Scopolamine

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Updated on August 29, 2023

Scopolamine (skoe POL a meen) is a generic medication prescribed to help prevent nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. It’s also prescribed to help prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. Scopolamine belongs to a group of drugs called anticholinergics.

Side effects of scopolamine

Scopolamine may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of scopolamine and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about scopolamine’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for scopolamine listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with scopolamine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about scopolamine’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for scopolamine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects bother you, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Scopolamine transdermal patch’s mild side effects include:

• dry mouth
• sleepiness
• blurry vision
• dizziness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for scopolamine” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of scopolamine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about scopolamine’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for scopolamine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, scopolamine’s serious side effects include:

• urination problems
• confusion, especially in older adults (generally refers to people ages 65 years and older)
• severe withdrawal symptoms (side effects that may occur the day after removing a scopolamine patch), such as dizziness, digestive upset, headache, low blood pressure, and slow heart rate
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for scopolamine” section.

Common questions about scopolamine

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about scopolamine.

Is scopolamine available over the counter?

No. Scopolamine is only available with a prescription.

Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to help prevent symptoms of motion sickness. Examples of OTC medications for motion sickness include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine).

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for information about how scopolamine compares with OTC medications for motion sickness prevention.

How does scopolamine work? And how long does it take to start working?

Nausea and vomiting can occur when receptors (binding sites) in the vomiting center (a certain area of your brain) are activated. Scopolamine helps prevent nausea and vomiting by blocking these receptors and preventing activation of the vomiting center.

Scopolamine also slows muscle spasms in the gut and decreases the flow of saliva and stomach acid. This also helps prevent nausea and vomiting.

It takes about 4 hours for scopolamine to start working to help prevent nausea and vomiting.

You must apply the scopolamine patch before an event that may cause nausea and vomiting. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about exactly when you should apply the patch before travel or surgery.

Uses of scopolamine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as scopolamine for certain conditions. Approved uses for scopolamine are described below.

Use for nausea and vomiting

Doctors may prescribe scopolamine transdermal patch* to help prevent nausea and vomiting in certain situations. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Specifically, scopolamine is prescribed to help prevent nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. It’s also prescribed to help prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery.

Some people develop nausea and vomiting due to motion. It most often occurs while traveling by land, water, or air.

After surgery, some people experience nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can occur as people recover from the effects of anesthesia and pain medications used during the surgery.

* This type of patch is applied to the skin.

Interactions and warnings for scopolamine

Below, you’ll find information about scopolamine’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of scopolamine

Certain factors may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.­

Before you use scopolamine, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for scopolamine” section below.

Warnings for scopolamine

Some people should not use scopolamine, and others should use it cautiously.

Scopolamine could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether scopolamine is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for scopolamine, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Scopolamine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to scopolamine or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe scopolamine. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to scopolamine, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of scopolamine

You should not use more scopolamine than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve used too much scopolamine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and scopolamine

Information about scopolamine and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Scopolamine and pregnancy

In general, scopolamine is considered safe to use during pregnancy for most people.

However, there may be risks from using scopolamine if you have preeclampsia during pregnancy. (Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy that causes a sudden rise in blood pressure.)Seizures have been reported in people with severe preeclampsia who’ve received treatment with scopolamine during pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about treatment options that are safe for you during pregnancy. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should use scopolamine during pregnancy.

Scopolamine and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether scopolamine should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about scopolamine or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• I’m going on a cruise for the first time. Should I wait to see if I’m bothered by motion sickness before using the scopolamine patch?
• Is it safe for me to have just one serving of alcohol while using the scopolamine patch?
• Is this medication safe for me considering my medical history and conditions?
• Will any of my current medications interact with scopolamine?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Riad M, et al. Scopolamine. (2023). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554397/
• Scopolamine transdermal system. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/2a6f9aaf-a70a-481f-a82b-1dcaaadc185b/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.