Brand Name(s): Transderm-Scop, Transdermal scopolamine
Generic Name Scopolamine Patch
What are scopolamine skin patches?
SCOPOLAMINE (Transderm Scop®) patches help prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. Generic scopolamine skin patches are not yet available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•difficulty passing urine
•heart or blood vessel disease, high blood pressure
•hiatal hernia
•glaucoma
•liver disease
•nervous system disease
•over active thyroid
•stomach obstruction
•ulcerative colitis
•an unusual or allergic reaction (especially skin allergy) to scopolamine, atropine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
Scopolamine skin patches are for external use only. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Use exactly as directed. One patch contains enough scopolamine to prevent motion sickness for up to 3 days. Apply the patch at least 4 hours before you need it and only wear one disc 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. 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. Remove the disc after 3 days, or sooner if you no longer need it. If you need to use a second patch after you remove the first, place it behind the other ear.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
Make sure you apply the patch at least 4 hours before you need it. You can apply it the night before travelling.
What drug(s) may interact with scopolamine?
•alcohol
•amantadine
•benztropine
•bethanechol
•cisapride
•digoxin
•donepezil
•erythromycin
•galantamine
•glutethimide
•ketoconazole
•levodopa
•medicines for hay fever and other allergies
•medicines for mental depression
•medicines for mental problems and psychotic disturbances
•medicine for anxiety or sleeping problems (such as diazepam, or temazepam)
•meperidine
•metoclopramide
•quinidine
•rivastigmine
•tacrine
•tegaserod
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from using scopolamine?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
•agitation, nervousness, confusion
•blurred vision and other eye problems
•dizziness, drowsiness
•hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not really there)
•pain or difficulty passing urine
•skin rash, itching
•vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•dry mouth
•headache
•nausea
What should I watch for while taking scopolamine?
Check with your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can if you get pain in your eye, or reddening of the whites of your eye.
Keep the patch dry, if possible, to prevent it from falling off. Limited contact with water, however, as in bathing or swimming, will not affect the system. If the patch falls off, throw it away and put a new one behind the other ear.
You may get drowsy, dizzy, or have blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how scopolamine affects you. To reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can make you more drowsy, avoid alcoholic drinks.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water will help.
Scopolamine may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating drops may help. See your ophthalmologist if the problem does not go away or is severe.
When you remove a patch, fold it in half (sticky side in) and throw away out of reach of children or pets.
If you are going to have a MRI procedure, let your MRI technician know about the use of these patches. Some drug patches contain an aluminized backing that can become heated when exposed to MRI and may cause burns. You may need to temporarily remove the patch during the MRI procedure.
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
| Available at: www.DrugDigest.org | Last Updated:07/12/2004 |
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