Antispasmodic drugs to reduce discomfort and colonic spasm during barium enemas: comparison of oral hyoscyamine, i.v. glucagon, and no drug.

OBJECTIVE

Parenterally administered glucagon is currently the agent of choice for reducing abdominal discomfort and colonic spasm during a barium enema. Because glucagon is expensive and frequently causes nausea, we evaluated the use of oral hyoscyamine sulfate as an alternate agent and compared it with IV glucagon and no medication.

METHODS

A total of 349 adult patients undergoing barium enema examinations were randomly assigned in a prospective fashion to one of four groups: (1) no medication (87 patients); (2) 1 mg of IV glucagon (88 patients); (3) 0.125 mg of oral hyoscyamine sulfate (87 patients); and (4) 0.25 mg of oral hyoscyamine sulfate (87 patients). The degree of distension of the colon on radiographs obtained after fluoroscopy, the amount of abdominal distress after the procedure, and the number of side effects (nausea, palpitations, blurred vision, dry mouth) were analyzed. To evaluate the amount of abdominal discomfort more completely, we asked the last 248 patients to estimate the level of severity of the discomfort (none, mild, moderate, or severe).

RESULTS

We found no difference in the degree of distension of the colon in the four groups (p = .63). Most patients (79%) had some degree of abdominal discomfort. Fewer patients in the group who received no medication (10%) had no or mild pain compared with those given glucagon (15%, p < .05), 0.125 mg of hyoscyamine (14%, p < .05), or 0.25 mg of hyoscyamine (12%, p = .15). Less nausea occurred in the group that received 0.125 mg of hyoscyamine than in the other groups (p < .03). No patients in any of the groups had allergic or severe side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared with IV glucagon, oral hyoscyamine had fewer side effects, but the degree of colonic distension or abdominal distress was not significantly different. In addition, hyoscyamine is considerably less expensive than glucagon and can be given orally. Patients who received medications had less discomfort than those who did not. However, the degree of distension was not different.