Hyoscine Hydrobromide Tablets (Kwells, Joy-Rides): What They Are and How They're Used
Educational summary · drug class: Anticholinergic / antimuscarinic agent (belladonna alkaloid), oral tablet · last reviewed 2026-06-29
Oral hyoscine hydrobromide tablets — sold in the UK under brand names such as Kwells and Joy-Rides — are an anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) medicine used to prevent travel (motion) sickness. The NHS describes hyoscine hydrobromide as a travel-sickness medicine that works 'by affecting your inner ear and your brain to control vomiting,' and notes the tablets take about 20 to 30 minutes to start working. These oral tablets are a separate product from the scopolamine (hyoscine) skin patch. They can cause drowsiness, dry mouth and blurred vision, and are not suitable for everyone — including people with glaucoma. Whether they're right for you is a question for your doctor or pharmacist.
Not medical advice. This page is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Dizzout is not a medical provider — we are not doctors or pharmacists. The information here is a general summary drawn from sources such as the FDA-approved label and other public health resources, and it may not reflect the most current changes; the official product label is the authoritative source. Whether any medicine is right for you, and how much to take, are individual decisions that depend on your health, age, and other medicines. We do not provide dosing instructions — always read the product label and follow its directions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, and never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or your local emergency number immediately.
What it is
Hyoscine hydrobromide (also called scopolamine hydrobromide) is an anticholinergic, or antimuscarinic, belladonna alkaloid. The NHS explains it 'belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergics or antimuscarinics.' The oral form is a small tablet — some, such as Kwells, are designed to be sucked, chewed or dissolved in the mouth for rapid absorption — sold over the counter in the UK under brands including Kwells, Joy-Rides, Kwells Kids and Travel Calm. These oral tablets are a distinct product from the scopolamine transdermal patch (Transderm Scop in the US, Scopoderm in the UK), which delivers the same active ingredient slowly through the skin over about three days. Hyoscine tablets are widely used in the UK and other countries; in the US, hyoscine (scopolamine) is most commonly encountered as the prescription-only patch rather than an OTC tablet.
Availability: In the UK, oral hyoscine hydrobromide tablets (e.g. Kwells, Joy-Rides) are sold over the counter at pharmacies. Availability differs by country — in the US, hyoscine (scopolamine) is best known as the prescription-only transdermal patch, and oral tablets are not a common OTC product. Brands and formulations vary by country. Legal status, brand names, and availability vary by country — check what applies where you live.
How it may help with motion sickness
Motion sickness happens when balance signals from the inner ear (the vestibular system) conflict with what your eyes and body sense. According to the Kwells product information, hyoscine hydrobromide acts as 'an anticholinergic agent by both cutting off stimuli to the vestibular apparatus and also by acting directly on the vomiting centre,' and 'temporarily reduces the effect of movement on the balance organs of the inner ear and the nerves responsible for nausea.' The NHS similarly describes it as working by affecting the inner ear and the brain to control vomiting. Like other anti-motion-sickness medicines, it is generally taken before travel to help prevent symptoms rather than after they have taken hold.
General timing
The Kwells Summary of Product Characteristics states the tablets are 'taken up to 30 minutes before the start of the journey to prevent travel sickness, or at the onset of nausea,' and the NHS notes hyoscine hydrobromide tablets take about 20 to 30 minutes to start working. This is general product information only, and timing and dose differ between brands and strengths (for example, adult and children's formulations). We do not provide dosing instructions — always follow the directions in the product leaflet and ask your pharmacist or doctor whether, and how, to use it.
We don't provide dosing instructions. The exact amount, schedule, and whether it suits you are individual decisions — read the product label and follow its directions, and ask a doctor or pharmacist.
Common side effects
Sources such as the product label commonly list:
- Dry mouth (one of the most common effects)
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness, dizziness, sedation or sleepiness
- Constipation
- Difficulty passing urine (urinary retention)
- Fast heartbeat
- Confusion, restlessness or disorientation (more likely in older adults)
Who should check with a doctor or pharmacist first
- The Kwells label lists it as not to be used by people with prostatic enlargement, paralytic ileus, pyloric stenosis, glaucoma or myasthenia gravis, or by anyone with a known sensitivity to hyoscine hydrobromide.
