Antispasmodics: from clinical pharmacology to pharmacotherapy

Throughout life, a person repeatedly experiences abdominal pain. Under the age of 50, most often the cause of pain is not organic, but functional in nature, when drug therapy is most likely to be effective. The cause may be intestinal colic (in children in the first months of life), irritable bowel syndrome, biliary dyskinesia, dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi, etc. About a third of cases of functional pain are accompanied by spasm of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. This is why antispasmodics are so widely used without a doctor’s prescription. Providing a pronounced analgesic effect and normalizing the functioning of the organ, they, unlike non-narcotic and opioid analgesics, do not interfere with the mechanisms of pain, that is, they do not “erase” the picture of the disease, which is critically important in diagnosis.

Nota bene!

When a client asks for a remedy for abdominal pain, it is necessary to exclude urgent situations in order to send the sufferer to a doctor in time. These include:

1. Severe pain that prevents you from sleeping or doing anything, lasts longer than 1-2 hours.
2. Severe abdominal pain is accompanied by vomiting.
3. Severe pain is accompanied by elevated body temperature - 38.5°C and above.
4. Severe pain is accompanied by loss of consciousness.
5. Severe abdominal pain in a pregnant woman.
6. The abdominal muscles are tense and the stomach is as hard as a board.
7. Diarrhea mixed with bright red blood.
8. The stool is dark and tarry.
9. Vomiting blood.
10. Abdominal pain is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration.

Cellular mechanism of pain

Smooth muscle cells are mainly found in the large intestine. There are significantly fewer of them in the small intestine. The mechanism of cell contraction depends on the concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm. The sources of calcium are the extracellular space, connected to the cytoplasm through calcium (slow) membrane channels, as well as the intracellular depot. The release of calcium causes the muscle cell to contract. The contraction of muscle cells forms a spasm and the person feels pain.

The process of muscle contraction is most often triggered by the mediator acetylcholine, binding to muscarinic cholinergic receptors (M-cholinergic receptors). Thus, blockade of M-cholinergic receptors leads to a decrease in tone and relaxation of smooth muscles (and therefore helps relieve abdominal pain). This, in particular, is the basis for the mechanism of action of a group of drugs called M-anticholinergics.

The interaction of calcium with calmodulin leads to the interaction of actin with myosin and cell contraction. CAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) and cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) weaken the interaction of calcium with calmodulin and also impede the entry of calcium ions into the cell. The level of cAMP and cGMP is controlled by phosphodiesterase (PDE), which destroys excess of these nucleotides. Thus, if you reduce the activity of PDE, the concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm will decrease and the tone of the muscle cell will decrease.

Based on the described mechanisms for regulating the calcium concentration inside the muscle cell, which are disrupted under pathological conditions and lead to spasm, the main groups of antispasmodics have been created:

1. M-anticholinergics (atropine, hyoscine butyl bromide).
2. PDE IV inhibitors (drotaverine).
3. Blockers of calcium release from intracellular stores or sodium channel blockers (mebeverine).
4. Calcium channel blockers.

Antispasmodics: from clinical pharmacology to pharmacotherapy

Drugs belonging to the group of antispasmodics are among the most popular and prescribed by doctors of various specialties. Dysfunction of smooth muscle cells of internal organs underlies both chronic and acute pain syndromes in various diseases of the digestive system and urinary system of the pelvic organs [1, 2]. The most common cause of pain in pathologies of internal organs that have a layer of smooth muscle cells is their excessive contraction. Symptoms of spastic dysfunction of the digestive organs occur in 30% of cases in the absence of organic damage to the stomach or intestines, which leads to the frequent independent (without medical prescription) use of antispasmodic drugs. The widespread use of drugs in this group dictates the need to constantly remind about their clinical pharmacology, especially properties and tolerability, in order to avoid both underestimation and overestimation of therapeutic capabilities.

It is important that, by eliminating or preventing spasms of smooth muscles, antispasmodics, although they have a pronounced analgesic effect, normalizing the functioning of the organ, do not interfere with the mechanisms of pain. Unlike non-narcotic and opioid analgesics, they do not pose a significant threat of “erasing” symptoms in severe organic damage (masking the picture and making it difficult to verify the diagnosis).

Antispasmodics are most often used for:

• symptomatic treatment if spasm is a characteristic accompanying symptom of the disease, but does not play a role in pathogenesis;
• etiotropic therapy if spasm underlies the pathological condition;
• premedication when preparing patients for various procedures.

The process of contraction of a muscle cell is determined by the concentration of calcium ions in its cytoplasm, entering from the extracellular space through calcium (slow) channels of cell membranes. Another source of calcium is intracellular depots, which are more present in the smooth muscles of the colon and much less in the small intestine, including the duodenum. The release of this fraction of calcium ions leads to a phase contraction of the muscle cell [3]. One of the most common mediators influencing the process of muscle contraction is acetylcholine. When it interacts with muscarinic cholinergic receptors (M-cholinergic receptors), sodium channels open, sodium ions enter the cell and, as a result, membrane depolarization occurs. Depolarization, in turn, leads to the opening of calcium channels and the entry of calcium into the cell, increasing its intracellular concentration and muscle contraction. Activation of M-cholinergic receptors by acetylcholine leads to an increase in tone and contraction of smooth muscle cells, and blockade leads to a decrease in tone and relaxation of smooth muscle cells, which underlies the prescription of M-cholinergic blockers as antispasmodics [4, 5].

