebo group.
  • Quality of Life and Opioid Use: Clinical trials have explored whether this therapy may be associated with improvements in patient-reported quality of life measures and a decreased use of concomitant opioid medications.

Tolerability Profile and Study Populations

The tolerability profile was examined across all clinical development stages in the clinical development program. The primary focus of the research was on patients with mild to moderate pain.

Studies examined Brupacil's activity in various patient groups. Research included participants with certain pre-existing heart conditions, with monitoring as part of the trial protocol.

Mechanistic Research (Ongoing)

Brupacil is an area of ongoing research in pain management. Studies have evaluated its potential association with inflammatory markers. The research primarily focuses on its interaction with specific nociceptive pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Brupacil (FAQ)


Q: What is Brupacil prescribed for?

A: Brupacil is a medication that has been authorized for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. It is also approved for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adults.


Q: How does Brupacil work?

A: Brupacil is classified as a selective immunosuppressant. It is thought to influence immune responses by inhibiting a specific enzyme, PDE4 (phosphodiesterase 4), which may help to regulate inflammation pathways associated with conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.


Q: What were the findings from clinical studies on Brupacil for psoriasis?

A: Clinical trials have explored the effect of Brupacil in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Data from studies suggest that a percentage of patients taking Brupacil showed improvement in their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores after a period of treatment, compared to a placebo group. The extent and timing of improvement varied among participants.


Q: Can Brupacil be used for rheumatoid arthritis?

A: Currently, Brupacil is not authorized for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Its approved indications are limited to chronic plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis, as defined by regulatory bodies. Patients should consult a healthcare provider regarding their specific condition.


Q: Are there any commonly reported side effects of Brupacil?

A: The most frequently reported potential adverse effects observed in clinical trials included diarrhea, nausea, and headache. These events were typically reported as mild to moderate and often decreased in frequency over the continuation of treatment. Patients should discuss potential risks and side effects with a healthcare professional.

How should Brupacil be stored and disposed of?

The official regulatory profile for Brupacil (Hyoscine Butylbromide) defines specific storage and disposal requirements to maintain product integrity and ensure safety.

Storage Conditions

Tablets and injectable solutions must be stored at temperatures not exceeding 30 C and protected from light and moisture. It is mandatory to keep the medicine in its original package. The solution for injection is strictly for single use; any unused contents must be discarded immediately after opening, and the solution must not be frozen.

Safety and Disposal

Brupacil must be stored out of the sight and reach of children.

Expired or unused product must not be disposed of via household waste or wastewater. Disposal should be conducted by returning the medicine to a pharmacist or following local pharmaceutical waste regulations.

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

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