Mebeverine is a drug used to alleviate some of the symptoms of

irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a "disorder of gut-brain interaction" characterized by a group of symptoms that commonly include abdominal pain and or abdominal bloating and changes in the consistency of bowel movements. These symptoms may ...

. It works by relaxing the muscles in and around the gut.

Medical use

Mebeverine is used to alleviate some of the symptoms of

(IBS) and related conditions; specifically stomach pain and cramps, persistent diarrhoea, and flatulence. Data from controlled clinical trials have not found a difference from placebo or statistically significant results in the global improvement of IBS. It has not been tested in pregnant women nor in pregnant animals so pregnant women should not take it; it is expressed at low levels in breast milk, while no adverse effects have been reported in infants, breastfeeding women should not take this drug.

Adverse effects

Adverse effects include hypersensitivity reactions and allergic reactions, immune system disorders, skin disorders including hives, oedema and widespread rashes. Additionally, the following adverse effects have been reported: heartburn, indigestion, tiredness, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, general malaise, dizziness, insomnia, headache, and decreased pulse rate. It does not have systemic

anticholinergic Anticholinergics (anticholinergic agents) are substances that block the action of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh) at synapses in the central and peripheral nervous system. These agents inhibit the parasympathetic nervous sys ...

side effects. Mebeverine can, on highly rare occasions, cause drug-induced acute angle closure glaucoma. In a urine drug-screening test, mebeverine can affect a false positive result for amphetamines.

Mechanism of action

Mebeverine is an

but its

mechanism of action In pharmacology, the term mechanism of action (MOA) refers to the specific biochemical interaction through which a drug substance produces its pharmacological effect. A mechanism of action usually includes mention of the specific molecular targ ...

is not known; it appears to work directly on smooth muscle within the gastrointestinal tract and may have an anaesthetic effect, may affect calcium channels, and may affect muscarinic receptors. It is metabolized mostly by

esterase An esterase is a hydrolase enzyme that splits esters into an acid and an alcohol in a chemical reaction with water called hydrolysis. A wide range of different esterases exist that differ in their substrate specificity, their protein structure ...

s, and almost completely. The metabolites are excreted in urine. Mebeverine exists in two enantiomeric forms. The commercially available product is a

racemic In chemistry, a racemic mixture, or racemate (), is one that has equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule or salt. Racemic mixtures are rare in nature, but many compounds are produced industrially as racemates. ...

mixture of them. A study in rats indicates that the two have different pharmacokinetic profiles.

History

It is a second generation

papaverine Papaverine (Latin '' papaver'', "poppy") is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasms and vasospasms (especially those involving the intestines, heart, or brain), occasionally in the treatment of e ...

analog, and was first synthesized around the same time as

verapamil Verapamil, sold under various trade names, is a calcium channel blocker medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure, angina (chest pain from not enough blood flow to the heart), and supraventricular tachycardia. It may also be ...

. It was first registered in 1965.

Availability

Mebeverine is a generic drug and is available internationally under many brand names.

References

{{Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor modulators Amines Benzoate esters Motility stimulants Muscarinic antagonists Catechol ethers