The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps) has informed this Monday of five cases of serious adverse reactions related to the mismanagement of scopolamine instead of butylscopolamine.

As detailed in a statement by Aemps, under the Ministry of Health, the affected patients have required medical assistance. This confusion can cause an anticholinergic picture due to the overdose of scopolamine that can put the life of the patient at risk,they explain.

The Aemps details that scopolamine has been wrongly administered instead of butylscopolamine. the signs and symptoms Headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, disorientation, memory loss, and hallucinations are characteristic of scopolamine overdose.

According to the agency, the butylscopolamine bromide (formerly called scopolamine butylbromide) does not cross the blood-brain barrier. The drug is indicated for the treatment of acute spasms of the gastrointestinal, biliary and genitourinary tracts.

while the scopolamine hydrobromide it does cross the blood-brain barrier and is indicated as a premedication in anesthesia to reduce excessive salivation and respiratory tract secretions.

The health agency, the very similar denomination of the two active ingredients makes them susceptible to confusion despite the fact that their indications and dosage levels are very different.

For this reason, the Aemps asks the health professionals provide detailed attention to the possible confusion between scopolamine and butylscopolamine, both in the prescription and in the dispensing and administration of the medication.