Calcium interacts with calmodulin, activates myosin light chain kinase, which cleaves the phosphorus residue from the ATP molecule bound to myosin, which leads to the interaction of actin and myosin and cell contraction. The most important role in muscle functioning is known to be played by the system of cyclic nucleotides [6]. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) inhibit the release of intracellular calcium and the entry of calcium ions into the cell (cAMP), weaken the interaction of calcium ions with calmodulin. The levels of cAMP and cGMP are controlled by phosphodiesterase (PDE), which breaks down these nucleotides. Thus, the higher the PDE activity, the lower the concentration of cAMP and cGMP, the higher the concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm and the tone of the muscle cell and, conversely, the lower the PDE activity, the higher the concentration of cAMP and cGMP, the lower the concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm and muscle cell tone. The physiological role of PDE is diverse. 11 isoforms of this enzyme have been identified [4]. The main types of PDEs that affect the tone of smooth muscle cells are presented in

.

The mechanisms described above for regulating the calcium concentration inside the muscle cell, which are disrupted under pathological conditions and lead to spasm of the smooth muscle cells of the internal organs, imply the presence of several targets for pharmacological action [7]:

1. blockade of neurotropic effects, that is, blocking the effect of acetylcholine on the M-cholinergic receptor (atropine, hyoscine butyl bromide);
2. inhibition of PDE IV activity (drotaverine (No-spa));
3. blockade of calcium ion entry (calcium channel blockers);
4. blockade of calcium release from intracellular stores (mebeverine).

M-anticholinergics

This is one of the oldest groups of drugs used in medicine to affect the upper gastrointestinal tract. They are 5–10 times more effective in affecting the motility of the stomach than the large intestine, which is associated with the unequal density of M-cholinergic receptors in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract [8]. The largest number of receptors is in the stomach, much less in the intestines. The classic anticholinergic atropine has lost its value due to a large number of side effects. An attempt to increase the safety of therapy with M-anticholinergics was the creation of hyoscine butyl bromide, which is a relatively selective M-anticholinergic blocker acting on the M1 and M3 receptor subtypes, localized primarily in the walls of the upper gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder and biliary ducts. Unlike atropine, the drug does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and has low (8–10%) systemic bioavailability, which leaves its mark on the variability in the manifestations of the effect.

Hyoscine butyl bromide accumulates in the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted unchanged from the body by the kidneys. It acts mainly on the stomach, duodenum, and gall bladder. The antispasmodic effect on the small and large intestines is realized in doses 2–10 times higher than therapeutic ones, therefore, for spasms of these parts of the intestine, use is not advisable (it is better to use myotropic antispasmodics, for example, drotaverine (No-shpa)) [9].

Anticholinergics are successfully used for abdominal pain caused by spasm in the upper gastrointestinal tract: sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, biliary dyskinesia, pylorospasm. Despite the fact that hyoscine butylbromide does not penetrate the central nervous system, it can cause side effects typical of M-anticholinergics (4% more often than placebo). This makes it, like other drugs in the group, contraindicated for glaucoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, organic stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract, and tachyarrhythmias [10]. Since the drug is sold without a prescription and may cause unwanted effects in patients suffering from these diseases, it is important to inform them in advance. Unfortunately, the importance of selectivity of drug action is often unreasonably exaggerated. Thus, the statement that hyoscine butylbromide acts only at the site of spasm seems controversial, since M-cholinergic receptors are not located locally.

From the point of view of the breadth of effects on organs and systems of hyoscine, butyl bromide is no less effective than myotropic drugs (drotaverine (No-shpa)), but its action, unlike myotropic drugs, can increase the risks of its use: it should not be taken by children under 6 -years of age, simultaneously with antidepressants (especially tricyclics), antihistamines and antiarrhythmic drugs, as well as beta-agonists (high risk of negative interaction between these drugs). Hyoscine butylbromide, like other M-anticholinergics, worsens the condition of patients with reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia due to relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and increased reflux of acidic contents into the esophagus. In elderly patients with chronic atonic constipation, in weakened patients, there is a risk of developing intestinal obstruction. In case of chronic lung diseases, when using M-anticholinergics, thickening of secretions may occur and the degree of bronchial obstruction may increase. In men, a decrease in potency is possible.

With prolonged use, the drug should be discontinued gradually; during treatment, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, be in the hot sun, perform intense physical work or play sports (impairment of the functions of the sweat glands by the drug with simultaneous insolation can lead to heat stroke).

