Precautions to be taken by radiologists and radiographers when prescribing hyoscine-N-butylbromide

Hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan, Boehringer Ingelheim) is a widely used antispasmodic in radiological practice. There seems to be no consensus as to best practice within radiology regarding the precautions that need to be taken when prescribing Buscopan. We have performed a thorough review of the available literature and make the following recommendations to those administering Buscopan: (1) enquire whether there is an allergic history; (2) ensure patient literature warns that “in the rare event that following the examination you develop painful, blurred vision in one or both eyes, you must attend hospital immediately for assessment”; (3) warn patients to expect blurred vision and not to drive until this has worn off; (4) remind clinicians that special consideration needs to be given as to the method of investigating patients with cardiac instability, such as those recently admitted with acute coronary syndrome, recurrent cardiac pain at rest, uncontrolled left ventricular failure and recent ventricular arrhythmias.