Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is a prescription anticholinergic medication. It's used to prevent nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, as well as from anesthesia or pain medications used in surgery. Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) comes as a patch that you place behind your ear. You need to apply it at least 4 hours before any activities that might cause motion sickness, or the night before your surgery. Common side effects scopolamine (Transderm Scop) include dry mouth, sleepiness, and dizziness.
Prevention of nausea and vomiting due to:
Anesthesia or pain medications used in surgery
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is an anticholinergic. It works by blocking a chemical called acetylcholine from attaching to receptors (signaling proteins) in the part of your brain that cause nausea and vomiting.
Source: DailyMed
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:
More common
Agitation
Less common
Bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
blurred vision or other changes in vision
confusion
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
Incidence not known
Burning feeling while urinating
delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
difficulty in speaking
disturbance in attention
dry, itchy eyes
eyelid irritation
headache
loss of memory
poor coordination
problems with memory
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
blurred or loss of vision
change in consciousness
decrease in frequency of urination
decrease in urine volume
deep or fast breathing with dizziness
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
disturbed color perception
double vision
dry, flushed skin
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
halos around lights
headache
irritability
loss of consciousness
nervousness
night blindness
numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth
overbright appearance of lights
pounding in the ears
seizures
shaking
sleepiness
trouble with sleeping
tunnel vision
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
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
Body aches or pain
congestion
dryness or soreness of the throat
hoarseness
tender, swollen glands in the neck
trouble in swallowing
voice changes
More common
Burning feeling at the application site
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
itching, skin rash
lightheadedness
sensation of spinning
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.
Works well for preventing nausea and vomiting
Effects lasts for up to 3 days
Applied to skin, so a good choice for people who've trouble taking pills
Available as a lower-cost generic
Not for use in children younger than 18 years old
Takes about 4 hours to start working, so need to remember to take it ahead of time
Doesn't treat nausea and vomiting that's already happening
Can cause drowsiness, blurry vision, and confusion
Avoid drinking alcohol while using scopolamine (Transderm Scop) because alcohol can make sleepiness and confusion from scopolamine (Transderm Scop) worse.
Don't drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires concentration until you know how this medication affects you. Dizziness and sleepiness are some of the more common side effects of scopolamine (Transderm Scop) and can make these activities dangerous.
Some people might experience withdrawal symptoms from scopolamine (Transderm Scop) after removing the patch, especially after they've been using this medication for multiple days. Symptoms of withdrawal can include dizziness, headaches, or confusion. They generally appear about 24 hours after you've removed scopolamine (Transderm Scop). Get medical attention if your symptoms are severe.
If you need to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), remove scopolamine (Transderm Scop) before the scan. Leaving the patch on during the procedure can lead to skin burns because the patch contains metal material.
More tips on applying and wearing scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch:
Make sure to apply scopolamine (Transderm Scop) to the hairless area behind your ear. If you have long hair, tie it up or move it out of the way so that the patch doesn't stick to your hair. Press the patch down for a few seconds to make sure the patch stays in place.
Only wear one scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch at any time. When switching to a new patch, make sure to remove the used one first before putting on a new patch behind the other ear.
Don't cut the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch. When opening the package, make sure to cut along the dotted line near the edge so you don't damage the patch.
Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you handle a scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch, including new and used patches. You can get blurry vision if the medication gets on your hands and you rub your eyes.
If the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch comes loose or if you remove the patch and need to apply a new one, apply it behind the other ear. Swimming and bathing can make the patch more likely to fall off, so be careful to not knock it loose.
After you remove the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch, wash the area behind your ear where the patch used to be. If you're using a new patch right after removing the old one, apply the new one behind your other ear.
Don't bend, fold, or roll the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch since this can affect how the medication works. Only fold the patch if it has been used and you're going to throw it away.
When you remove the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch, fold it in half so that the sticky sides come together. Make sure to throw it out in a trash bin where it can't be reached by children or pets, since there will still be some medication in the used patch. This can be dangerous for them to handle or swallow.
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) 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.
