Let's learn exactly about the medicine given for stomach cramps? (Antispasmodics)

Do you often get stomach cramps? Do you often feel a squeezing pain in your stomach, a feeling of fullness in your stomach? Or are you tired of the severe pain that comes with menstruation? When you go to see a doctor in such a situation, there is a class of medicines that can be given to you to reduce this kind of pain. That class of medicines, that is, antispasmodics, is what we are going to talk about in this article today.

Simply put, what are these antispasmodics?

Okay, let's put it this way. The organs inside our bodies, for example, the intestines, the stomach, the bladder, the uterus, are made up of a special type of muscle. We call these smooth muscles . These are not like the muscles in our arms and legs that we control with our minds, these are the ones that act automatically.

Sometimes, for various reasons, these smooth muscles start to contract unnecessarily or more forcefully than necessary (spasm or cramp). That's when we feel this as stomach pain or cramps.

Antispasmodics work by relaxing the undesired tight, contracted smooth muscles. When the muscles relax, the pain and discomfort they cause are reduced.

For what types of situations do doctors use this medication?

Antispasmodics are mainly used to treat pain caused by muscle contractions in the digestive system and urinary system. Let's look at the most common uses of these medications.

In addition, there are times when this medication is given as an injection to relax the muscles of the digestive system before certain medical tests, such as endoscopy.

Okay, so how does this medicine work inside the body?

There are several ways in which antispasmodic medications work. Let's look at the main ones.

1. Antimuscarinics

This is the most commonly used type of antispasmodic in our country and in the world. These are also called anticholinergics .

Simply put, our brain and nervous system send a chemical message (neurotransmitter) to our muscles to "contract." What these medications do is block the signal from the parasympathetic nervous system that carries that message. It's like cutting off the signal when a phone call comes in. Then the unnecessary muscle contraction stops, and the pain decreases.

2. Medicines that directly affect the muscles (Direct smooth muscle relaxants)

These types of medications directly affect the muscle cells in our intestines. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction. What these medications do is stop calcium from entering the muscle cells. Without calcium, the muscles cannot contract as tightly, so they relax. Peppermint oil capsules are a good example of a natural thing that works like this.

3. Calcium channel blockers

This type of medication also blocks the entry of calcium, which is needed for muscle contraction. However, because they also affect the muscles in our blood vessels, in Sri Lanka they are most commonly used for heart diseases such as high blood pressure. They are rarely given for stomach aches.

What are the most commonly prescribed antispasmodic medications?

Here are some of the most commonly used antispasmodic medications that a doctor may prescribe:

• Dicyclomine
• Hyoscyamine
• Atropine
• Scopolamine
• Tolterodine
• Oxybutynin

Are there any side effects to this medicine?

Like any medicine, this medicine can cause minor side effects in some people, but not everyone gets them.

Are Antispasmodics and Antispastics the same thing?

Yes, this is where many people get confused. Although both of these medications are muscle relaxers, they affect two types of muscles in our body.

• Antispasmodics: As we discussed in this article, these affect the smooth muscles that function naturally inside the body, such as our intestines and uterus.
• Antispastics: These affect the skeletal muscles that help us move our arms, legs, and body, and that we control mentally. For example, these are medications given for back pain, muscle spasms, and muscle stiffness after an accident.

Therefore, these two types of medicines are completely different.

If you have frequent stomach pain, bloating, or any of the symptoms we've discussed, don't just take medication as you please, but definitely see a qualified doctor for advice. He or she will examine you and give you the treatment you need.