Thus, the status of hyoscine butyl bromide as an over-the-counter drug does not relieve the patient from the need for periodic medical monitoring. It is precisely these problems that are responsible for the fact that currently the M-anticholinergics known to us abroad are used less and less often. In addition, the severity of their effect depends on the initial tone of the parasympathetic nervous system, which determines significant individual differences in the effectiveness of drugs in patients with varying severity of vagotonia.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEs)

The effect of traditional widely used antispasmodics, such as drotaverine (No-shpa), is based on the suppression of PDE IV activity. Since PDE IV is present in smooth muscle cells along the entire length of the intestine, biliary and urinary tracts, its blockade with drotaverine (No-shpa) has a universal antispasmodic effect, regardless of the degree of contraction or the cause that caused it. Drotaverine, unlike hyoscine butylbromide and other myotropic antispasmodics, has anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects (type IV PDE is actively involved in the development of inflammation).

Pharmacodynamic properties underlie the pathogenetic therapeutic effect of drotaverine and are widely used not only to relieve acute spastic syndrome, but also to provide long-term pharmacotherapy, for example, with biliary dyskinesias, cholelithiasis, chronic intestinal diseases with spastic syndrome accompanied by colicky or bursting pain. The absence of anticholinergic activity has a positive effect on the safety of drotaverine, expanding the range of people to whom it can be prescribed, in particular, restrictions on use in children are lifted (possible from the age of one year), in elderly men with prostate pathology, as well as with concomitant pathology and when taken together with other drugs.

The therapeutic concentration of drotaverine in plasma when taken orally is observed within 45 minutes. After a single oral dose of 80 mg, maximum plasma concentration is achieved after 2 hours, and oral bioavailability is 60%. The drug penetrates well into various tissues, is metabolized (oxidized) almost completely to monophenolic compounds, the metabolites are quickly conjugated with glucuronic acid. The half-life is 16 hours. About 60% of drotaverine when taken orally is excreted through the gastrointestinal tract and up to 25% in the urine. The presence of a dosage form for both enteral and parenteral administration makes it possible to widely use the drug in an emergency situation, followed by a transition to oral administration for long-term use. Thus, parenteral administration of drotaverine (No-shpa) provides a quick and strong antispasmodic effect, which is especially important in the development of acute, intense colicky spastic pain.

Drotaverine (No-shpa, No-shpa forte) is effective in the treatment of various gastrointestinal diseases characterized by spasm of smooth muscles (biliary dyskinesia, spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, pylorospasm, irritable bowel syndrome), is actively used for urolithiasis, increased blood pressure, disorders of regional blood flow, including for self-medication.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the use of No-shpa significantly reduced pain in sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia in 60% of patients, while placebo did not affect the intensity of pain in 55% of cases. In this study, No-shpa turned out to be 2 times more effective than analgesics. The research results showed that No-Spa is the drug of choice for spasms of the smooth muscles of the biliary system, both for monotherapy and in combination with other drugs and surgical methods of treatment. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in 62 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, abdominal pain (by 47%) and flatulence significantly decreased during 8 weeks of treatment with No-shpa. In another randomized, double-blind study, the effectiveness of No-shpa was studied in 70 aged patients with irritable bowel syndrome for 4 weeks. The results showed that No-shpa significantly reduces the frequency of pain compared to placebo - by 47% (p < 0.001), flatulence by 21% and dyspepsia - by 20% (p < 0.001), improves passage time in the colon [11] .

Long-term use of the drug is safe, which is associated with the absence of an effect on cholinergic structures and significantly improves its tolerability. No-spa is included in the standards for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system approved in the Russian Federation.

Sodium channel blockers

The action is based on disrupting the depolarization of the membrane of smooth muscle cells of the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the permeability of the membrane to extracellular sodium and, in addition, indirectly suppressing the release of potassium from the cell. The result of this is a disruption of the depolarization process and blocking of intracellular calcium stores. The most well-known drug is the veratric acid derivative mebeverine. It binds to the molecular structures of sodium channels without affecting the cholinergic receptor, reduces the outflow of ionized potassium from the cell, and therefore eliminates spasm without causing hypotension of the colon [12]. Metabolized when passing through the intestinal wall and liver, drug metabolites are excreted in the urine.

Mebeverine is prescribed mainly for functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (non-ulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome), as well as for secondary spasms caused by organic diseases of the intestines and biliary tract. It is used exclusively as planned, i.e., only a course of treatment is provided, unlike drotaverine, which can be used both for the relief and prevention of spastic pain.

The effectiveness of mebeverine is not always observed with monotherapy. Thus, in an extensive pharmacoepidemiological study [13], it was shown that in irritable bowel syndrome in comparison with control (standard therapy), it requires more joint drug support than in control, which leads to increased costs (Table 2).

From the table 2 it is clear that the odds ratio is always higher in the mebeverine group, which indicates a greater likelihood of prescribing concomitant pathogenetic therapy in comparison with traditional treatment. In addition, using a representative group (n = 3431), it was found that when using mebeverine, the likelihood of hospitalization for various diseases increases, which indicates the variability of the therapeutic effect of the drug and is accompanied by an increase in treatment costs (Table 3).

