Methscopolamine is an anticholinergic medication that's used to treat peptic ulcers in adults. Although its brand name Pamine is no longer available, the generic methscopolamine tablets can be prescribed. This medication is taken by mouth before meals and at bedtime. Side effects can include dry mouth, blurry vision, and sleepiness.
Methscopolamine is an anticholinergic medication. It works by blocking a chemical called acetylcholine from attaching to its receptors in your stomach and intestines. This helps lower the amount of acid in the stomach and slow movement in the gut. These actions help with pain and discomfort from stomach ulcers (peptic ulcers).
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.
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:
Rare
Confusion (especially in the elderly)
dizziness, lightheadedness that continues, or fainting
skin rash or hives
Incidence not known
difficulty with swallowing
fast irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
hives or welts
hoarseness
irritation
itching skin
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
skin rash
tightness in the chest
trouble with breathing
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:
Less common or rare
Bloated feeling
blurred vision
difficult urination
difficulty with swallowing
drowsiness
false sense of well-being
headache
increased sensitivity of eyes to light
loss of memory
nausea or vomiting
redness or other signs of irritation at the place of injection
trouble with sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
loss of taste
For patients using scopolamine:
After you stop using scopolamine, your body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of scopolamine you were using and how long you used it. During this period of time check with your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects:
irritability
nightmares
pupil of one eye is larger (patch only)
sensitivity of eyes to light (patch only)
trouble in sleeping
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.
No, methscopolamine isn't available over the counter. You'll need a prescription for it from a healthcare professional.
Methscopolamine isn't approved for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or relieving symptoms of IBS. But there are other anticholinergics that are specifically approved for IBS, such as dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine. Speak with your gastroenterologist about options for treating IBS that might be right for you.
Methscopolamine isn't FDA approved to treat diarrhea. Also keep in mind that diarrhea can sometimes be an early sign of a blockage in the gut and taking methscopolamine in these situations can be harmful. Talk to a member of your care team if you're having diarrhea. They can speak with you about appropriate treatment options.
Although their names sound similar, methscopolamine and scopolamine are completely different medications. Methscopolamine is a tablet that you take by mouth to treat peptic ulcers. On the other hand, scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is a patch that's applied to the skin for preventing nausea and vomiting from motion sickness. Don't use these two medications together since they're both anticholinergic medications. Taking more than one anticholinergic medication at the same time can lead to serious side effects, like confusion, disorientation, and agitation.
No. Methscopolamine hasn't been studied in children, so it's not known how safe the medication is or how well it works in children. Some possible options for treating peptic ulcers in children include medications that lessen stomach acid. Speak with a healthcare professional to see what treatment option is best for your child.
Talk to your gastroenterologist about the risks and benefits of taking methscopolamine if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. It's not completely clear how safe the medication is if it's taken during pregnancy.
Don't take methscopolamine if you're breastfeeding unless your prescriber specifically said it's safe for you. This medication can lessen the amount of breast milk you make. Speak with your prescriber or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) for more information about feeding options.
Methscopolamine 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.
Methscopolamine can cause changes to your autonomic nervous system, which controls the functions of your body that you don't have to think about. For example, methscopolamine can cause the muscles of your gut to slow down, which can lead to constipation. This medication can also make you have less saliva in the mouth, leading to dry mouth. Methscopolamine can also affect other functions, such as your heartbeat or vision. Let your healthcare team know if you experience any unusual and bothersome changes to your bodily functions while you're taking this medication.
Methscopolamine can make you sweat less, which affects how well your body can cool itself down. This can put you at risk for fever, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, especially when you're in a very warm environment. Don't take methscopolamine without asking your HCP first if you have a fever because the medication might make it worse.
Some early symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke can include feeling thirstier, urinating less, having dry mouth, or feeling tired. But get medical help as soon as possible if these symptoms become severe or if you have additional symptoms like muscle cramping; faster or weaker pulse; confusion; hot, dry, red skin; or a very high fever.
Let your prescriber know if you have any diarrhea. Sometimes, diarrhea is an early sign that you have a blockage in your gut, especially if you've had an ileostomy or colostomy (or any similar procedures) done. Taking methscopolamine in these situations can be harmful.
In addition, don't take methscopolamine if you have severe ulcerative colitis. Taking large doses of methscopolamine can slow the gut down to a stop. This can lead to serious problems, like severe inflammation and swelling of the colon.
Make sure to take methscopolamine exactly as prescribed. Don't change your dose without talking to your prescriber. Taking too much methscopolamine can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. Stop taking methscopolamine and contact your prescriber right away if you notice muscle weakness or numbness in your body.
The typical dose is 2.5 mg or 5 mg by mouth 30 minutes before meals, and 2.5 mg or 5 mg at bedtime.
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.
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.
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 Methscopolamine will not be safe for you to take.