Risk factors: History of glaucoma
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) can raise the pressure in your eye and lead to angle-closure glaucoma. This is a condition where fluid builds up in the eye and the drainage is blocked. If you already have glaucoma, you might need to get your eye pressure checked more regularly or adjust your glaucoma medication doses while on scopolamine (Transderm Scop). Remove scopolamine (Transderm Scop) and get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma, including eye pain, redness, or problems with your vision.
Risk factors: Other mental health conditions | History of seizures | Older adults | Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that cause sleepiness
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) can worsen or trigger mental health problems, including psychosis, agitation, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there), and paranoia. It can also cause seizures or seizure-like activity, sleepiness, and confusion. Let your primary care provider and pharmacist know about all the medications you're taking since other medications can make these side effects worse (e.g., benzodiazepines, anxiety medications, muscle relaxants, sleep medications, alcohol). Don't drive, participate in underwater sports, or do anything that requires concentration until you know how scopolamine (Transderm Scop) affects you.
Risk factors: Severe preeclampsia
Injectable forms of scopolamine (which aren't available in the United States) have caused seizures in pregnant females with severe preeclampsia. While this hasn't been seen with the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch, the risk can't be completely ruled out. It's best to avoid using scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patches if you're pregnant and have severe preeclampsia.
Risk factors: Blockages in the stomach, intestines, or bladder | Taking other anticholinergics or medications that affect stomach, intestine, or bladder movement
Anticholinergic medications like scopolamine (Transderm Scop) slow down the movement of food through your stomach and intestines and can also cause difficulty emptying your bladder. Let your prescriber know if you have stomach or urination problems before starting scopolamine (Transderm Scop) because this medication might not be a good choice for you. If you get stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or difficulty urinating, take the scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch off right away and contact your primary care provider.
Risk factors: Taking scopolamine (Transderm Scop) for many days
It's possible to get withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop wearing scopolamine (Transderm Scop), especially if you've been using it for 3 days or longer. Withdrawal symptoms usually start about a day after you remove the patch and can last for several days. Get medical help right away if you experience severe symptoms of scopolamine (Transderm Scop) withdrawal, such as balance problems, dizziness, stomach upset, headache, confusion, and muscle weakness.
If scopolamine (Transderm Scop) gets in the eyes, it can affect your pupil size and cause blurry vision. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you touch a scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patch, even if it's a used patch.
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) patches contain aluminum. If you're receiving an MRI, let a member of the healthcare team know you're wearing scopolamine (Transderm Scop) and they'll give you specific instructions on when to take the patch off before the MRI. After the MRI, you can put on a new patch.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
1mg/3 days | 4 patches | $27.78 | $6.95 |
Prevention of nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness:
The typical dose is to apply 1 patch behind the ear at least 4 hours before you expect to have motion sickness (such as before a car or boat ride). You can leave the patch in place for up to 3 days. If you expect to continue to have motion sickness for longer than 3 days, remove the patch and place a new one behind the other ear.
Prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery:
The typical dose is to apply 1 patch behind the ear the night before surgery. Remove the patch 24 hours after surgery.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine 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.
Allergy to belladonna alkaloids
Prevention of nausea and vomiting due to:
Anesthesia or pain medications used in surgery
Prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, or dizziness from motion sickness
Over-the-counter (OTC) scopolamine (Transderm Scop): Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness from motion sickness
Prescription scopolamine (Transderm Scop): Vertigo (feeling like your surroundings are moving or spinning)
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Apfel, C. C., et al. (2010). Transdermal scopolamine for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Therapeutics.
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2022). SCOPOLAMINE TRANSDERMAL SYSTEM- scolopamine transdermal system patch, extended [package insert]. DailyMed.
Kobayashi, T., et al. (2002). Anticholinergics induce eclamptic seizures. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis.
Lau, S.H., et al. (2014). Scopolamine Patch Withdrawal Syndrome. Hospital Pharmacy.
Nachum, Z., et al. (2006). Transdermal scopolamine for prevention of motion sickness: Clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic applications. Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
Riad, M., et al. (2022). Scopolamine. StatPearls.
White, P. F., et al. (2007). Transdermal scopolamine: An alternative to ondansetron and droperidol for the prevention of postoperative and postdischarge emetic symptoms. Anesthesia and Analgesia.
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