IN

The main indications for prescribing antispasmodics for diseases and conditions of internal organs have been formulated.

Conclusion

Pain is a universal symptom for a wide variety of lesions of internal organs; its occurrence is often based on spasm of smooth muscles. Knowledge of the clinical pharmacology of drugs in this group allows for the most targeted choice of drug. Using the pharmacodynamics of drugs, it becomes possible to combine them rationally, effectively and safely. Of the entire group of antispasmodic drugs, the most popular is drotaverine (No-spa), which meets the criteria of effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness to a greater extent than the others. A review of research results shows that No-Spa is effective both for the rapid relief of acute pain caused by spasms, and for a fairly long-term treatment of patients with chronic pathology. Unlike other antispasmodics, the effect of No-shpa is not limited to the gastrointestinal tract, which makes the drug universal for relieving spasmodic conditions of any origin and location and the associated pain syndrome. An important feature of the pharmacodynamics of No-shpa is the lack of effect on cholinergic structures, which makes the drug safer compared to M-anticholinergics. The mechanism of action, which is different from other drugs in the group, provides opportunities for a wide effective combination both within the group of antispasmodics and with drugs from other pharmacological groups (antisecretory, non-narcotic analgesics, opioids).

For questions regarding literature, please contact the editor.

M. V. Pchelintsev , Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Institute of Pharmacology of St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I. P. Pavlova , St. Petersburg

M-anticholinergics

M-anticholinergics are one of the oldest groups of drugs.
Atropine has been used in medicinal herbs since the 4th century BC. e. Thus, the ancient Greek naturalist Theophrastus described mandrake as a remedy for treating wounds, gout and insomnia, and also as a “love potion.” The ancient Greek military physician Dioscorides (1st century AD) described mandrake wine as an anesthetic to treat pain or insomnia, to be given before surgery or cauterization. M-anticholinergics most effectively affect the upper gastrointestinal tract. The use of non-selective M-anticholinergics (atropine, platyphylline, metacin) is limited by their prescription, as well as by the fact that they have a systemic effect and have a number of side effects, such as intestinal atony and obstruction.

One of the relatively oldest selective M-anticholinergics is hyoscine butyl bromide (first registered in Germany in 1951). It acts on the M1 and M3 subtypes of receptors, localized mainly in the walls of the upper gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder and biliary ducts. Hyoscine butyl bromide does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and has a weak systemic effect, unlike atropine. However, it is contraindicated in people with glaucoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as organic stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract and tachyarrhythmias. Hyoscine butyl bromide accumulates in the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. The drug is successfully used for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, biliary dyskinesia and pyloric spasm.

The severity of the effect of hyoscine butylbromide also depends on the patient’s individual sensitivity to this drug. Unfortunately, the antispasmodic effect of hyoscine butyl bromide on the small intestine (except the duodenum) and large intestine can be realized when taking a dose 2–10 times higher than the therapeutic dose, so its use is useless for spasms in the lower abdomen. A large number of restrictions and risks when taking this drug require medical supervision, which is why the M-anticholinergics known to us are currently used less and less abroad. However, hyoscine butyl bromide is still available without a prescription.

Antispasmodics (in gastroenterology)

Antispasmodics

- medications that reduce smooth muscle spasm.
Antispasmodics are the first choice drugs for the treatment of mild to moderate abdominal pain. Antispasmodics are used in the pharmacological treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia, patients with mild irritable bowel syndrome, biliary dyskinesias, as well as in the treatment of exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease before the appointment of Helicobacter pylori
, exacerbation of cholelithiasis before cholecystectomy, etc. Antispasmodics are also used as bronchodilators means for relieving spasms of bronchial muscles, for stimulating cardiac activity during the treatment of angina pectoris.

Myotropic antispasmodics used in gastroenterology

• medications with the active ingredient papaverine: papaverine, papaverine hydrochloride, papaverine MS, papaverine bufus
• medicine with complex active ingredient papaverine + bendazole: Papazole
• medications with the active ingredient drotaverine: Bespa, Bioshpa, Vero-Drotaverine, Droverin, droverine injection solution 2%, drotaverine, Drotaverine MS, Drotaverine forte, Drotaverine-AKOS, Drotaverine-KMP, Drotaverine-MIK, Drotaverine-STI, Drotaverine-UBF , Drotaverine-FPO, Drotaverine-ellara, drotaverine hydrochloride, drotaverine hydrochloride tablets 0.04 g, No-shpa, No-shpa forte, Nosh-bra, Spasmol, Spasmonet, Spasmonet forte, Spasmoverine, Spakovin
• medications with the active ingredient mebeverine: Duspatalin, mebeverine hydrochloride, Niaspam, Sparex
• medications with the active ingredient trimebutin: Neobutin, Neobutin Retard, Trimebutin SZ, Trimedat, Trimedat Valenta and Trimedat Forte.
• a selective antispasmodic that acts exclusively on the sphincter of Oddi, the sphincter of Lutkens and the biliary tract - hymecromone (trade name Odeston)
• antispasmodic intended for children aged two weeks (based on fruit extract and fennel oil): Plantex
• complex medicine Meteospasmil (antispasmodic alverine + antifoam simethicone)
• herbal medicine based on 9 herbs – Iberogast

