Scopolamine

This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Transderm Scop (1.5 MG) [DSC]; Transderm-Scop

Brand Names: Canada

ACCEL-Hyoscine; Buscopan

What is this drug used for?

  • It is used to help motion sickness.
  • It is used to treat GI (gastrointestinal) spasms.
  • It is used to prevent upset stomach and throwing up from surgery.
  • It is used during surgery.
  • It may be given to your child for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
  • This drug is not approved for use in children. However, the doctor may decide the benefits of taking this drug outweigh the risks. If your child has been given this drug, ask the doctor for information about the benefits and risks. Talk with the doctor if you have questions about giving this drug to your child.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

All products:

  • If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
  • If your child has 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 your child has high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia).

Tablets:

  • If your child has a rare hereditary health problem like glucose-galactose malabsorption, fructose intolerance, or sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.
  • If your child is allergic to lactose or has lactose intolerance, talk with the doctor.

Injection (if given in the muscle):

  • If your child is taking a blood thinner.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

All products:

  • Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
  • Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness or clear eyesight until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
  • To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, have your child rise slowly if your child has been sitting or lying down. Have your child be careful going up and down stairs.
  • This drug may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your child’s health care providers and lab workers that your child takes this drug.
  • Alcohol may interact with this drug. Be sure your child does not drink alcohol.
  • Talk with your child’s doctor before your child uses marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or prescription or OTC drugs that may slow your child’s actions.
  • If your child will be taking part in underwater sports, talk with the doctor. This drug may cause your child to feel lost or confused.
  • This drug may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to the doctor to see if your child has a greater chance of seizures while taking this drug.
  • Bright lights may bother your child. Have your child wear sunglasses.
  • Have your child be careful in hot weather or while your child is being active. Have your child drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
  • If your child has been taking this drug on a regular basis and stops taking it all of a sudden, your child may have signs of withdrawal. Do not stop giving this drug all of a sudden without calling the doctor. Tell the doctor if your child has any bad effects.

If your child is pregnant or breast-feeding a baby:

  • Talk with the doctor if your child is pregnant, becomes pregnant, or is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to your child and the baby.

Skin patch:

  • The patch may have metal. Take off your child’s patch before an MRI.
  • Some people may have certain signs 24 hours or more after taking the patch off. Call the doctor right away if your child has dizziness, very upset stomach or throwing up, headache, problems with balance or walking, very bad dizziness or passing out, muscle weakness, or slow heartbeat.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s 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 child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has 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.
  • Severe dizziness or passing out.
  • A fast heartbeat.
  • Trouble passing urine.
  • Change in eyesight, eye pain, or severe 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.
  • Feeling confused.
  • 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 child’s doctor right away if your child has severe stomach pain that lasts or gets worse. Call your child’s 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 this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:

All products:

  • Dry mouth.
  • Feeling dizzy or sleepy.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Sore throat.
  • Restlessness.

Skin patch:

  • Irritation where this drug was used.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Skin patch:

  • Do not give this drug by mouth. For skin only. Keep out of your child’s mouth, nose, and eyes (may burn).
  • Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.
  • Wash your hands before and after use.
  • Put the patch on dry, hairless skin behind the ear. Be sure you know when to put the patch on. If you are not sure, talk with the doctor.
  • Do not put on more than 1 patch at a time.
  • Do not touch the patch or let your child touch the patch while it is on your child’s skin.
  • Have your child 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 this drug 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.

Tablets:

  • Have your child swallow whole with a full glass of water.

Injection:

  • It is given as a shot into a muscle, vein, or into the fatty part of the skin.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

Skin patch:

  • 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 child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
  • Do not put on more than 1 patch at a time.
  • Many times this drug is used on an as needed basis. Do not use more often than told by the doctor.

Tablets:

  • Skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
  • Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
  • Many times this drug is given on an as needed basis. Do not give to your child more often than told by the doctor.

Injection:

  • Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

Skin patch:

  • Store in an upright position at room temperature.
  • Do not bend or roll the foil pouch.

Tablets:

  • Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
  • Protect from heat and light.

Injection:

  • If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

  • 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.

General drug facts

  • If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
  • Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
  • Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, 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.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2023-10-27

Copyright

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Last Updated

Monday, December 12, 2022