Alverine Citrate
Brand names: Spasmonal
Alverine citrate is an antispasmodic used to relieve smooth-muscle spasm in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders.
ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Clinical monograph
How it works
It acts directly on intestinal smooth muscle to produce relaxation, relieving the colic and spasm that contribute to abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome.
Prescribing in practice
- It is contraindicated in paralytic ileus, where reducing gut motility could be harmful, and a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome should be confirmed before long-term use.
- Reconsider the diagnosis and investigate if there are alarm features such as rectal bleeding, weight loss, anaemia or new symptoms in an older patient.
- Take before meals so that the antispasmodic effect coincides with post-prandial gut activity.
Monitoring
No routine laboratory monitoring is required; review symptomatic benefit periodically and stop if there is no improvement.
Counselling the patient
- Take before meals to help prevent cramping pain.
- This relieves cramps but does not treat the underlying bowel condition.
- Report any rectal bleeding, weight loss or persistent change in bowel habit.
Evidence & guidelines
Antispasmodics such as alverine are recommended in NICE guidance as an option for abdominal pain and cramping in irritable bowel syndrome.
Reference: NICE NG12 (Irritable bowel syndrome in adults, 2008, updated 2022); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.