Scopolamine

(skuh-pahl-luh-meen)

Trade/other name(s): Hyoscine hydrobromide, Scopolamine, Transderm-Scop, Transderm-V, Scopace

Why would this drug be used?

Scopolamine is used to treat nausea and vomiting.

How does this drug work?

Scopolamine belongs to a general class of drugs called anticholinergics (antimuscarinics), and is derived from belladonna. It appears to prevent nausea and vomiting by blocking messages that stimulate the part of the brain responsible for nausea and vomiting. It may help motion sickness by reducing the activity of nerve fibers in the inner ear.

Before taking this medicine

Tell your doctor…

• If you are allergic to anything, including medicines, dyes, additives, or foods.
• If you have any medical conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, or blockage in the stomach or intestine. These conditions may require that a different medicine be used, or that you be watched more carefully while taking scopolamine.
• If you have trouble passing urine due to prostate enlargement, a blockage in the bladder, or other problem. This drug can worsen your symptoms.
• If you take tranquilizers (sedatives) such as diazepam (Valium), muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, opioid pain medicines, antihistamines, or drink alcohol. Scopolamine may increase the sleepiness linked to these substances.
• If you have ever had seizures or psychosis (loss of contact with reality). This drug can make them worse.
• If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if there is any chance of pregnancy. There may be an increased risk of harm to the fetus if a woman takes this drug during pregnancy.
• If you are breast-feeding. The drug passes into breast milk and may affect the baby.
• About any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are taking, including vitamins and herbs. In fact, keeping a written list of each of these medicines (including the doses of each and when you take them) with you in case of emergency may help prevent complications if you get sick.

Interactions with other drugs

Substances that make you sleepy, such as alcohol, tranquilizers, opioid pain relievers, anesthetics, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, certain antidepressants, and sleeping pills will make you much sleepier and may cause serious harm when taken with scopolamine. If you are on these medicines, your doctor may need to lower your dose while you are on scopolamine.

Antihistamines (allergy medicines), tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desiprimine, doxepin, and others), muscle relaxants, and other belladonna drugs (such as atropine, belladonna alkaloids, and hyoscyamine) can worsen side effects of scopolamine.

Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether any of the medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements you are taking can cause problems with scopolamine.

Interactions with foods

No serious interactions with food are known at this time. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether foods may be a problem.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

How is this drug taken or given?

Scopolamine is usually given on a transdermal patch placed just behind the ear. It must be applied at least 4 hours before chemotherapy. A fixed amount of medicine is continuously absorbed through the skin for 3 days. Read the printed directions for how to apply the patch. Wash your hands immediately after applying. When taking off the patch, fold the used patch into tissue paper and discard it so that it is out of reach of children and pets. Apply another patch behind the other ear if needed; use only one patch at a time. Wash hands thoroughly to remove all traces of scopolamine that may get on your hands. Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you.

Keep the medicine away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets.

Precautions

Scopolamine can make you sleepy or drowsy. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or take part in any activity that requires mental alertness until you have taken this medicine for 3 to 5 days and know how it affects you.

Remove the patch and call your doctor if you have blurred vision, eye pain, or redness in your eye.

Keep the medicine away from your eyes; always wash hands thoroughly after you apply or remove the patch to avoid accidental transfer to the eye area.

Contact your doctor or nurse if you notice trouble urinating, dizziness, confusion, or fast heartbeat.

If you are scheduled for surgery, inform the doctor or dentist that you are using a scopolamine patch.

Possible side effects

You will probably not have most of the following side effects, but if you have any talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the side effects and cope with them.

Common

• dry mouth

Less common

• drowsiness*
• blurred vision
• dilated (enlarged) pupils of the eye
• dizziness

Rare

• confusion, disorientation
• restlessness, agitation
• trouble urinating
• worsening of glaucoma with increased pressure inside the eye*

*See the "Precautions" section for more detailed information.

The other side effects not listed above that can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop these or any other problems.

FDA approval

Yes – first approved before 1984 (FDA cannot verify dates of drugs approved before 1984.)

Disclaimer: This information does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for talking with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical needs.