Drug Detail:Scopolamine transdermal (Scopolamine transdermal [ skoe-pal-a-meen ])
Generic Name: Scopolamine Transdermal Patch [ skoe-POL-a-meen ]
Drug Class: Anticholinergic antiemetics Anticholinergics / antispasmodics
Uses of Scopolamine Transdermal Patch:
- It is used to help motion sickness.
- It is used to prevent upset stomach and throwing up from surgery.
- It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Scopolamine Transdermal Patch?
- If you have an allergy to scopolamine or any other part of scopolamine transdermal patch.
- If you are allergic to scopolamine transdermal patch; any part of scopolamine transdermal patch; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
- If you have any of these health problems: Chest pain, enlarged colon, glaucoma, a fast heartbeat, heart failure (weak heart), myasthenia gravis, stomach or bowel block or narrowing, or trouble passing urine.
- If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia).
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with scopolamine transdermal patch.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take scopolamine transdermal patch with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while I take Scopolamine Transdermal Patch?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take scopolamine transdermal patch. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how scopolamine transdermal patch affects you.
- To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
- This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take scopolamine transdermal patch.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while taking scopolamine transdermal patch.
- Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
- If you will be taking part in underwater sports, talk with your doctor. This medicine may cause you to feel lost or confused.
- This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking scopolamine transdermal patch.
- Bright lights may bother you. Wear sunglasses.
- Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
- If you have been taking scopolamine transdermal patch on a regular basis and you stop it all of a sudden, you may have signs of withdrawal. Do not stop taking scopolamine transdermal patch all of a sudden without calling your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any bad effects.
- This medicine is not approved for use in children. However, the doctor may decide the benefits of taking scopolamine transdermal patch outweigh the risks. If your child has been given scopolamine transdermal patch, ask the doctor for information about the benefits and risks. Talk with the doctor if you have questions about giving scopolamine transdermal patch to your child.
- The patch may have metal. Take off the patch before an MRI.
- Some people may have certain signs 24 hours or more after taking the patch off. Call your doctor right away if you have dizziness, very upset stomach or throwing up, headache, problems with balance or walking, very bad dizziness or passing out, muscle weakness, or slow heartbeat.
- If you are 65 or older, use scopolamine transdermal patch with care. You could have more side effects.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.
How is this medicine (Scopolamine Transdermal Patch) best taken?
Use scopolamine transdermal patch as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Do not take scopolamine transdermal patch by mouth. Use on your skin only. Keep out of your mouth and eyes (may burn).
- Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.
- Wash your hands before and after use.
- Use skin patch behind the ear. If using for motion sickness, put on 4 hours before travel starts.
- Wear only one patch at a time.
- Be careful to not knock loose the patch while bathing or showering.
- If the patch falls off, put a new one on.
- If using for motion sickness and scopolamine transdermal patch is needed for more than 3 days, throw away the old patch. Put a new one on behind the other ear.
- When patch is taken off, wash site with soap and water.
- After you take off a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch to each other. Throw away used patches where children and pets cannot get to them.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Put on a missed patch as soon as you think about it after taking off the old one.
- If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
- Do not put on more than 1 patch at a time.
- Many times scopolamine transdermal patch is used on an as needed basis. Do not use more often than told by the doctor.
What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Very bad dizziness or passing out.
- A fast heartbeat.
- Feeling confused.
- Trouble passing urine.
- Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.
- Seeing halos or bright colors around lights.
- Red eyes.
- Larger pupils.
- Seizures.
- Trouble speaking.
- Mental, mood, or behavior changes that are new or worse.
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
- Memory problems or loss.
- Shortness of breath.
- Feeling hot.
- Not sweating during activities or in warm temperatures.
- Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain that lasts or gets worse. Call your doctor right away if stomach pain happens with fever, upset stomach or throwing up, change in bowel movements, tender stomach, very bad dizziness or passing out, or blood in the stool.
What are some other side effects of Scopolamine Transdermal Patch?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Dizziness.
- Feeling sleepy.
- Dry mouth.
- Diarrhea.
- Upset stomach.
- Sore throat.
- Restlessness.
- Irritation where scopolamine transdermal patch is used.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
How do I store and/or throw out Scopolamine Transdermal Patch?
- Store in an upright position at room temperature.
- Do not bend or roll the foil pouch.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
- If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
- Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
- This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time scopolamine transdermal patch is refilled. If you have any questions about scopolamine transdermal patch, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.