Colospa

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What Is Colospa?

Colospa is an oral antispasmodic containing mebeverine hydrochloride (135 mg), manufactured by Abbott India. Supplied in packs of 30, 60, 90 or 180 tablets. Originator brand: Colofac (Abbott / Mylan / Viatris). In clinical use since the 1960s and one of the most widely prescribed drugs for IBS globally.

Unlike older antispasmodics (hyoscine butylbromide, dicyclomine, propantheline) that work by blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and cause dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and palpitations, mebeverine is a musculotropic antispasmodic — it acts directly on smooth muscle cells without engaging the autonomic nervous system. This means essentially no anticholinergic side effects at standard doses.

What Is Colospa Used For?

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — particularly IBS-D (diarrhoea-predominant) and IBS-M (mixed); good effect on abdominal cramping and pain
• Functional bowel disorders with colicky pain or spasm
• Post-infectious IBS — bowel symptoms that persist after gastroenteritis
• Diverticular disease with spasm-related pain (off-label in some regions)
• Adjunct for colonoscopy preparation or during the procedure (occasional use)

Mebeverine treats the spasm and pain component of IBS. It does not address bloating, gas, constipation, or the psychological component — these may need additional strategies (peppermint oil, dietary FODMAP modification, psyllium, PEG laxatives, central modulators like low-dose amitriptyline).

How Does Colospa Work?

The precise molecular mechanism of mebeverine is still debated, but the best-characterised actions include:

• Blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels on intestinal smooth muscle cells — reduces excitability
• Inhibition of calcium influx during muscle contraction — relaxes spasm
• Normalisation of gut motility — mebeverine reduces hyper-contraction without inducing atony, so peristalsis is preserved
• No anticholinergic effect — does not bind muscarinic receptors at therapeutic doses

Mebeverine is highly metabolised on first-pass through the liver. Plasma concentrations of the parent drug are very low; activity is largely from the metabolite veratric acid and direct smooth-muscle action during first intestinal passage.

Pharmacokinetics: onset 30–60 minutes. Peak 1–3 hours. Duration of effect 4–6 hours. No meaningful accumulation; no dose adjustment needed for renal impairment.

Dosage and Administration

Adults and children aged 10+: 135 mg three times daily, approximately 20 minutes before each main meal. Modified-release 200 mg capsules (twice daily) are available in some markets but are an alternative to the three-times-daily standard tablet.

Once symptoms are controlled, the dose may be reduced gradually or taken only as needed for flare-ups.

• Swallow tablets whole with water; do not chew (taste is bitter).
• Take 20 minutes before meals — this times the peak smooth-muscle effect to the post-meal period when IBS cramps typically occur.
• Miss a dose — take as soon as you remember unless it is close to the next dose; do not double up.
• Safe for long-term daily use; may also be taken on an as-needed basis for intermittent symptoms.

Side Effects

Mebeverine is one of the best-tolerated IBS medicines because it avoids anticholinergic effects.

Common:

• Generally no common side effects at standard doses — placebo-level rates in most trials

Uncommon:

• Hypersensitivity reactions — skin rash, urticaria, angioedema
• Headache, dizziness
• Mild constipation or mild nausea
• Very rare: fixed drug eruption, vasculitis

Mebeverine does not cause drowsiness and does not impair driving.

Drug Interactions

Mebeverine has few clinically significant interactions. It is metabolised by esterases rather than CYP enzymes, so it is relatively interaction-free.

• No meaningful interaction with common IBS co-medications (peppermint oil, loperamide, laxatives).
• No effect on warfarin INR or oral contraceptive levels.
• No clinically significant interaction with alcohol.
• Caution combining with other anticholinergic antispasmodics (hyoscine, dicyclomine) — usually unnecessary and may increase GI transit variability.

Who Should Not Take Colospa?

• Known hypersensitivity to mebeverine
• Paralytic ileus — although mebeverine preserves peristalsis, it is not appropriate when gut motility is already absent
• Children under 10 years (below the label age)
• Pregnancy — generally avoided in the first trimester unless benefit outweighs risk; limited data but no teratogenic signal
• Breastfeeding — limited data; alternative non-pharmacological management usually preferred

Storage

Store Colospa below 30°C in a dry place, in the original blister. Keep out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colospa the same as Colofac?

Yes — Colospa contains the same active ingredient (mebeverine hydrochloride) at the same strength as Colofac (Abbott / Viatris). Bioequivalence to the originator is required by regulatory authorities, so clinical effect is the same at the same dose.

How long does it take Colospa to work?

Onset of smooth-muscle relaxation is 30–60 minutes after a dose; noticeable reduction in cramps usually within the first day or two. Full effect on symptom frequency often takes 1–2 weeks of regular dosing. If there is no improvement after 4 weeks at full dose, reconsider the diagnosis or add a second IBS strategy (dietary FODMAP, peppermint oil, central modulator).

Does Colospa cause drowsiness or dry mouth?

No — mebeverine is not sedating and does not have anticholinergic effects at therapeutic doses. This is the main reason it is preferred over hyoscine or dicyclomine for long-term IBS management, especially in drivers, older adults, or patients on other medications.

Can I take Colospa every day long-term?

Yes — long-term daily use of mebeverine is safe and commonly continued for months or years in chronic IBS. Many patients use it daily during symptomatic periods and pause when symptoms settle.

Can I take Colospa with peppermint oil capsules?

Yes — the combination is a sensible stacking strategy for IBS pain. Peppermint oil has a different mechanism (calcium-channel blockade in smooth muscle) and adds modest benefit. Take enteric-coated peppermint oil before meals, ideally at the same time as mebeverine.

Does Colospa help with bloating or constipation?

Mebeverine’s strength is cramping and pain. It has little direct effect on bloating or constipation. For bloating, consider dietary FODMAP restriction and simethicone; for IBS-C (constipation-predominant), consider fibre modulation, PEG laxatives, or linaclotide.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Colospa?

Yes, moderate alcohol is fine with mebeverine. Be aware that alcohol is a common IBS trigger and may worsen symptoms independent of the medicine.

Where can I buy Colospa online?

You can order Colospa (135 mg) from MedsBase in packs of 30, 60, 90 or 180 tablets. We ship worldwide with discreet packaging and genuine WHO-GMP certified manufacturer stock.

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