Mebeverine is a musculotropic antispasmodic

Antispasmodic

An antispasmodic is a drug or a herb that suppresses muscle spasms.-Smooth muscle spasm:One type of antispasmodics is used for smooth muscle contraction, especially in tubular organs of the gastrointestinal tract...

 drug without atropic side-effects whose major therapeutic role is in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...

. It is also indicated for treatment of gastrointestinal spasm secondary to organic disorder. It was first registered in 1965. It is manufactured and marketed as Colofac, Duspatal and Duspatalin by Solvay

Solvay

Solvay may refer to* Solvay , an international chemicals and plastics company* the Solvay process* Ernest Solvay, its inventor* Solvay Conference* the Solvay Business School* Solvay, New York* Solvay Hut, on the Matterhorn...

 Pharmaceuticals.

Mebeverine is presented in the United Kingdom as a (135 mg) tablet

Tablet

A tablet is a pharmaceutical dosage form. It comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose...

. Other strengths: 100 mg tablet and 200 mg capsule.

Mode of action

Mebeverine is an antimuscarinic. Mebeverine belongs to a group of compounds called musculotropic antispasmodics. These compounds act directly on the gut muscles at the cellular level to relax them. Mebeverine is also an inhibitor of calcium-depot replenishment. Therefore, mebeverine has dual mode of action which normalizes the small bowel motility.

Indications

Spastic functional disturbances of the colon:

• Irritable bowel syndrome in its primary form
• Irritable bowel syndrome associated with organic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract such as; diverticulosis and diverticulitis, regional enteritis, disease of the gall bladder and gall ducts, gastric and duodenal ulcers, dysentery, and aspecific or specific inflammation of the digestive tract.
• mebeverine should be taken 20 minutes before meals.

Adverse effects

Since 1978, 21 cases of severe adverse reactions to mebeverine were reported in the Netherlands.
Most reactions consisted of urticaria

Urticaria

Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...

 or maculopapular rash

Maculopapular rash

A maculopapular rash is a type of rash characterized by a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps. The term "maculopapular" is a compound: macules are small, flat discolored spots on the surface of the skin; and papules are small, raised bumps...

, sometimes accompanied by fever

Fever

Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...

, polyarthritis

Polyarthritis

Polyarthritis is any type of arthritis which involves 5 or more joints simultaneously. It is usually associated with autoimmune conditions.Polyarthritis may be experienced at any age and is not gender specific.-Causes:...

, thrombopenia or angioedema

Angioedema

Angioedema or Quincke's edema is the rapid swelling of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues. It is very similar to urticaria, but urticaria, commonly known as hives, occurs in the upper dermis...

.