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With humans getting more and more different forms of diseases each day, there has to be a prescribed drug or medicine for everything. Two such drugs are hyoscine and hyoscyamine. They are mainly used to affect the system of nerves.

 However, the main difference is that hyoscine is a more potent drug and has more side effects than Hyoscyamine. Other parameters, such as composition, ways of working, etc. somebody can be used for differentiation. 

Key Takeaways

  1. Both hyoscine and hyoscyamine derive from the nightshade family of plants and have antispasmodic properties.
  2. Hyoscine treats motion sickness, while hyoscyamine is primarily for gastrointestinal disorders.
  3. Hyoscine is commonly available in patch form, while hyoscyamine is oral and sublingual.

Hyoscine vs Hyoscyamine

Hyoscine is a potent medicine that is used to cure ailments such as spasms and nausea, and it can be given orally or as an injection. It kicks in quickly and is used in small amounts. Hyoscyamine is a drug that prevents spasms and medical heart conditions but also acts as an anesthetic for reducing pain.

Hyoscine vs Hyoscyamine

Hyoscine is a powerful medicine. Someone can use it for the curing of ailments such as nausea and spasms. It can be given to the patient both orally and also through injection.

It starts acting soon after that. However, someone can provide it in a small amount. A large amount of it might cause serious side effects.

Also, its working is unique as it selects the neurotransmitter which needs to be blocked; this prevents the person from experiencing specific problems. 

Hyoscyamine is also a drug that helps prevent spasms and several problems associated with the heart. Also, it can act as an anaesthetic for reducing the pain that might happen due to several diseases.

A large amount of it, when given to a person, can cause them to suffer from side effects. However, small amounts do not affect them with certain other drugs to prevent constipation in people. 

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Comparison Table

Parameters Of ComparisonHyoscineHyoscyamine
StrengthIt is stronger than hyoscyamineIt is weaker than hyoscine
Chemical compositionIts chemical composition is C1ItsNO4Its chemical composition is C17H23NO3
Overdose amountEven a few milligrams extra can a cause harmful overdoseIn high amount, if given causes overdose
Molar massIts molar mass is 304g/molIts molar mass is 289g/mol
SelectivityIt blocks selective neurotransmittersIt blocks all the transmitters

What is Hyoscine? 

Hyoscine is a drug. Someone can use this drug for the curing of ailments such as nausea and spasms. It can be given to the patient both orally and also through injection.

It has a working time that ranges from approximately eight to twenty minutes. 

Once a person is administered this drug, they will find relief from the pains or the feeling of nausea mainly caused by being motion sick. It has also been included in the WHO’s list of essential medicines.  

It is a potent medicine. Should give it in small and controlled doses. If there is a high quantity, there might be severe health issues. Mouth feeling dry and pupils getting dilated are some of its side effects. 

Also, people who have the problem of glaucoma, pregnant and breastfeeding women, should take a doctor’s prescription before having it. They should undergo proper consultation.

This drug came a long time ago, as early as the eighteen hundred eighties. Soon, it became a popular anaesthesia. 

This drug functions selectively. It doesn’t block every neurotransmitter but only those related to the problem. Its other name is Scopolamine. Earlier, people called it the Devil‘s breath. 

Its chemical formula is 17 molecules of carbon with 21 molecules of hydrogen, one molecule of nitrogen, and four of oxygen. Its molar mass is approximately 304 grams per mole. Its principal place of functioning is in the liver of a person. 

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What is Hyoscyamine? 

Hyoscyamine is also another medicine that helps prevent spasms and several problems related to the heart. Also, it can act as an anaesthetic for reducing the pain that might happen as an outcome of various illnesses and abdominal and bladder ailments.

 Its function is almost identical to that of hyoscine. Once a person consumes this medicine, it starts to function and slowly eliminates the discomfort. Its other term is ‘daturine.’ 

This drug is less powerful. A large amount of this is needed for a person to face adverse effects. Its negative effects may be dryness in the mouth, eyes feeling dry, dizziness, and mild pain in the head.

 Sometimes an increase in heartbeat and arousal is felt. It, too, acts by blocking the function of several neurotransmitters. However, it stops them all at a time and not selectively. Somebody can give it to a person in both oral and injection forms. 

Its chemical composition is 17 molecules of carbon with 23 molecules of hydrogen, one molecule of nitrogen, and three of oxygen. Its molar mass is approximately two hundred eighty-nine grams per mole. 

It is also partnered with several other medications. And it can be extracted by plants. However, somebody shouldn’t take drugs such as antacids, and antidepressants shouldn’t be taken alongside this. 

Main Difference Between Hyoscine and Hyoscyamine

  1. Hyoscine is a powerful drug. However, Hyoscyamine, on the other hand, is weaker. 
  2. Hyoscine has a chemical composition which is 17 molecules of carbon with 21 molecules of hydrogen along with one molecule of nitrogen and four of oxygen. At the same time, Hyoscyamine has 17 molecules of carbon with 23 molecules of hydrogen, one molecule of nitrogen, and three of oxygen.
  3. A meagre amount of hyoscine is needed for a person to overdose. However, a higher amount of Hyoscyamine is needed for overdosing. 
  4. The molar mass of hyoscine is approximately 304 grams/mol.but the molar mass of hyoscyamine is 289 grams/mol.
  5. Hyoscine is selective and only blocks particular neurotransmitters. However, Hyoscyamine blocks all the neurotransmitters. 
References
  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1704067/
  2. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/jappl.1970.28.6.779

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By Piyush Yadav

Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.