The zones of distribution and severity of the antispasmodic effect are indicated in the table below (Minushkin O.N. et al.):

Selective calcium channel blockers of gastrointestinal smooth muscle

The motor function of the gastrointestinal tract is under the control of numerous regulatory impulses from the central, peripheral and enteric nervous systems. In addition, motor activity is regulated by a large group of gastrointestinal peptides and bioactive molecules that act paracrinely and as neurotransmitters at the level of the Meissner and Auerbach nerve plexuses. At the final stage, the balanced functioning of the smooth muscle apparatus depends on the concentration of calcium in the cytoplasm of the myocyte and its movements across the cell membrane. An increase in calcium concentration is accompanied by the formation of the actin-myosin complex and contraction, and its decrease leads to relaxation of smooth muscles (Belousova E.A.). Calcium channel blockers close calcium channels in cell membranes, prevent calcium ions from entering the cytoplasm, and cause smooth muscle relaxation. In medicine, non-selective calcium blockers such as nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem and others play an important role. However, this group of drugs acts primarily on the cardiovascular system; To achieve gastroenterological effects, high doses are required, which practically excludes their use in gastroenterology (Minushkin O.N., Maslovsky L.V.). To relieve spasms in the abdominal organs, selective blockers of smooth muscle calcium channels are used, which in therapeutic doses do not affect the cardiovascular system. Calcium channel blockers, myotropic antispasmodics, selectively acting on the gastrointestinal tract: pinaveria bromide (trade name Dicetel) and otilonium bromide (spasmomen).

Comparison of myotropic antispasmodics

The first antispasmodic used to date is papaverine. It was isolated from opium in 1848. Papaverine has been produced in industrial quantities since 1930 by Hinoin, Hungary. In 1961, a hydrogenated derivative of papaverine, drotaverine, was obtained, which had the trade name no-shpa. No-spa is close in chemical structure and mechanism of action to papaverine. Both are phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors and calmodulin antagonists. At the same time, the selectivity of the action of no-shpa in relation to PDE is noticeably greater and the selectivity of its effect on smooth muscles is 5 times higher than that of papaverine. No-shpa is a more effective drug than papaverine, but in Russia papaverine remains a popular medicine, both due to established tradition and low price.
Mebeverine is a dual-action myotropic antispasmodic that relieves spasms and does not cause atony. It is important that mebeverine does not act on the cholinergic system and therefore does not cause side effects such as dry mouth, visual disturbances, tachycardia, urinary retention, constipation and weakness. When treating the digestive tract, mebeverine is more effective and has fewer side effects than drotaverine and papaverine.

M-anticholinergic agents with antispasmodic action

If in Russia myotropic antispasmodics are most often used to relieve spastic abdominal pain, then in some Western countries anticholinergic antispasmodics are more popular, and among the latter - hyoscine butyl bromide (synonyms: butylscopolamine, hyoscine-N-butyl bromide; trademarks in the countries of the former USSR: spanil , spasmobruyu and others). A significant advantage of hyoscine butylbromide is that only a small amount of it enters the systemic circulation (about 1%), and also that it does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and lacks a pronounced atropine-like systemic effect. Thus, it has significantly fewer side effects than, for example, drotaverine (No-shpa).

Comparison of the effectiveness of antispasmodics using electrogastroenterography

In order to compare the effectiveness of the main classes of antispasmodics in the “course therapy” options and when taken “on demand,” an electrogastroenterographic study was conducted. The effectiveness criterion was considered to be a decrease in electrical activity in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been established that during “course therapy” no significant differences are found between drotaverine, mebeverine and hyoscine butyl bromide (Belousova L.N. et al.):

Decrease in the power level (in% compared to the initial level) in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract on an empty stomach against the background of “course therapy” of antispasmodics.
There is no significant difference in the effects of various antispasmodics. At the same time, it has been established that with a single dose, hyoscine butyl bromide has the greatest antispasmodic activity in a short period of time. This is most likely due to its double antispasmodic effect through selective binding to muscarinic receptors located on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, and a parallel ganglion-blocking effect, which causes the rapid onset of the clinical effect (Belousova L.N. et al.):

Decrease in power level (in% compared to the initial level) in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract on an empty stomach after a single dose of an antispasmodic drug. It can be seen that hyoscine butyl bromide acts more effectively

Patient Materials

The GastroScan.ru website contains materials for patients on various aspects of gastroenterology:

• “Advice from doctors” in the “Patients” section of the site
• “Popular gastroenterology” in the “Literature” section
• “Popular gastroenterology” in the “Video” section

