As it was long ago established by nature, a woman's pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, during which a real little man develops from an embryo. After the allotted time, childbirth takes place, and a new inhabitant comes to this world. However, there are cases when 40 weeks are already behind, and the baby is in no hurry to be born. The reason here may lie in the immaturity of the cervix. In these cases, health workers take a number of measures in order to accelerate the development of labor. One of these measures is the appointment of antispasmodic and hormonal drugs for the maturation of the cervix. One of these drugs is Buscopan (candles). The instruction recommends using them only as directed by a gynecologist.
Component composition and release forms
The main component of the medication is hyoscine butyl bromide. It also contains starch, tartaric and stearic acids, calcium hydrophosphate and colloidal silicon dioxide as auxiliary substances. Manufacturers offer their product to consumers in the form of tablets and suppositories. The tablets are round, biconvex, have a white color and are coated with a sugar coating.
As for the candles, they are smooth and oblong, the color can vary from ivory to white. As a rule, gynecologists prefer not to prescribe pills, but candles with Buscopan. Before giving birth, this antispasmodic can help relax smooth muscles, so that the birth of the baby is not accompanied by severe pain and damage to the birth canal.
Indications for use
This drug has a natural origin and has been used in medicine for more than half a century. Its main function is the elimination of pain and spasms in the pelvic and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, “Buscopan” (suppositories) during pregnancy before childbirth recommends the use of reviews by health workers, but gynecology is not called the only area of application of this drug.
With a fairly high degree of effectiveness, Buscopan is prescribed to patients with urogenital spasms and pains of an antispasmodic nature in the gastrointestinal tract (renal or intestinal colic, pylorospasms (shortening of the pyloric stomach), cholecystitis). As a component of complex treatment, this antispasmodic is also used for exacerbations of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Also, "Buscopan" is often prescribed to patients suffering from biliary duct dyskinesia, algodismenorrhea (the so-called pain that appears several days before the onset of menstruation).
As for obstetrics and gynecology, despite the fact that the negative effect of this drug on the fetus and woman’s health status has not yet been identified, Buscopan (candles) is prescribed during pregnancy before childbirth, but not in the first or second trimesters. At the end of the period of gestation, the medication can be taken only as directed by the attending physician in order to soften the cervix.
Contraindications for the Buscopan antispasmodic
As with any drug, this drug has certain contraindications. Tablets should not be used by people with hypersensitivity to the main or one of their auxiliary components. Do not prescribe them to children under 6 years of age. "Buscopan" is contraindicated for patients suffering from myasthenia, megacolony, angle-closure glaucoma. You can not use it with the development of pulmonary edema.
If we are talking about the dosage form of release in the form of suppositories, then there are additional contraindications for them. “Buscopan” is not prescribed for impaired functioning of the cardiovascular system, and for male patients - with the established diagnosis of “prostate adenoma”.
Negative effects
Since the drug has anticholinergic properties, it is able to provoke the development of a number of undesirable effects. Most often, women who have used Buscopan (candles) before giving birth, leave positive feedback about him. However, sometimes you can hear about such unpleasant sensations as dry mouth, allergic manifestations in the form of urticaria, itching, peeling of the skin. Some patients may experience difficulty breathing, increased heart rate (tachycardia), arrhythmia, and problems with urination. In most cases, these manifestations are not pronounced and quickly disappear without additional medical intervention.
Application mode
In order to make the cervix as elastic as possible, a medication is usually prescribed 10-15 days before the expected date of delivery. A change in the hormonal background in a woman at the end of pregnancy (a decrease in progesterone level) leads to a modification of the cervix. If this does not happen for some reason, often enough paramedics use Buscopan (candles) during pregnancy before giving birth. Where to insert them - gives clear instructions for use. Suppositories are introduced into the rectum. Mode of use - 1 time per day throughout the course of treatment. If we are talking about a postponed pregnancy, the treatment regimen remains the same.
Rarely enough, pregnant women are prescribed pills. In this case, you should especially carefully monitor your health and strictly follow the instructions of the doctor.
Is an overdose possible?
