"INTERNAL MEDICINE"

SCOPOLAMINE

PHARMACOLOGIC CATEGORY

Anticholinergic Agent

REASONS NOT TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE?

If you have an allergy to scopolamine or any other part of this medicine. Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved. If you have any of the following conditions: Fast heartbeat, glaucoma, intestinal blockage, myasthenia gravis, overactive thyroid gland, slow movement through the intestines, or urinary tract blockage.

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to relieve motion sickness.

This medicine is used to treat eye inflammation.

This medicine is used before an eye exam.

This medicine is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

This medicine is used to treat muscle spasms of the gastrointestinal tract.

This medicine is used to treat Parkinson's disease.

How does it work?

Scopolamine improves the chemical balance in the brain.

It slows movement through the gastrointestinal tract, decreasing spasms.

It affects the vomiting center in the brain.

It enlarges the pupil of the eye.

How is it best taken?

All forms: Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach. Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider. If you are taking this medicine for irritable bowel syndrome or spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, take 30-60 minutes before meals.

Eye:

For the eye only.

Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected. Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin. Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye. After using medicine, keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps the medicine in your eye. Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes.

Skin patch: Use skin patch behind the ear. Use 4 hours before travel starts. Wear only one patch at a time. Wash hands after use. If the patch falls off, replace with a new one. If medicine is needed for more than 3 days, throw away the old patch. Replace with a new one behind the other ear.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

Take a missed dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose or extra doses. Many times this medicine is taken on an as needed basis.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects. May contain conducting metal. Remove patch before MRI. If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider. If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider. If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider. If you are a male with problems urinating, talk with healthcare provider. Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines. You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you. Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine. You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear. Be careful in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you. Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative. Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

What should I monitor?

Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same? Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly. Follow up with healthcare provider.

REASONS TO CALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY

If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately. Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Severe dizziness or passing out. Significant change in thinking clearly and logically. Unable to pass urine. Sudden change in vision, eye pain or irritation. Any rash. No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine? Store at room temperature. Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

GENERAL STATEMENTS If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times. Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine. Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets. Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.