Publications for healthcare professionals addressing the use of antispasmodics in gastroenterology

• Belousova E.A. Antispasmodics in gastroenterology: comparative characteristics and indications for use // Pharmateka. – 2002. – No. 9. – p. 40–46.
• Baranskaya E.K. Abdominal pain: clinical approach to the patient and treatment algorithm. The place of antispasmodic therapy in the treatment of abdominal pain // Farmateka. – 2005. – No. 14 (109).
• Belousova L.N., Baryshnikova N.V., Zhuravleva M.S. and others. Comparative characteristics of antispasmodic drugs according to peripheral electrogastroenterography // Pharmateka. – 2012. – No. 13.
• Minushkin O.N., Elizavetina G.A., Ivanova O.I., Ardatskaya M.D. Modern antispasmodic therapy in the practice of a general practitioner // Kremlin Medicine. Clinical Bulletin. 2013. No. 4. pp. 78–83.
• Toporkov A.S. The effectiveness of selective myotropic antispasmodics for the relief of abdominal pain // Breast Cancer. Diseases of the digestive system. 2011. No. 28. pp. 1752–1761.

On the website GastroScan.ru in the “Literature” section there is a subsection “Anspasmolytics”, containing publications for healthcare professionals that address the use of antispasmodics in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Back to section

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE) type IV

These are traditionally widely used antispasmodics: drotaverine hydrochloride and papaverine. Their injectable forms are sold with a prescription, while their tablet forms are available without a prescription. PDE IV is widely present in smooth muscle along the entire length of the intestine, as well as in the biliary and urinary tracts. Thus, blocking PDE IV has a universal antispasmodic effect regardless of the severity of the spasm or its cause. In addition, drotaverine has anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects. Drotaverine can be used for acute abdominal pain - both to relieve acute spasms and for long-term treatment of biliary dyskinesia, cholelithiasis, chronic intestinal diseases with spastic syndrome, which are accompanied by colicky or bursting pain. Unlike M-anticholinergics, drotaverine can be used in elderly men with prostate pathology, as well as with concomitant pathology and combined use with other drugs. The therapeutic concentration of drotaverine in plasma when taken orally is achieved after 45 minutes.

Tigacil 50 mg N10 lyophilisate for solution preparation

Release form

lyophilisate for the preparation of solution for infusion

Package

10 pieces.

pharmachologic effect

Tigacil is an antibiotic of the glycylcycline group, structurally similar to tetracyclines. Inhibits protein translation in bacteria by binding to the 30S subunit of ribosomes and blocking the penetration of aminoacyl-tRNA molecules into the A-site of the ribosome, which prevents the inclusion of amino acid residues in growing peptide chains. Tigecycline is believed to have bacteriostatic properties. At 4 times the MIC of tigecycline, a two orders of magnitude decrease in the number of colonies of Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was observed. The bactericidal effect of tigecycline was noted against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Legionella pneumophila.

Indications

- complicated infections of the skin and soft tissues;

- complicated intra-abdominal infections;

- community-acquired pneumonia.

Contraindications

- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;

- increased sensitivity to tetracycline antibiotics.

Carefully

The drug should be used for severe liver failure.

Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

During pregnancy, the use of Tigacil is permissible only in cases of extreme necessity, when the benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. There are no data on the excretion of tigecycline into breast milk in humans. If it is necessary to prescribe tigecycline during lactation, breastfeeding should be stopped. There is no experience with the use of the drug Tigacil during childbirth.

special instructions

To reduce the development of resistance and ensure the effectiveness of therapy, it is necessary to use Tigacil only for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases caused by sensitive microorganisms. To select and adjust antibacterial therapy, if possible, microbiological identification of the pathogen should be carried out and its sensitivity to tigecycline should be determined. Tigacil can be used for empirical antibacterial monotherapy until the results of microbiological tests are obtained. Antibiotics belonging to the glycylcycline class are structurally similar to antibiotics from the tetracycline class. Tigacil can cause adverse reactions similar to adverse reactions to antibiotics of the tetracycline class. Such reactions may include increased photosensitivity, intracranial hypertension, pancreatitis and anti-anabolic effects leading to increased blood urea nitrogen, azotemia, acidosis and hypophosphatemia. Therefore, Tigacil should be used with caution in patients with known sensitivity to tetracycline antibiotics. Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, incl. anaphylactic shock is observed with the use of almost all antibacterial agents, including Tigacil. Patients who experience changes in liver test results during treatment with Tigacil should be observed to promptly identify signs of liver dysfunction (single cases of significant liver dysfunction and liver failure have been reported) and to assess the benefit-risk ratio of continuing Tigacil therapy. The development of undesirable reactions is possible after therapy has been completed. The effectiveness and safety of Tigacil in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia has not been confirmed by the results of clinical studies. Diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile has been reported when taking almost all antibacterial drugs, including Tigacil. If Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is suspected or confirmed, it may be necessary to discontinue use of antibiotics other than those prescribed to treat Clostridium difficile infection. When using tigecycline, the development of pseudomembranous colitis of varying severity is possible. The possibility of such a diagnosis should be considered if diarrhea occurs during or after completion of treatment. When prescribing Tigacil to patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections due to intestinal perforation, or patients with incipient sepsis or septic shock, the advisability of using combination antibacterial therapy should be considered. The use of Tigacil, like any other antibiotic, can promote excessive growth of non-susceptible microorganisms, including fungi. Patients should be closely monitored during treatment. When superinfection is diagnosed, appropriate measures should be taken. The effect of cholestasis on the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline has not been established. Excretion in bile accounts for approximately 50% of the total excretion of tigecycline. Therefore, patients with cholestasis should be under medical supervision. Experience with the use of Tigacil for the treatment of infections in patients with severe concomitant diseases is limited. The use of Tigacil during the formation of teeth can lead to a change in the color of the teeth to yellow, gray, or brown. Tigacil should not be used during tooth development unless other drugs are ineffective or contraindicated.