Women who were prescribed to take "Buscopan" (suppositories) during pregnancy before childbirth, left comments on the medication, both positive and negative. However, a case of overdose was never reported. However, the development of the symptoms described in the side effects section should not be ruled out. If something like this happened, gastric lavage, the use of absorbent drugs ("Activated Carbon" or other medicines with a similar effect), and intravenous or intramuscular use of cholinomimetics are recommended as therapeutic measures.
All other complicating factors are eliminated by symptomatic therapy.
Interaction with other drugs
Buscopan suppositories, the use of which before delivery is often justified in many cases, cannot, however, be taken in parallel with certain groups of medicines to avoid the development of undesirable effects. The anticholinergic effect of an antispasmodic will increase with its simultaneous use with tricyclic antidepressants, Hindin, antihistamines, Amantadine, and Disopyraid. The tandem of Buscopan and any dopamine antagonist will lead to a weakening effect of each of the medicines on the digestive tract.
Combined therapy using Buscopan and beta-adrenergic medicines can trigger the development of tachycardia.
What to pay close attention to?
When using the Buskopan medication (suppositories) before childbirth, reviews of medical professionals and instructions indicate that certain rules should be followed. This drug really speeds up the process of cervical maturation. Nevertheless, doctors prefer to prescribe it after the 40th week of pregnancy, when the placenta loses its properties and already becomes unable to provide the baby with all the necessary nutrients and oxygen.
Stop taking the medication gradually. Otherwise, withdrawal syndrome may develop, accompanied by nausea, dizziness, sweating. In addition, during the use of Buscopan, it is important to prevent the body from overheating during physical exertion, hot weather, taking a bath or visiting the sauna.
If within 2 weeks from the start of taking the antispasmodic, the sensation of dry mouth does not disappear, then there is a likelihood of developing fungal infections, damage to tooth enamel, and gum damage.
When driving a car, care must be taken, as well as when performing work requiring a high concentration of attention. The combination of "Buscopan" with the intake of alcohol can cause the development of a mass of negative consequences.
Analogs of Buscopan
According to the main active component, Buscopan analogues in pharmacology do not currently exist. According to the pharmacological group, there is a whole list of drugs similar to the drug "Buscopan." Candles before childbirth are evaluated by patients as an effective means, however, with the whole list of other diseases, Atroventin and Atropin, Gastrocepin and Gastrozem, Novitropan and Midriacil, Spazmeks and Trigan can be successfully used ".
The only thing you do not need to do is try to replace the drug with its analogue on your own. Consultation with a doctor in such cases is required.
Why is Buscopan needed during pregnancy?
In fairness, it is worth saying that not all women who are approaching the delivery process really need it. Who and why need Buscopan candles before childbirth is necessary for those who, as they say, are already “changing the term” and the cervix is still immature, the birth canal is not flexible enough. The drug is required for those women whose body is not yet ready for the process of having a baby. The mature cervix should be shortened and softened. If this is not the case, then this antispasmodic is prescribed by the attending gynecologist, the purpose of which is to relax the muscles of the genital tract, so that the birth passes with the least discomfort for the woman and is as safe as possible for the newborn. The active substance of Buscopan relaxes the inner layer of the myometrium, as a result of which the cervix opens more intensely.
Patient opinions about the drug
On the use of the drug "Buscopan" (suppositories) before childbirth, patient reviews are both positive and negative. A separate group of expectant mothers is convinced that the antispasmodic rendered them invaluable assistance in the process of preparing for childbirth and during delivery itself: everything went smoothly, without surprises and undesirable consequences for mother and baby.
Another part of the patients from the use of the Buskopan medication (suppositories) during childbirth (the reviews of these women is a confirmation of this) did not feel any effect at all. And there are patients who responded about the drug in a negative way, because its use caused nausea, dizziness, allergic skin reactions.
You can also find reports of the good effectiveness of the drug "Buscopan" for the treatment of pain and colic in the pelvic organs and gastrointestinal tract.
Health workers agree that if the medication is used strictly according to the prescribed scheme, in most cases a positive effect is achieved without any negative consequences.