Antispasmodic Pregnancy: Mebeverine is NOT recommended during pregnancy — there are no or limited data from use in pregnant women and animal studies are insufficient with respect to reproductive toxicity. Mebeverine should NOT be used during breast-feeding — it is unknown whether mebeverine or its metabolites are excreted in human milk and excretion in milk has not been studied in animals. There are no clinical fertility data, but animal studies do not indicate harmful effects.

Mebeverine hydrochloride

Brand names: Colofac

Mebeverine hydrochloride is an antispasmodic used to relieve the abdominal pain and cramping of irritable bowel syndrome and related gastrointestinal spasm.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: One 135 mg film-coated tablet three times a day, preferably 20 minutes before meals

Route: Oral — swallow the film-coated tablets with a sufficient amount of water (at least 100 ml); tablets should not be chewed because of the unpleasant taste

Frequency: Three times a day

Adults, including the elderly. Strength is that of the fetched product, 'Mebeverine hydrochloride 135 mg Film-coated Tablets'; no maximum daily dose is stated in §4.2. Duration of use is not limited. After a period of several weeks, when the desired effect has been obtained, the dosage may be gradually reduced. If one or more doses are missed, the patient should continue with the next dose as prescribed — the missed dose(s) should not be taken in addition to the regular dose. Paediatric: these 135 mg tablets are NOT recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy; no paediatric dose is stated. Special populations: no posology studies have been performed in elderly patients or in renal and/or hepatic impairment; no specific risk was identified from available post-marketing data and no dosage adjustment is deemed necessary. Excipients: contains lactose — patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Dose adjustments

Renal

No posology studies have been performed in patients with renal and/or hepatic impairment; no specific risk could be identified from available post-marketing data and no dosage adjustment is deemed necessary.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients

Side effects

Hypersensitivity, including anaphylactic reactions (frequency not known — spontaneous post-marketing reports)
Urticaria
Angioedema
Face oedema
Exanthema (allergic reactions are mainly, but not exclusively, limited to the skin)

Interactions

No interaction studies have been performed except with alcohol — in vitro and in vivo animal studies demonstrated the absence of any interaction between mebeverine hydrochloride and ethanol

Clinical monograph

How it works

It is a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant that reduces intestinal spasm by acting locally on gut musculature, without the antimuscarinic effects typical of other antispasmodics.

Prescribing in practice

It is contraindicated in paralytic ileus, where reducing gut motility could be harmful, and should not be relied upon if symptoms suggest a more serious bowel disorder.
It is generally well tolerated; rare hypersensitivity reactions including rash and angioedema have been reported.
Modified-release preparations should be swallowed whole and are typically taken before meals.

Monitoring

No specific laboratory monitoring is required; review symptom control and reconsider the diagnosis if there is no improvement or if alarm features develop.

Counselling the patient

Take the dose shortly before meals as directed, swallowing modified-release capsules whole.
Seek review if your pain changes, worsens, or you notice bleeding or unexplained weight loss.

Evidence & guidelines

Antispasmodics such as mebeverine are recommended by NICE as an option for managing abdominal pain and spasm in irritable bowel syndrome.

Reference: NICE CG61; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways