
atropine
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) is an eye medication that's used to dilate or widen the pupil (the black part of your eye). It's also used to treat lazy eye. This medication is an anticholinergic that works to make the pupil bigger. Atropine (Isopto Atropine) comes as eye drops and an eye ointment. The usual dosage is to apply the medication to the eye(s) 1 to 2 times daily. It can be used in people 3 months and up according to the eye specialist's instructions. Side effects include temporary eye pain, stinging, eye sensitivity to light, and blurry vision. Atropine (Isopto Atropine) is available as a brand-name and generic medication.
What is Atropine (Isopto Atropine)?
What is Atropine (Isopto Atropine) used for?
- Pupil dilation (e.g., for eye exams) - eye drops and eye ointment
- Temporary paralysis of the eye muscle (cycloplegia) - eye drops and eye ointment
- Treatment for lazy eye - eye drops only
How Atropine (Isopto Atropine) works
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) is an anticholinergic medication. When it's placed in the eye, the medication blocks signals that normally make the pupil smaller and focus on objects. This widens (dilates) the pupil. The medication also relaxes the eye muscle that helps you focus on nearby objects, making it harder to see up close.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Isopto Atropine |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Anticholinergic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Atropine (Isopto Atropine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Eye pain
- Eye stinging
- Blurry vision
- Eye sensitivity to light
- Dry eyes
Less Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness
- Feeling restless
- Feeling irritable
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Flushed skin on face or neck
- Rash
- Fast heart rate
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: swollen eyelid, inflamed skin, red or itchy eyes, shortness of breath
- Too much atropine in the body: dry skin, flush skin, rapid pulse, delirium, changes in behavior
The following Atropine (Isopto Atropine) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body
Clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion or unusual behavior
dryness of skin
fast or irregular heartbeat
flushing or redness of face
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
skin rash
slurred speech
swollen stomach in infants
thirst or unusual dryness of mouth
unusual drowsiness, tiredness, or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Blurred vision
brief burning or stinging of the eyes
eye irritation not present before use of this medicine
increased sensitivity of eyes to light
swelling of the eyelids
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Atropine (Isopto Atropine)
Pros
- Eye drops can be used in children 3 months and older
- Can be used as an alternative to wearing a patch over the stronger eye for treating lazy eye
Cons
- Can make your eyes sensitive to light and vision blurry for up to 2 weeks
- Might raise your blood pressure
Pharmacist tips for Atropine (Isopto Atropine)
- For use during routine eye exams: You'll typically get atropine (Isopto Atropine) placed in the eye(s) at the eye specialist's office during a routine eye exam. After your appointment, consider wearing sunglasses when you go outside since your pupils might still be dilated and your eyes will be sensitive to light. It might be a good idea to have someone drive you to and from your eye appointment.
- For use at home for lazy eye: Follow the eye specialist's instructions when you or your child uses atropine (Isopto Atropine) at home for treating lazy eye. This makes sure you use the medication safely. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you use the medication to prevent it from getting into the mouth.
- Atropine (Isopto Atropine) can blur your vision and cause light sensitivity, sometimes lasting a couple weeks. Some people might also feel drowsy after they use this medication. Don't drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- Don't let the tip of the tube or eye drop bottle touch the eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. Otherwise, atropine (Isopto Atropine) can get contaminated with germs and cause serious harm to the eye, like infection and vision loss.
- If you wear contact lenses, make sure to take them out before you place atropine (Isopto Atropine) into the eye. The eye drops contain a preservative that can damage your lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after you place the medication in your eye before putting your lenses back in. Check with your eye specialist about using contact lenses during treatment with atropine (Isopto Atropine).
Tips for the atropine (Isopto Atropine) eye drops:
- While looking up, pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the eye drop bottle upside down above your eye. Then, squeeze the number of drops you need for your dose.
- After you place the drop(s) in your eye, close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes. Press down on the inner corner of your eye near your nose with your finger for a minute to keep the medication in your eye and prevent it from leaking. Wipe away any extra medication from your face with a clean, dry tissue.
- If you need to use another eye drop medication with atropine (Isopto Atropine) in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes so the second eye drop doesn't rinse off the first one.
Tips for the atropine (Isopto Atropine) eye ointment:
- First, tilt your head back slightly. Then, pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the tube of ointment with the other. Place a half-inch strip of ointment in the space between your eyelid and eye.
- After you place the ointment into the eye, gently blink and then close your eye for 1 to 2 minutes to help the medication reach all the necessary parts of the eye. Press down on the inner corner of your eye near your nose with your finger for 2 to 3 minutes so the medication stays in your eye.
Tips for giving the atropine (Isopto Atropine) eye drops or eye ointment to children:
- Have your child lie down on their back on a flat surface. Ask them to tilt their head up and to look up. Then, rest the wrist of the hand that's holding atropine (Isopto Atropine) on your child's forehead.
