How does mebeverine work?
Mebeverine is a type of medicine called an antispasmodic. If your intestine goes into spasm and squeezes too tightly, you get pain.
Mebeverine works by relaxing the muscles in your intestine. This relieves the cramps and pain that can be caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions.
When will I feel better?
Mebeverine starts to work after 1 hour. You should feel better 1 to 3 hours after taking it.
Are there other medicines for IBS?
There are other treatments that you can take for IBS, including peppermint oil and Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide).
These are also antispasmodics and they work in a similar way to mebeverine. They relax your stomach muscles to ease painful cramps.
Both peppermint oil and Buscopan are available to buy from pharmacies. Buscopan is also available on prescription.
Does mebeverine have laxative effects?
No, mebeverine does not have a laxative effect when taken on its own.
However, you can get a combination of mebeverine with a laxative called ispaghula husk (brand name Fybogel Mebeverine). This can help with constipation related to IBS.
This medicine is available to buy from pharmacies.
Will I gain or lose weight?
No, mebeverine does not cause you to gain or lose weight.
Will it affect my contraception?
Mebeverine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill or emergency contraception.
Can I drive or ride a bike?
Yes, you can. Mebeverine does not affect you being able to drive or cycle.
Can I drink alcohol while taking mebeverine?
Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking mebeverine.
Are there foods and drinks I should avoid?
You can eat and drink normally while taking mebeverine.
However, if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it can help to avoid any foods that trigger your symptoms. Common triggers may include caffeine, fizzy drinks and fried food.
Can lifestyle changes help with stomach cramps?
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to prevent or ease IBS or painful stomach cramps.
It can help to understand which, if any, foods trigger your cramps and then reduce or remove them from your diet.
Common triggers may include caffeine, fizzy drinks and fried food.
It can also help to control your stress levels, for example, by doing breathing exercises or trying relaxation therapy such as yoga or meditation.
Regular activity is good for your digestive system. Aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week. Read more about physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64.