7 Scopolamine Side Effects: Drowsiness, Dry Mouth, and More

GoodRx Health

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is a prescription medication used to prevent motion sickness symptoms. It can also prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. Unlike oral pills available for these uses, scopolamine comes as a patch that you place behind your ear. But this doesn't mean it's free of side effects.

Scopolamine is an anticholinergic medication, meaning that it blocks the effects of a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a role in functions such as digestion, secretions, and more. Because of this, medications such as scopolamine are known to cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and urine retention, among other side effects.

If you're concerned about how scopolamine may affect you during a trip or after your medical procedure, we'll walk you through what to expect.

Scopolamine side effects at a glance

Below are side effects reported during initial scopolamine clinical trials. Remember, everyone reacts differently to medication. So, it's possible to experience side effects that are not on this list. And some people may not experience side effects at all.

Common scopolamine side effects (reported by at least 5% of people) include:

• Dry mouth

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness

• Agitation

• Blurry vision

Less common scopolamine side effects include:

• Burning or itching where the patch is applied

• Dilated pupils

• Confusion

• Urinary retention

• Scopolamine withdrawal

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Dry eyes

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma

• Psychosis

Here, we'll look at seven common scopolamine side effects and how to manage them.

1. Dry mouth

One of the most common scopolamine side effects is dry mouth. Symptoms of dry mouth include dry throat, difficulty swallowing, and bad breath.

Dry mouth should get better soon after you stop taking scopolamine. In the meantime, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. It's best to avoid alcohol or caffeine, which may dehydrate you and make your dry mouth worse.

Sugar-free candy or gum stimulate saliva production and can relieve dry mouth. You can also try a saliva substitute, such as Biotene and BioXtra.

2. Dizziness

Another common side effect of scopolamine is dizziness. As with dry mouth, your dizziness should get better once you stop using scopolamine.

Move slowly when changing positions, especially when going from sitting to standing. If you start to feel dizzy, sit back down and wait a minute or two. Then try to stand up again. Avoid driving or performing activities where dizziness could be dangerous.

If the dizziness persists or becomes severe, talk to your prescriber. It's possible your dizziness is due to a medical condition, rather than scopolamine.

3. Drowsiness

Scopolamine may also cause drowsiness. Both dizziness and drowsiness impair your ability to drive. As with dizziness, it's best to avoid activities where drowsiness could be dangerous until you know how scopolamine affects you.

Scopolamine is usually only used for a few days, at the most. So by planning in advance, you can avoid activities that require alertness while you're taking it.

4. Dilated pupils and blurry vision

It's possible for scopolamine to dilate your pupils and dry out your eyes, causing blurry vision and making you sensitive to bright light. This side effect can be worse if the medication gets in your eyes. You can help prevent that by washing your hands immediately after applying the scopolamine patch. Wash your hands after removing an old patch, too.

If you notice vision changes while using scopolamine, wear sunglasses with UV protection when you're outside to protect your eyes. You may also be more comfortable dimming the lighting in your home.

If your sensitivity to light persists or becomes severe, contact your prescriber. There are a number of eye conditions that can make you sensitive to light. Sensitivity to light can also be a symptom of a migraine headache.

If you're living with glaucoma, talk to your healthcare team before using scopolamine. That's because it can worsen glaucoma symptoms. In serious cases, acute angle-closure glaucoma is possible, which is a medical emergency. Symptoms include blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, and eye pain. If this happens, remove the patch and contact your eye specialist immediately.

5. Confusion

In some cases, scopolamine can cause confusion or disorientation. This risk may be higher for older adults. In fact, experts recommend that adults ages 65 and older avoid scopolamine for this reason, as well as other side effects.

Confusion from scopolamine may also be more likely if you use it with other medications that have anticholinergic effects. Examples include oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

If you notice confusion or other changes in your thinking after applying a scopolamine patch, remove the patch and call your prescriber.

6. Urinary retention

Scopolamine may affect the muscles responsible for bladder control, leading to urinary retention. Urinary retention makes it difficult for you to completely empty your bladder. Other symptoms include a poor urinary flow, difficulty starting to urinate, and frequent urge to urinate.

If you experience symptoms of urinary retention, contact your prescriber. They may recommend an alternative medication. Untreated urinary retention can increase your risk for a urinary tract infection, so it's best to address this side effect early. And if you have an enlarged prostate, talk to your healthcare team before using scopolamine.

7. Withdrawal after removing

Some people experience scopolamine withdrawal after removing the patch. Your risk of withdrawal is higher if you use scopolamine for more than a few days. But it can happen even if you don't use it for that long.

Symptoms of scopolamine withdrawal include dizziness, nausea, and headache. You may also experience muscle weakness or confusion. Symptoms most commonly happen 24 hours or more after you remove the patch.

Only use scopolamine for as long as you need it, and don't wear more than one patch at a time. Remember to remove the old patch before applying a new one. If you're experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, contact your prescriber.

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