Scopolamine Patches

What is this medication?

SCOPOLAMINE (skoe POL a meen) prevents nausea and vomiting. It works by blocking substances in your body that may cause nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of medications called antiemetics.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Transderm Scop

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• Are scheduled to have a gastric secretion test
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung or breathing disease, such as asthma
• Mental health condition
• Prostate disease
• Seizures
• Stomach or intestine problems
• Trouble passing urine
• An unusual or allergic reaction to scopolamine, atropine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medication is for external use only. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Wear only 1 patch at a time. Choose an area behind the ear, that is clean, dry, hairless and free from any cuts or irritation. Wipe the area with a clean dry tissue. Peel off the plastic backing of the skin patch, trying not to touch the adhesive side with your hands. Do not cut the patches. Firmly apply to the area you have chosen, with the metallic side of the patch to the skin and the tan-colored side showing. Once firmly in place, wash your hands well with soap and water. Do not get this medication in your eyes.

After removing the patch, wash your hands and the area behind your ear thoroughly with soap and water. The patch will still contain some medication after use. To avoid accidental contact or ingestion by children or pets, fold the used patch in half with the sticky side together and throw away in the trash out of the reach of children and pets. If you need to use a second patch after you remove the first, place it behind the other ear.

A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply. This medication is not for regular use.

What may interact with this medication?

• Alcohol
• Antihistamines for allergy cough and cold
• Atropine
• Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
• Certain medications for bladder problems, such as oxybutynin, tolterodine
• Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
• Certain medications for Parkinson disease, such as benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
• Certain medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone
• Certain medications for stomach problems, such as dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
• General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• Ipratropium
• Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
• Medications that relax muscles for surgery
• Opioid medications for pain
• Other belladonna alkaloids
• Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

Limit contact with water while swimming and bathing because the patch may fall off. If the patch falls off, throw it away and put a new one behind the other ear.

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

This medication can increase body temperature and reduce sweating. If you are hot and not sweating while in warm conditions, take off the patch and call your care team.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.

This medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating drops may help. See your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.

If you are going to need surgery, procedure, or imaging scan (CT or MRI), tell your care team that you are using this medication. You may need to remove the patch before the procedure.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Constipation, bloating, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, which may be signs of slow movement through the digestive tract
• Fever that does not go away, fast breathing or heartbeat, fatigue
• Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
• Seizures
• Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
• Trouble passing urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Keep this medication in the foil package until ready to use.

Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.