- Glaucoma: as an anticholinergic, it can be unsafe in angle-closure glaucoma — do not use it if you have glaucoma without checking with a clinician.
- Older adults: the Kwells label advises that caution should be exercised in the elderly. Anticholinergic medicines are also more likely to cause effects such as confusion in older people, so check with a clinician.
- Caution is also advised for people with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or who are at risk of acute urinary retention; in people with ulcerative colitis it may lead to ileus or megacolon.
- Children: the NHS advises not giving hyoscine hydrobromide travel-sickness tablets to children under 3 years, and the Kwells 300-microgram tablet is for adults and children over 10 — lower-strength children's products (such as Joy-Rides or Kwells Kids) are licensed from younger ages. Check the specific product's leaflet and ask a pharmacist which, if any, is suitable for a child.
- Driving: the label warns it may cause drowsiness, and the NHS advises not to drive or ride a bike if it makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate.
- Avoid alcohol, which the NHS notes may make you very sleepy while taking it.
- Pregnancy: the NHS says hyoscine hydrobromide is not recommended during pregnancy because not enough is known about its effects; the Kwells label states it should only be used in pregnancy, particularly the first trimester, if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk. Discuss it with a clinician first.
- Breastfeeding: small amounts may pass into breast milk. The NHS considers occasional short-term use (such as for travel sickness) compatible with breastfeeding; with more regular use it advises watching the baby for side effects such as sleepiness, constipation or peeing less than usual. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure.
- It can interact with other anticholinergic and sedating medicines; tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines and supplements you take.
Related situation guides
Frequently asked questions
Are hyoscine hydrobromide tablets the same as the scopolamine patch?+
They contain the same active ingredient — hyoscine, also called scopolamine — but they are different products. The oral tablets (such as Kwells and Joy-Rides) are swallowed or dissolved in the mouth and act quickly, while the transdermal patch (Transderm Scop or Scopoderm) is worn behind the ear and releases medicine slowly over about three days. Which form, if any, suits you is a question for a pharmacist or doctor.
How long before travel are hyoscine hydrobromide tablets taken?+
The Kwells product information says the tablets are taken up to 30 minutes before the journey to prevent travel sickness, or at the onset of nausea, and the NHS notes they take about 20 to 30 minutes to start working. This is general product information — we don't give dosing instructions, so follow the leaflet or ask a pharmacist.
Do you need a prescription for hyoscine hydrobromide tablets?+
In the UK, oral hyoscine hydrobromide tablets such as Kwells are available over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription. Availability differs by country — in the US, hyoscine (scopolamine) is most commonly the prescription-only patch rather than an OTC tablet. Always confirm what's available and suitable where you are.
Do hyoscine hydrobromide tablets make you drowsy?+
They can. The product label warns the tablets may cause drowsiness, and the NHS advises not to drive or cycle if they make you sleepy, give you blurred vision, or make you feel dizzy or unable to concentrate. It's also best to avoid alcohol, which can add to the sleepiness.
Who should not take hyoscine hydrobromide tablets?+
The Kwells label lists glaucoma, prostatic enlargement, paralytic ileus, pyloric stenosis and myasthenia gravis, and a known sensitivity to hyoscine, as reasons not to use it, and advises caution in older adults and people with heart or kidney disease. Because it is an anticholinergic, glaucoma is a particular concern. Anyone with a health condition or taking other medicines should check with a doctor or pharmacist first.
Can children take hyoscine hydrobromide tablets for travel sickness?+
Only with care and the right product. The NHS advises not giving travel-sickness tablets to children under 3, and the standard Kwells 300-microgram tablet is intended for adults and children over 10; lower-strength children's formulations such as Joy-Rides or Kwells Kids are licensed from younger ages. Check the specific product's leaflet and ask a pharmacist before giving any to a child.
Sources
Related
This page is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Dizzout is not a medical provider — we are not doctors or pharmacists. The information here is a general summary drawn from sources such as the FDA-approved label and other public health resources, and it may not reflect the most current changes; the official product label is the authoritative source. Whether any medicine is right for you, and how much to take, are individual decisions that depend on your health, age, and other medicines. We do not provide dosing instructions — always read the product label and follow its directions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, and never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact a doctor or your local emergency number immediately.