Health Library

Scopolamine (Absorbed through the skin)

Scopolamine (skoe-POL-a-meen)

Prevents nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, anesthesia, narcotic pain medicines, and surgery.

Brand Name(s):

Transderm Scop

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Patch

• Your doctor will tell you how many patches to use, where to apply them, and how often to apply them. Do not use more patches or apply them more often than your doctor tells you to.
• To prevent motion sickness, apply the patch at least 4 hours before the activity. The patch should be left in place for 24 hours after surgery.
• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before and after applying the patch.
• Transderm Scop® patch:
  • Leave the patch in its sealed wrapper until you are ready to put it on. Tear the wrapper open carefully. NEVER CUT the wrapper or the patch with scissors. Do not use any patch that has been cut by accident.
  • Take the liner off the sticky side before applying. Do not touch the metallic sticky surface on the patch.
  • Apply the patch to a dry, hairless skin area behind the ear. Avoid areas that have cuts, pain, or tenderness.
  • Limit contact with water while swimming and bathing because the patch may fall off. If the patch is loose or falls off, throw it away and apply a new patch behind the other ear.
  • After you take off the patch, wash the skin area where the patch was placed.
  • Only one patch should be used at any time. Do not cut it.
  • Remove the patch after 3 days. If treatment is to be continued for more than 3 days, remove the first patch and apply a new one behind the opposite ear.
• Scopolamine extended-release skin patch:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying a patch.
  • Leave the patch in its sealed wrapper until you are ready to put it on. Tear the wrapper open carefully. NEVER CUT the wrapper or the patch with scissors. Do not use any patch that has been cut by accident.
  • Cut the package along the dashed line to open. Remove the clear plastic backing from the tan-colored round patch.
  • Do not touch the metallic adhesive (sticky) side of the patch with your hands. Apply the patch to clean, dry skin behind your ear. The imprinted, tan colored side of the patch should be facing up.
  • If the patch falls off, put on a new patch.
  • Remove the patch after 3 days and put on a new patch. After you remove the old patch, fold it in half with sticky sides together.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: If you forget to wear or change a patch, put one on as soon as you can. If it is almost time to put on your next patch, wait until then to apply a new patch and skip the one you missed. Do not apply extra patches to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how scopolamine works. Tell your doctor if you are using a muscle relaxant, medicine to treat depression (including TCAs), or any other oral medicine.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, kidney disease, eye problems (including glaucoma, increased pressure in the eye), prostate problems, trouble urinating, bowel blockage, or a history of seizures or mental illness.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Increased pressure in the eye
  • Increased risk of seizures or worsening of mental problems
  • Increased pupil size and blurred vision
  • Problems with urination
• This medicine may cause seizures in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia (pregnancy with high blood pressure and high protein levels in the urine or organ problems).
• This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or confused. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If you plan to participate in underwater sports, you may feel lost or confused (disoriented).
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results. The patch contains aluminum, which can cause skin burns during an MRI scan.
• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blurred vision or other change in vision, severe eye pain
• Confusion, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, problems with speech, agitation
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, sweating, headache, muscle weakness, slow heartbeat
• Seizures
• Trouble urinating

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry mouth
• Dry, itchy, or red eyes
• Restlessness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024