Compound

1 bottle contains tigecycline 50 mg.

Directions for use and doses

The drug Tigacil is administered intravenously over 30-60 minutes. The initial dose for adults is 100 mg, then 50 mg every 12 hours. The course of treatment for complicated infections of the skin and soft tissues, as well as complicated intra-abdominal infections is 5-14 days, for community-acquired pneumonia - 7-14 days. The duration of treatment is determined by the severity and location of the infection and the patient's clinical response to treatment. Patients with mild to moderate liver dysfunction (classes A and B on the Child-Pugh scale) do not require dose adjustment. For patients with severe liver failure (class C on the Child-Pugh scale), after administration of an initial dose of Tigacil 100 mg, the drug is subsequently prescribed 25 mg every 12 hours; In this case, it is necessary to be careful and monitor the patient's response to treatment. Patients with renal failure and patients on hemodialysis do not require dose adjustment of the drug. Elderly patients do not require dose adjustment of the drug.

Side effects

Most common: nausea (26%) and vomiting (18%), which usually occur at the beginning of treatment (on day 1 or 2 of treatment) and, in most cases, have a mild or moderate course. The most common reasons for discontinuation of Tigacil therapy were nausea (1%) and vomiting.

Classification of side effects: very often (≥ 1/10); often (from ≥ 1/100 to

From the blood coagulation system:

often - increase in aPTT, prothrombin time/MHO.

From the hematopoietic system:

sometimes - eosinophilia; in isolated cases - thrombocytopenia.

Allergic reactions:

in isolated cases - anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions.

From the side of the central nervous system:

often - dizziness.

From the cardiovascular system:

often - phlebitis; sometimes - thrombophlebitis.

From the digestive system:

very often - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; often - abdominal pain, dyspepsia, anorexia; sometimes - acute pancreatitis; increased activity of AST and ALT - in serum, hyperbilirubinemia; sometimes - jaundice; in isolated cases - severe liver dysfunction and liver failure.

Dermatological reactions:

often - itching, rash.

From the reproductive system:

sometimes - vaginal candidiasis, vaginitis, leukorrhea.

Local reactions:

sometimes - inflammation, pain, swelling and phlebitis at the injection site

Other:

often - headache, asthenia, delayed wound healing; sometimes - chills.

From the laboratory parameters:

often - increased blood urea nitrogen, increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity, increased serum amylase activity, hypoproteinemia; sometimes - increased creatinine in the blood, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia.

Drug interactions

With the concomitant use of Tigacil and warfarin (in a single dose of 25 mg), there is a decrease in the clearance of R-warfarin and S-warfarin by 40% and 23%, a decrease in the AUC of warfarin by 68% and 29%, respectively. The mechanism of such interaction has not yet been established. Since tigecycline can increase both prothrombin time/INR and aPTT, when using Tigacil simultaneously with anticoagulants, it is necessary to carefully monitor the results of appropriate coagulation tests. Warfarin does not change the pharmacokinetic profile of Tigacil.

Tigecycline is not metabolized by isoenzymes of the cytochrome P450 system. Therefore, it is expected that active substances that suppress or induce the activity of isoenzymes of the cytochrome P450 system will not change the clearance of Tigacil. In turn, Tigacil is unlikely to affect the metabolism of these groups of medicinal compounds.

Tigacil at the recommended dose does not affect the rate and extent of absorption or clearance of digoxin (500 mcg followed by a daily dose of 250 mcg). Digoxin does not change the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline. Therefore, when using Tigacil together with digoxin, no dose adjustment is required.

When antibiotics are used concomitantly with oral contraceptives, the effectiveness of the contraceptives may be reduced.

In in vitro studies, antagonism was not observed between tigecycline and other commonly used classes of antibiotics.

