Injection of Buscopan in MRI Scans | Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

This advice sheet has been produced to give you information about Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) which is used in some MRI scans to stop muscle spasms from blurring pictures. It is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor. If after reading it, you require further explanation, please discuss this with medical team caring for you.

Buscopan is given as a small injection into a vein, usually in the arm or the back of the hand by a qualified member of staff. It reduces muscle spasms for a short period of time. Muscle spasms are a natural part of the action of the gut (intestine) and some other parts of the body. Without Buscopan the MRI scan can still be done, but the pictures from the scan might show less detail than your doctor would like.

Buscopan belongs to a group of medicines called ‘antispasmodics’.

You should not take Buscopan if:

You are allergic to any of its contents
You have glaucoma (an eye problem)
You have megacolon (a very enlarged bowel)
You have myasthenia gravis (a rare muscle weakness problem)
You have a very fast heart rate
You have difficulty or pain passing water (urine) such as men with prostate problems
You have paralytic ileus (blockage of the gut caused by paralysis of the intestinal muscles)
You are Pregnant, likely to get pregnant or Breastfeeding

You should discuss with staff before having Buscopan if:

You are under 18 years old
You have any heart problems or angina
You have any blood pressure problems
If you have any thyroid problems
If you are taking any medicines, including over the counter or herbal medicine

Like all medicines, Buscopan can have side effects. Less than 1 in 10 people will get:

Dry mouth
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Increased heart rate
Constipation

More rare side effects have been known. These are so infrequent it is not possible to say how often they may occur:

Small blisters on hands and feet
Being unable to pass water (urine)
Low blood pressure, for example feeling faint
Flushing
Dilated pupils
Increased fluid pressure inside the eye
Allergic reactions such as skin rash, skin redness and itching.

If you have any of these symptoms whilst in the department, please see a member of staff. If you have symptoms later on and normal over the counter remedies do not help, please go to see your GP or go to a walk-in centre.

Seek immediate medical treatment if you have either of these rare complications:

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, feeling faint or very dizzy (shock)
Painful red eye with loss of vision. Buscopan can cause this in people with undiagnosed glaucoma.

If you experience dizziness or sight problems after taking Buscopan, wait until your sight returns to normal or you stop feeling dizzy before driving. This should resolve within a couple of hours.

Even if you have no known problems with your heart or blood pressure, staff will measure your heart rate and blood pressure before giving you Buscopan.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the MRI Department on telephone number: tel: 01482 674080

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

you must be able to give your consent

you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision

you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.