Scopolamine skin patches

What is this medication?

SCOPOLAMINE (skoe POL a meen) is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, anesthesia and surgery.

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, like asthma
• mental illness
• prostate disease
• seizures
• stomach or intestine problems
• trouble passing urine
• an unusual or allergic reaction to scopolamine, atropine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine 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 medicine into 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 medicine 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 pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine 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 medicine is not for regular use.

What may interact with this medication?

• alcohol
• antihistamines for allergy cough and cold
• atropine
• certain medicines for anxiety or sleep
• certain medicines for bladder problems like oxybutynin, tolterodine
• certain medicines for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
• certain medicines for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
• certain medicines for Parkinson's disease like benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
• certain medicines for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone
• general anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• ipratropium
• local anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
• medicines that relax muscles for surgery
• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
• narcotic medicines for pain
• other belladonna alkaloids

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?

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.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

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

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

If you are going to need surgery, an MRI, CT scan, or other procedure, tell your healthcare professional that you are using this medicine. 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 doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• blurred vision
• changes in vision
• confusion
• dizziness
• eye pain
• fast, irregular heartbeat
• hallucinations, loss of contact with reality
• nausea, vomiting
• pain or trouble passing urine
• restlessness
• seizures
• skin irritation
• stomach pain

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

• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• headache
• sore throat

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.

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