Key takeaways
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) and Anzemet (dolasetron) are both used to prevent nausea and vomiting, but they work in different ways and are used for different causes. Scopolamine is an anticholinergic that comes as a patch you place behind your ear, and it’s used to prevent nausea from motion sickness and surgery. Anzemet is an antiemetic taken by mouth, and it’s used to prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. Scopolamine is available as a lower-cost generic, while Anzemet is only available as a brand-name medication, which can be expensive. Scopolamine can cause side effects like dry mouth and dizziness, while Anzemet can cause headaches and fatigue in addition to dizziness. Anzemet also has a risk of causing serious heart rhythm problems, which is not a concern with scopolamine.
