atropine Health Article

Generic name(s):

atropine

Brand name(s):

Sal-Tropine

What is the most important information I should know about atropine?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Atropine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking atropine.

Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather. Atropine increases the risk of heat stroke because it causes decreased sweating.

What is atropine?

Atropine produces many effects in the body, including relief from spasms of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines), the bladder, and the biliary tract. This is helpful in controlling conditions such as colitis, spastic bladder, diverticulitis, infant colic, renal and biliary colic, peptic ulcer, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Atropine also reduces the secretions of many organs, thereby helping to control conditions such as excessive stomach acid production and excessive secretion from the pancreas; to reduce secretions of the nose, lungs, salivary glands, and stomach before surgery; and to help dry up excessive mucus production associated with diseases, infections, and allergies.

Atropine is used to treat the rigidity, tremor, excessive salivation, and sweating caused by Parkinson's disease.

Atropine also has effects on the heart. It is used during surgery to maintain proper heart function, during emergencies involving the heart, and to treat certain heart disorders.

Atropine is used to control laughing and crying episodes that are caused by brain tumors.

Atropine also has effect on the eyes and is available in an ophthalmic (eye) formulation.

Atropine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atropine?

Do not take atropine if you have

• kidney disease;

• a blockage of your urinary tract (difficulty urinating);

• a blockage in your intestines, severe ulcerative colitis, or ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon;

• glaucoma; or

• myasthenia gravis.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;

• liver disease;

• ulcerative colitis;

• thyroid problems;

• high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or any type of heart disease;

• hiatal hernia or reflux disease;

• enlargement of the prostate; or

• asthma, chronic lung disease, or allergies.

You may not be able to take atropine, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

It is not known whether atropine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take atropine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether atropine passes into breast milk. Do not take atropine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take atropine?

Take atropine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Store atropine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a atropine overdose include headache; nausea; vomiting; dry mouth; difficulty swallowing; blurred vision; dilated pupils; hot, dry skin; dizziness; drowsiness; confusion; anxiety; seizures; weak pulse; and an irregular heartbeat.