Compatibility

Tigacil is compatible with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% dextrose injection or lactated Ringer's solution. При назначении через Т-образный катетер Тигацил растворенный в 0.9% растворе натрия хлорида или 5% растворе декстрозы для инъекций совместим с амикацином, добутамином, допамина гидрохлоридом, гентамицином, галоперидолом, раствором Рингера лактата, лидокаина гидрохлоридом, метоклопрамидом, морфином, норэпинефрином, пиперациллином/ tazobactam (a dosage form containing EDTA), potassium chloride, propofol, ranitidine hydrochloride, theophylline and tobramycin.

Incompatibility

When used through a T-shaped catheter, Tigacil is incompatible with amphotericin B, liposomal amphotericin B, diazepam, esomeprazole and omeprazole.

Overdose

An overdose of Tygacil has not been described.

IV administration of tigecycline to healthy volunteers at a dose of 300 mg over a 60-minute administration period resulted in an increase in nausea and vomiting.

Hemodialysis does not remove tigecycline from the body.

Storage conditions

The drug should be stored out of the reach of children at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies

On prescription

Sodium channel blockers

These drugs block intracellular calcium stores through a cascade of reactions. The most famous drug is a derivative of veratric acid - mebeverine. Unlike anticholinergics, it does not cause hypotension of the colon. Most often, this drug is prescribed for functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or as an adjuvant for organic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Mebeverine is used only for course treatment. Mebeverine is most effective in combination with other pathogenetic drugs. Mebeverine is mainly available by prescription, but there is a dosage form in tablets that does not require a doctor's prescription.

We will not dwell on calcium channel blockers in more detail, since these drugs do not have any over-the-counter forms.

The over-the-counter myotropic antispasmodic trimebutine stands apart. Trimebutine acts on the enkephalinergic system of the intestine and peripheral opiate receptors - µ, κ and δ. Having an affinity for receptors that enhance and suppress peristalsis, it stimulates the contraction of intestinal smooth muscles in hypokinetic conditions and is an antispasmodic in hyperkinetic conditions. Trimebutine reduces the tone of the esophageal sphincter, promotes gastric emptying and increased intestinal motility, as well as the response of the smooth muscles of the colon to food irritants. It is used for various functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharmacological action and its mechanism

Antispasmodic drugs can eliminate spasms through two mechanisms. The first mechanism is that the drug binds to the same receptor on smooth muscle as the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, but does not activate the receptor, but blocks it by simply occupying the acetylcholine site. The excess amount of acetylcholine cannot interact with its receptors, and the smooth muscle relaxes. This action is a neurotropic antispasmodic effect. Neurotropic because it affects the autonomic nervous system, making its activity ineffective.

The second mechanism by which antispasmodics can act is through the penetration of the drug into the smooth muscle cell, which changes its contractile physiology and makes its contraction ineffective. In this case, an antispasmodic effect will develop. This type of action is called the myotropic antispasmodic effect of gr. myos muscle and thropos direction of action.

Antispasmodics are classified according to the mechanism of action indicated above, since the mechanism of action is associated with well-predicted therapeutic and side effects.

Ask and choose

How can a pharmacy client choose an over-the-counter antispasmodic from the extensive list of drugs for abdominal pain? Guiding questions will help:

• Does a person have a chronic organic gastrointestinal disease - peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, chronic cholecystitis, chronic pancreatitis, biliary colic, biliary dyskinesia? As a rule, the patient already knows what helps him or what drug the doctor recommended for him during an exacerbation.
• Patient's age? Selective M-anticholinergics are not suitable for the elderly due to the risk of developing intestinal obstruction. Also, antispasmodics have age restrictions for children: mebeverine can be used from twelve years of age, hyoscine butylbromide and drotaverine - from six, trimebutine - from three.
• For women - pregnancy, lactation? The use of antispasmodics during pregnancy is possible only as prescribed by a doctor. PDE inhibitors and trimebutine are contraindicated during lactation. Anticholinergics and sodium channel blockers can be used during lactation.
• Pain in the upper abdomen, possibly accompanied by nausea or vomiting? A selective M-anticholinergic drug is suitable for adults, in the absence of contraindications described in the instructions for a particular drug.
• Pain in the lower abdomen? Type IV PDE inhibitors and sodium channel blockers are suitable.

Sources

1. Abdominal pain syndrome in the practice of general practitioner T. M. Benz “News of medicine and pharmacy.” Gastroenterology (239), 2008.
2. Pchelintsev M. V. “Anspasmodics: from clinical pharmacology to pharmacotherapy.” Attending Physician 7 (2008): 74–77.
3. Mikhailov I. B. Clinical pharmacology (textbook for students of medical universities) - 5th ed., revised. and additional - St. Petersburg: publishing house "Sotis-Med", 2013. - 588 p.
4. Yakovenko E. P., et al. "Opiate receptor agonist trimebutine in the treatment of functional disorders of the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi." Journal "Attending Physician" 2–2014 (2017): 56.
5. Tytgat GN. Hyoscine butylbromide: a review of its use in the treatment of abdominal cramping and pain. Drugs 2007; 67:1343–57.