What is Spasmonal?
Spasmonal is a medication that helps relax muscle tension in your gut and womb. It's intended to assist you in managing and controlling symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
IBS is a digestive condition that may lead to symptoms such as tummy pain and discomfort, bloating, and problems with bowel movements like diarrhoea or constipation. IBS is identified using the Rome III criteria, which means you should experience:
Doctors haven't fully figured out what triggers IBS, but it seems to be linked to how quickly you digest food, increased gut sensitivity, and your family history. Stress can often make symptoms worse, and you might find that certain things, like spicy foods, can sometimes make your symptoms more noticeable.
IBS triggers can differ for each individual. Some people find relief by pinpointing and avoiding specific triggers. Others may need a combination of dietary changes, stress management, and medication to help alleviate their symptoms.
How does Spasmonal work?
Spasmonal contains alverine citrate as its active ingredient, which is part of a group of medicines called antispasmodics. These are often the first treatment option for IBS. Alverine acts as a calcium channel blocker, reducing the sensitivity of certain proteins in the smooth muscles of your gut and womb to calcium.
Spasmonal works by relaxing the smooth muscles in your gut and stomach, which helps to reduce muscle spasms. This can relieve the pain associated with muscle tension during IBS flare-ups.
What doses of Spasmonal are there?
Spasmonal is available in two strengths: the regular version contains 60mg of alverine citrate, while Spasmonal Forte contains 120mg. It's important to follow your clinician's instructions on how to take Spasmonal. Generally, you would take one or two capsules of the 60mg Spasmonal, up to three times a day. For Spasmonal Forte, the usual dose is one capsule, up to three times daily.

- Spasmonal is an antispasmodic medicine that helps ease symptoms of IBS.
- It helps by relaxing the muscles in your gut, which eases cramps and discomfort.
- You might need to wait up to two weeks to experience the full effects.

Spasmonal isn't right for everyone, and there are a few things you should know before using it.
Here's all the official information on it. If anything isn't clear, just let our clinician know, and they can discuss it with you.
Spasmonal 60mg | Spasmonal Forte 120mg
Useful Links:
- Spasmonal 60mg: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4604.pdf
- Spasmonal Forte 120mg: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9259.pdf

Q: Can you get Spasmonal over the counter?
Spasmonal is a Pharmacy (P) medicine, so you can only purchase it from a licensed pharmacy and not directly from the shelf. It's not suitable for everyone, so it's important to consult a clinician before using it. They'll ask you a few questions to ensure it's the right medication for you and safe to take.
Q: Does Spasmonal stop diarrhoea?
Spasmonal can ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D), but it will only work if your diarrhoea is due to fast contractions of your gut muscles. This is because Spasmonal contains alverine citrate, which helps to relax the muscles in your gut.
If diarrhoea is your primary IBS symptom, your clinician will probably suggest trying fibre supplements first. Medicines like loperamide can also help lessen diarrhoea linked to IBS.
Q: Is Spasmonal similar to other drugs?
Spasmonal and Spasmonal Forte are brand names for medicines that contain alverine citrate in doses of 60mg and 120mg, respectively. The generic versions, Alverine Citrate 60mg and 120mg, have the same active ingredient and work just like the branded ones, but they often cost less.
Another branded version, known as Audmonal, is made by a different pharmaceutical company. It comes in the same two strengths, 60mg and 120mg. Since they're made by different companies, the two products might vary in appearance, price, and the inactive ingredients they contain.

How to take Spasmonal
Typically, you’ll be advised to take Spasmonal capsules with a drink of water, either before or after meals. The usual dose is one or two capsules up to three times a day depending on the severity of your symptoms.
How long does Spasmonal take to work?
Spasmonal usually starts working within one to two hours after you take it, though this can differ from person to person because alverine affects everyone differently. The active ingredient, alverine citrate, transforms in your body into its main active form, known as 4-hydroxy alverine. This metabolite reaches its highest level in your bloodstream about 1 to 1½ hours after taking Spasmonal, which is when it begins to take effect.
It might take up to two weeks of regular use before you notice a significant improvement in how you feel. So, don't be concerned if you don't see immediate results—just give it some time and continue with your treatment plan.
What should I do if I make a mistake while taking Spasmonal?
If you take more Spasmonal than recommended, be aware of overdose symptoms such as low blood pressure, feeling lightheaded, a fast heartbeat, enlarged pupils, blurred vision, a dry mouth and throat, trouble breathing, and difficulty urinating. Contact your doctor or go directly to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department if this happens.
If you forgot to take a dose, have it as soon as you remember. However, if more than 4 hours have passed since your usual time, just miss that dose and continue with your normal routine.