Scopolamine Transdermal Patch
Scopolamine is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness or medications used during surgery. Scopolamine is in a class of medications called antimuscarinics. It works by blocking the effects of a certain natural substance (acetylcholine) on the central nervous system.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Scopolamine comes as a patch to be placed on the hairless skin behind your ear. When used to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, apply the patch at least 4 hours before its effects will be needed and leave in place for up to 3 days. If treatment is needed for longer than 3 days to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, remove the current patch and apply a new patch behind the other ear. When used to prevent nausea and vomiting from medications used with surgery, apply the patch as directed by your doctor and leave it in place for 24 hours after your surgery. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use the scopolamine patch exactly as directed.
To apply the patch, follow these instructions:
- After washing the area behind the ear, wipe the area with a clean, dry tissue to ensure that the area is dry. Avoid placing on areas of your skin that have cuts, pain, or tenderness.
- Remove the patch from its protective pouch. Peel off the clear plastic protective strip and discard it. Don’t touch the exposed adhesive layer with your fingers.
- Place the adhesive side against the skin.
- After you have placed the patch behind your ear, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Do not cut the patch.
Limit contact with water while swimming and bathing because it may cause the patch may fall off. If the scopolamine patch falls off, discard the patch, and apply a new one on the hairless area behind the other ear.
When the scopolamine patch is no longer needed, remove the patch and fold it in half with the sticky side together and dispose of it. Wash your hands and the area behind your ear thoroughly with soap and water to remove any traces of scopolamine from the area. If a new patch needs to be applied, place a fresh patch on the hairless area behind your other ear.
If you have used scopolamine patches for several days or longer, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that could start 24 hours or more after removing the scopolamine patch such as difficulty with balance, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, sweating, headache, confusion, muscle weakness, slow heart rate or low blood pressure. Call your doctor right away if your symptoms become severe.
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Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.
