Pro-Banthine 15mg

Pro-Banthine general information

What is Pro-Banthine used for?

Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg are used treat various forms of irritable bowel syndrome including, irritable colon, spastic colon, mucous colitis, acute enterocolitis spasms of the stomach, nervous diarrhoea and functional gastrointestinal disorders, to relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg are also used for adjunctive treatment (to help with the primary treatment) for gastrointestinal disorders that are characterised by muscle spasm like ulcerative colitis, a form of irritable bowel disease also for peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal). Other uses for Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg include the treatment of renal colic, which is pain caused by muscle spasm due to passing kidney stones; cholecystitis pain caused by gall stones; diverticulitis (inflammation in the large intestine); and pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas); which share some similar symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg are also used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and involuntary urination (enuresis); and for certain gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures. The same mechanism of action allows Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg to be helpful in a variety of clinical conditions.

How does Pro-Banthine work?

Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg contain propantheline, an antimuscarinic agent that has anticholinergic action, which means that it blocks acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate) that has several functions including activating involuntary smooth muscle contraction. Under normal condition involuntary smooth muscle contraction is responsible for the waves of contraction (peristalsis) that push food through the stomach and intestines and for passing of urine from the bladder. Muscle spasm in the intestines occurs when normal control of smooth muscle contraction is lost due to conditions like irritable bowel disorders, inflammation and ulcers; and in the bladder due to kidney stones. Propantheline in Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg blocks the muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle in various parts of the body, so that the action acetylcholine is blocked. Blocking the action of acetylcholine by propantheline allows smooth muscle to relax, reducing muscle spasm in the stomach, intestine and bladder, to relieve symptoms including abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation caused by muscle spasm in irritable bowel disorders and several other conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system; also to relieve the pain of renal cholic. Acetylcholine also regulates body secretions like sweat, tears and gastric secretion. Blocking the action of acetylcholine by propantheline reduces the production of these secretions so this action is useful in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and peptic ulcers.

What does Pro-Banthine contain?

Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg contain the active ingredient propantheline bromide, an anticholinergic that is used to treat irritable bowel disease and other gastrointestinal disorders. They also contain lactose, talc-purified, starch-maize, magnesium stearate, paraffin-liquid, sucrose, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, saccharin sodium, castor oil, magnesium carbonate, carnauba wax, beeswax-white, iron oxide yellow C177492 and iron oxide red C177491.

Treating gastrointestinal muscle spasm with Pro-Banthine

Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg contain propantheline that is used to control involuntary muscle spasm in the gastrointestinal system caused by a variety of disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, cholecystitis (pain caused by gall stones) diverticulitis (inflammation in the large intestine) and pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas). Propantheline in Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg is an antimuscarinic agent that has anticholinergic action, which means that it blocks the receptors for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate) that has several functions including activating smooth muscle contraction. Under normal condition involuntary smooth muscle contraction is responsible for the waves of contraction (peristalsis) that push food through the stomach and intestines. Muscle spasm in the intestines occurs when normal control of smooth muscle contraction is lost due to conditions like irritable bowel disorders, inflammation and ulcers. Propantheline in Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg blocks the muscarinic receptors on smooth muscle in the stomach and intestines, so that the action acetylcholine is blocked. Blocking the action of acetylcholine by propantheline allows smooth muscle to relax and reducing muscle spasm, to relieve symptoms including abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

Pro-Banthine for involuntary urination

Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg contain propantheline that is used to control involuntary muscle spasm in various conditions, including involuntary urination (enuresis) where muscle spasm in the bladder causes leakage of urine from the bladder and loss of control in passing urine. Propantheline in Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg is an antimuscarinic agent that has anticholinergic action, which means that it blocks the receptors for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter (chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate) that has several functions including activating involuntary smooth muscle contraction in the intestines, stomach and bladder. Blocking the action of acetylcholine by propantheline allows the smooth muscle of the bladder to relax, reducing muscle spasm and preventing uncontrolled urine leakage from the bladder.

What are the side effects of Pro-Banthine?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg include: dryness of the mouth, difficulty in swallowing, thirst, nausea, vomiting, constipation, decreased sweating, dilatation of the pupils, sensitivity to light, increased intra-ocular pressure, flushing, dryness of the skin, urinary hesitancy and retention, bradycardia (slow heart rate) followed by tachycardia (rapid heart rate), palpitations and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).

When should Pro-Banthine not be used?

You should not use Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg if you:

• are allergic to propantheline or other anticholinergic agents or any ingredients in Pro-Banthine
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have any obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal or urinary tract
• have hiatus hernia associated with reflux oesophagitis or pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet from the stomach)
• have a muscle weakening disease such as myasthenia gravis or glaucoma
• severe heart or lung disease, or hyperthyroidism
• have kidney or liver disease
• you have heart problems following severe bleeding;
• are taking medicines that interact with Pro-Banthine, including: Antacids, absorbent antidiarrhoeals, anticholinergics, class I antiarrhythmics like quinidine, opioid analgesics like morphine or codeine, corticosteroids, cisapride for reflux, digoxin for heart failure, the antipsychotic haloperidol, levodopa for Parkinson's disease, the antiemetic metoclopramide, antimyasthenics like Neostigmine, phenothiazines, antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, potassium chloride, especially wax-matrix preparations

What medications interact with Pro-Banthine?

Several medications interact with Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Pro-Banthine or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase side effects or can cause a serious reaction with Pro-Banthine: class I antiarrhythmics like quinidine, opioid analgesics like morphine or codeine, corticosteroids, levodopa for Parkinson's disease, antimyasthenics like Neostigmine, phenothiazines, antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, potassium chloride, especially wax-matrix preparations
• Drugs that effect other drugs when taken with Pro-Banthine: anticholinergics
• Drugs that affect Pro-Banthine: Antacids, absorbent antidiarrhoeals, cisapride for reflux
• Drugs that are affected by Pro-Banthine: the antifungal ketoconazole (should be taken 2-3 hours apart), digoxin for heart failure, the antipsychotic haloperidol, levodopa for Parkinson's disease, the antiemetic metoclopramide

How should Pro-Banthine be taken?

You should take your Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg with a glass of water 3-4 times daily. The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for, any side effects you may experience and your doctor’s recommendation. For peptic ulcers you should take your Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg 30 minutes twice daily before a meal and 2 tablets at bedtime. For contrast radiology you should take 2 Pro-Banthine tablets 45 minutes before radiology. You should continue to take your Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Pro-Banthine?

You should continue to take your Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Pro-Banthine

If you miss a dose of Pro-Banthine tablets 15mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Pro-Banthine be stored?

You should store your Pro-Banthine below 30°C in a cool dry place.