Scopolamine

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Feb 06, 2023

Warnings

Scopolamine Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Scopolamine can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options if you are at increased risk of complications from scopolamine use.

GLAUCOMA: Transdermal scopolamine can lead to increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye). This can cause problems in people who have glaucoma, an eye condition in which there is high intraocular pressure. Your healthcare professional may adjust your glaucoma medications and ask you to get more regular eye pressure checks while on scopolamine. This medicine is not recommended for people with narrow angle glaucoma or acute angle closure glaucoma. Remove the scopolamine transdermal patch and call your doctor immediately if you develop eye pain, redness, or vision problems.
MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS: Scopolamine can worsen or cause mental health symptoms such as confusion, agitation, hallucinations, psychosis, and paranoia. It can also cause seizures. The risk is higher in elderly patients, people with a history of mental health problems, those with pre-existing seizures, people who drink alcohol, and those taking other medications like benzodiazepines, anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, and muscle relaxants. Do not drive or do anything that requires full concentration until you know how scopolamine affects you. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual mental health symptoms.
BLADDER AND INTESTINAL PROBLEMS: Anticholinergic agents like scopolamine slow down movement in the muscles of the gut and urinary bladder. This can lead to certain stomach problems, intestinal blockage, or urinary retention (difficulty emptying the bladder). The risk is higher in people who are taking other anticholinergic agents. Before starting scopolamine, tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of bowel or urinary problems. Call your doctor without delay if you develop stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or difficulty urinating while using scopolamine.
RISK DURING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI): The transdermal patch of scopolamine contains aluminum. This can cause skin burns if you receive an MRI with the patch on. Your healthcare team will tell you to take the transdermal patch off before an MRI. You can put the patch back on after your imaging study.

Precautions Before Starting Scopolamine

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had allergic reactions to scopolamine, other belladonna alkaloids, any other drugs, or any of the active or inactive ingredients in scopolamine patches. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. This can help avoid dangerous interactions between your medications.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Transdermal scopolamine may not be right for people with certain medical conditions, such as glaucoma, seizures, psychotic disorders, intestinal obstruction, bladder obstruction, severe preeclampsia, kidney disease, liver disease, or heart disease.

Inform your healthcare professional if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

If you are an older adult (age 65 years and older), talk to your doctor about the benefits versus risks of using transdermal scopolamine. There may be other safer medications available for you.

Precautions During Use of Scopolamine

Keep all your healthcare appointments during your treatment with transdermal scopolamine.

Tell all your healthcare providers you are using a scopolamine patch before any lab tests or surgical procedures, including dental procedures.

Call your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while using transdermal scopolamine.

Scopolamine can make you dizzy and drowsy. Do not drive, participate in watersports or underwater activities, or do anything that requires your full concentration until you have seen how this medicine affects you. Avoid drinking alcohol as it can make these side effects worse.

Scopolamine Drug Interactions

Certain medicines can affect how scopolamine works. Possible interactions between scopolamine and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects.

Some medicines that may interact with scopolamine include:

Antihistamines like meclizine (Bonine, Antivert, others)
Anti-anxiety medications
Tricyclic antidepressants like clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin) trimipramine (Surmontil) and imipramine (Tofranil)
Medications used to treat irritable bowel disease
Other medications for motion sickness
Pain medications
Parkinson's disease medications
Medications used to treat seizures
Medications for urinary problems
Sleeping pills, sedatives, tranquilizers, and muscle relaxants

This is not a complete list of scopolamine drug interactions. Give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all the medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your healthcare professionals if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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