Scopolamine skin patches

What is this medicine?

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

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for external use only. Follow the directions on the prescription label. One patch contains enough medicine 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. 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. Remove the disc after 3 days, or sooner if you no longer need it. 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.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• agitation, nervousness, confusion

• blurred vision and other eye problems

• dizziness, drowsiness

• eye pain or redness in the whites of the eye

• hallucinations

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• skin rash, itching

• vomiting

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

• headache

• nausea

What may interact with this medicine?

• benztropine

• bethanechol

• medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems like diazepam or temazepam

• medicines for hay fever and other allergies

• medicines for mental depression

• muscle relaxants

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 traveling.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date. When you remove a patch, fold it and throw it in the trash as described above.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• glaucoma

• kidney or liver disease

• 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

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

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 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 doctor 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 eye doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.

If you are going to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure, tell your MRI technician if you have this patch on your body. It must be removed before a MRI.