- Pull down your child's lower eyelid with your other hand, and apply the medication along the lower eyelid away from the inner corner near the nose. Afterwards, ask your child to close or blink their eyes for a minute to spread the medication throughout the eye.
Risks and warnings for Atropine (Isopto Atropine)
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Light sensitivity and blurry vision
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) can cause blurry vision. It can also make your eyes be more sensitive to light (squinting or eye discomfort when there's light). These side effects might last up to 2 weeks after you use the eye medication. Consider wearing sunglasses when you step outside after you use atropine (Isopto Atropine). Don't drive a car or operate machinery until you know how the medication affects your vision.
Rise in blood pressure
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) might raise your blood pressure. Talk to your healthcare team if you have a history of high blood pressure or are concerned about this possible effect. Your eye specialist might recommend that you check your blood pressure at home if you're using atropine (Isopto Atropine) to treat lazy eye.
Greater risk of side effects in people with certain medical conditions affecting the nervous system
- Risk factors: Down syndrome | Spastic paralysis | Brain damage
Some people who have had brain damage, have Down syndrome, or have a nerve problem that causes paralysis are at a greater risk of serious side effects from atropine (Isopto Atropine). It can cause damage to their brain function, heart, lungs, or digestive system. Make sure your care team knows your medical history before you start this medication.
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) dosage
Interactions between Atropine (Isopto Atropine) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Aspirin
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Clonixin
- Clorgyline
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dihydroergotamine
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Ketoprofen
- Linezolid
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Nialamide
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Pentoxifylline
- Phenelzine
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Probenecid
- Procarbazine
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Rasagiline
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Selegiline
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sulfasalazine
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tranylcypromine
- Valdecoxib
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abciximab
- Acenocoumarol
- Amifampridine
- Amiloride
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amoxapine
- Anagrelide
- Apixaban
- Ardeparin
- Argatroban
- Bemiparin
- Bendroflumethiazide
- Benzthiazide
- Betamethasone
- Betrixaban
- Bivalirudin
- Budesonide
- Bumetanide
- Bupropion
- Cangrelor
- Certoparin
- Chlorothiazide
- Chlorthalidone
- Cilostazol
- Citalopram
- Clomipramine
- Clopamide
- Clopidogrel
- Clozapine
- Cortisone
- Cyclopenthiazide
- Cyclosporine
- Dabigatran Etexilate
- Dalteparin
- Danaparoid
- Deflazacort
- Desipramine
- Desirudin
- Desmopressin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dexamethasone
- Diazoxide
- Dibenzepin
- Digoxin
- Dipyridamole
- Donepezil
- Dothiepin
- Doxepin
- Duloxetine
- Edoxaban
- Enoxaparin
- Eplerenone
- Epoprostenol
- Eptifibatide
- Erdafitinib
- Ergonovine
- Escitalopram
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Feverfew
- Fluocortolone
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
- Fondaparinux
- Furazolidone
- Furosemide
- Ginkgo
- Glucagon
- Glycopyrrolate
- Glycopyrronium Tosylate
- Gossypol
- Heparin
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Hydrocortisone
- Hydroflumethiazide
- Iloprost
- Imipramine
- Indapamide
- Inotersen
- Iobenguane I 123
- Iobenguane I 131
- Lepirudin
- Levomilnacipran
- Lithium
- Lofepramine
- Meadowsweet
- Melitracen
- Methacholine
- Methotrexate
- Methyclothiazide
- Methylergonovine
- Methylprednisolone
- Metolazone
- Midodrine
- Milnacipran
- Nadroparin
- Nefazodone
- Nortriptyline
- Opipramol
- Paramethasone
- Pargyline
- Parnaparin
- Paroxetine
- Pemetrexed
- Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium
- Phenindione
- Phenprocoumon
- Polythiazide
- Prasugrel
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Protein C
- Protriptyline
- Quetiapine
- Reboxetine
- Revefenacin
- Reviparin
- Rivaroxaban
- Scopolamine
- Secretin Human
- Sertraline
- Sibutramine
- Spironolactone
- Tacrolimus
- Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Tianeptine
- Ticagrelor
- Ticlopidine
- Tinzaparin
- Tiotropium
- Tirofiban
- Torsemide
- Trazodone
- Treprostinil
- Triamterene
- Trichlormethiazide
- Trimipramine
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vorapaxar
- Vortioxetine
- Warfarin
- Xipamide
How much does Atropine (Isopto Atropine) cost?
Atropine (Isopto Atropine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Atropine (Isopto Atropine) will not be safe for you to take.
- Primary glaucoma or at risk for a type of glaucoma called narrow-angle glaucoma (eye ointment only)
What are alternatives to Atropine (Isopto Atropine)?
News about Atropine (Isopto Atropine)

