What is the use of Nospa Tablet?

October 6, 2025 •

2 min read

Nospa is a potent antispasmodic medication containing drotaverine hydrochloride that is used to relax smooth muscles and relieve pain. A key fact about this drug is that its primary use is to alleviate discomfort caused by involuntary muscle contractions in several body systems, from the gastrointestinal to the genitourinary tract.

Quick Summary

Nospa Tablet, featuring drotaverine hydrochloride, is an antispasmodic drug for treating pain from smooth muscle spasms. It is effective for conditions affecting the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, and menstrual cramps.

Key Points

Active Ingredient: Nospa contains drotaverine hydrochloride, a myotropic antispasmodic that directly acts on smooth muscles.
Multi-System Pain Relief: The medication is used to relieve smooth muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal, biliary, urinary, and reproductive systems.
Mechanism of Action: It works by selectively inhibiting the PDE4 enzyme, which causes smooth muscle relaxation by increasing cAMP levels.
Common Side Effects: Reported side effects may include headache, dizziness, nausea, and a drop in blood pressure.
Precautions and Contraindications: Nospa is contraindicated in cases of severe heart, liver, or kidney failure and requires caution in those with low blood pressure or lactose intolerance.
Not an Analgesic: Unlike some painkillers, Nospa focuses specifically on relaxing muscles rather than blocking pain signals in the brain from other sources like inflammation.
International Availability: Nospa is not approved by the FDA in the United States but is commonly used in parts of Europe and Asia.

What is Nospa Tablet and how does it work?

Nospa Tablet contains the active ingredient drotaverine hydrochloride, a selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor. Its primary function is to relax the smooth muscles found in various internal organs, which are responsible for involuntary contractions, or spasms. By inhibiting the PDE4 enzyme, drotaverine increases intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). This leads to the inactivation of the enzyme myosin light chain kinase, ultimately resulting in smooth muscle relaxation. This mechanism differs from anticholinergic antispasmodics, offering a targeted approach with a different side effect profile. The drug’s relaxing effect is localized to the affected organs, providing relief from the pain and discomfort caused by the spasms.

Specific uses and medical conditions

Nospa is prescribed to treat a wide range of conditions involving smooth muscle spasms, including gastrointestinal tract disorders (peptic ulcers, gastritis, IBS), biliary tract conditions (gallstones, cholecystitis, cholangitis), urinary tract problems (renal and ureteral stones), and gynecological issues (dysmenorrhea and cervical dilation). It can also help with tension and vascular spasm headaches.

Administration and precautions

Nospa is available in various formulations, and administration depends on age and condition; always follow a doctor's instructions.

Important precautions for use

Low blood pressure: Use cautiously if you have hypotension as it can lower blood pressure further.
Lactose intolerance: Tablets contain lactose, so be cautious if you have hereditary issues like galactose intolerance or lactase deficiency.
Operating machinery: Dizziness or insomnia can occur, so caution is needed when driving or using heavy machinery.
Drug interactions: Avoid taking with levodopa as it can reduce effectiveness and worsen tremors.

Nospa vs. Other Antispasmodics: A comparison

Nospa (drotaverine) inhibits PDE4, differing from anticholinergic antispasmodics like Buscopan (Hyoscine N-butylbromide). This leads to different mechanisms, side effect profiles, and contraindications.


Feature	Nospa (Drotaverine)	Buscopan (Hyoscine N-butylbromide)
Mechanism of Action	Selective PDE4 inhibitor	Anticholinergic agent
Mode of Action	Directly relaxes smooth muscles	Blocks nerve signals that cause spasms
Systemic Effects	Fewer anticholinergic effects, generally well-tolerated	Potential for anticholinergic side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision
Primary Use	Spasms of GI, biliary, urinary, and reproductive tracts	Abdominal pain and cramps (GI tract)

Conclusion

Nospa Tablet, containing drotaverine hydrochloride, effectively relieves smooth muscle spasms and associated pain in various bodily systems, including gastrointestinal, biliary, urinary, and gynecological conditions. However, it has contraindications for severe heart, liver, or kidney failure and precautions for low blood pressure or lactose intolerance. Its PDE4 inhibition mechanism distinguishes it from other antispasmodics. Always consult a healthcare professional before using Nospa. For further research on drotaverine efficacy, consult resources like the National Institutes of Health website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nospa is not a traditional analgesic painkiller like ibuprofen or aspirin. It is an antispasmodic that specifically relieves pain by relaxing smooth muscle spasms, rather than blocking general pain signals.

Yes, Nospa is commonly used for dysmenorrhea, which are painful menstrual cramps. Its active ingredient, drotaverine, relaxes the uterine muscles to reduce the cramping and discomfort during periods.

The administration of Nospa depends on the patient's age and the specific condition. Always follow a healthcare professional's specific prescription.

The use of Nospa during pregnancy should only be done with a doctor's approval. While studies have not shown it to increase the risk of fetal abnormalities, limited data exists, and a risk-benefit assessment is necessary.

Some common side effects include headaches, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and low blood pressure. Allergic reactions like rashes or itching are also possible, though rare.

No, the active ingredient in Nospa, drotaverine hydrochloride, is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is primarily available in other countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.

Yes, Nospa can interact with other drugs. Notably, it can reduce the effect of Levodopa, which is used to treat Parkinson's disease, and may worsen tremors and muscle stiffness.