Scopolamine and Blurred Vision: What Users Say

• Sur...
• June 12, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was on scopolamine while in the hospital for gastritis from post-gallbladder surgery and blood clot from pregnancy. At first, I noticed my throat swelling and extreme dry mouth. I told the doctor, and he didn't seem worried. Then, I noticed that I was getting very agitated and nervous. When I left the hospital, I was shaking like crazy. My heart would race all the time. I went to the ER, and they gave me drugs for anxiety and sent me home, but all they did was make me sleep. I would wake up the next morning with tremors. I finally had a major panic attack and started thinking people were out to get me. I was diagnosed with all the symptoms of extreme hyperthyroidism, but my thyroid was fine. I got to an internal medicine doctor, and he took me off the patch. My inflammation went down, but I came off the drug hard. My eyes dilated, and I had blurry vision for several days. I then started crying and physically crashed. It is going to take time to recover mentally what this patch did to me."

• Kat...
• April 15, 2017

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "My boyfriend has used this patch many times with success, but had slight side effects-mostly blurred vision. I tried it a couple of years ago for our cruise, and I had almost every side effect there is to have! I started off almost immediately having blurred vision, and my eyes became majorly sensitive to the sunlight. Then I started having a very dry throat (hard time swallowing food), dizziness, and my stomach would gurgle (it was weird). I took the patch off when one of the passengers said she got really sick from it. After I took it off, I was okay for about 24 hours, and then the real scare happened! I almost completely lost my vision, I could barely see straight and was very dizzy for weeks! This should NOT be on the market!"

• KDW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

Scopolamine for Nausea/Vomiting "I had surgery a month ago, and the anesthesiologist prescribed a Scopolamine transdermal patch due to my issues with motion sickness. I never had any issues with nausea and vomiting, not right after surgery or the next several days afterward either. I didn't have any side effects while wearing the patch or once I took it off either. It worked wonderfully! The nurse who gave me my discharge instructions said I can leave the patch on for 3 days and also told me to be extremely careful when removing it. She told me to try to be super careful when peeling the patch off and do NOT touch your eyes until you can wash your hands really well TWICE. And to also wrap the patch in a Kleenex or napkin, then shove it way down deep into the garbage can. She said if the medication gets into the eyes, it'll dilate them and cause blurriness for 2-3 days. I took her instructions to heart and followed them closely."

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2011

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "Wife used the patch, 2 or 3 of them, for an 8-day cruise. She had no sea sickness, but had bad withdrawals. 24 hrs after removing the patch, she has nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and blurred vision, absolutely miserable for her, and me too."

• B11...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2015

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "Overall, this is great for preventing motion sickness. I used it for a 5-day cruise and I didn't get sick. I give this an 8 because it came with some pretty annoying side effects: severe cotton mouth, occasional drowsiness, and really blurred vision."

• spi...
• September 26, 2016

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "While this medication did take away my travel sickness, I had blurred vision all week and now severe blurred vision 3 days after removing the patch, and I did wash my hands after applying each patch. I was extremely thirsty the entire week, extreme dry mouth. Approximately 24 hours after removing the patch, I felt so dizzy and severely nauseous for 2 days. I was vomiting the first of those 2 days. I should have heeded everyone's warnings about this toxic medication! I will never go near it again!"

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2020

For Motion Sickness "I cannot believe the doctor even prescribed this without telling me the risk of side effects. As someone said above, if I could give it a zero, I would. The patch kept me from vomiting but gave me so many negative side effects it was not worth it at all. It’s been almost a week since the patch was removed. I’ve had dizziness, blurred vision, stomach cramps, muscle aches, and feel completely disoriented mentally."

• Fri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2019

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "I just used it for the first time. BE CAREFUL! I was on a cruise. I didn't get sick but had extreme blurred vision, dry mouth, and felt like I didn't have 'higher brain function.' I 'couldn't think.' I was like a zombie. I felt like I couldn't plan simple chains of thoughts, low motivation, and just did not feel like myself. Upon taking it off, I got nausea, my mind felt numb, fatigue, and I'm on day four of not feeling normal. It's sort of scary. I'm glad I didn't have to immediately go back to work because I seriously could not think straight. I think the cons outweigh the pros, and maybe next time I'll try a different product."

• Rot...
• November 23, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "If 0 was an option, that’s what I’d rate scopolamine. It should not be legal to use!!!! I had surgery over a month ago and was given the patch so I wouldn’t vomit afterward. My pupils were huge and uneven for almost a week after the patch was removed. My 20/20 vision is so blurry I can’t safely see to drive....that is if I had the mental capacity to make quick decisions needed while driving. If it weren’t for autocorrect, my spelling is now so poor I couldn’t write this review. I’m so forgetful now I have to set timers and write lists with check-offs to keep myself on track. My former self was highly intelligent, now I’m just a moron and I get so frustrated when I can’t remember the word I’m trying to say that I have breakdowns."

• Itz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2020

For Motion Sickness "I used this drug for the first time almost a year ago while traveling from the US to Spain and back again. It was wonderful, and I had no vertigo or motion sickness. No side effects. I used it again (2 patches) within the last week and have had severe blurry vision for things close up, to where I can’t see what’s on my phone screen or read off of paper. I have also had really bad dry mouth. While it works well for me for the intended use, the blurred vision is very bad, and I will not use the patch again."

• Ton...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 23, 2013

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "I was on small military ships for 5 years. Used Transderm Scop a lot. By far, it's the most effective seasickness medicine that I encountered; I tried a great deal of those other medicines. With all powerful meds, however, come serious side effects. The worst is that it made me feel generally weird and depressed - I cringe when I think of putting a patch on. It gave me dry mouth and a bad aftertaste. Lastly, it blurred my vision slightly. If you time it right (put it on 4 hours before the heavy seas), you'll be seasick-free. If you don't time it right (such as you exceed the 4-hour window because the heavy seas don't come right away), you'll still have positive results, though not as effective. With it, I could concentrate and work well in any sea state."

• May...
• January 14, 2019

Scopolamine for Nausea/Vomiting "I had been suffering extreme nausea and vomiting from vertigo. A friend of mine highly recommended this patch. I got one over the counter at the pharmacy. Put it in before bed, and when I woke up, my vision was so blurred that I couldn’t even read the time on my phone or stove. I couldn’t text, see the TV guide, or anything. Luckily, I had Siri on my iPhone activated, and she assisted me in calling for help. I unfortunately didn’t gain my full vision back until 36 hours later. One of the worst experiences I have been through, and I am not one to ever interact with anything. Will never take this again."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "If 0 was an option, I’d give it that score. I got this patch put behind my ear before surgery, and it helped my nausea and vomiting upon waking up from anesthesia. After I had taken it off 72 hours later, my pupils were extremely dilated, and I could not see at all since my vision was so blurry. The vertigo sensation is terrible, as it feels like I’m rocking back and forth on a boat. The nausea is terrible now too! I wasn’t told of any of these side effects and would have never had this put on if I knew! I told my doctor about it a day after removing the first patch (because I didn’t know my symptoms were from withdrawal), and he prescribed ANOTHER patch for me to take! Out of confusion on what was wrong with me and being so sick from my symptoms, I wore another patch for another 3 days! My lesson is being learned the hard way. Hoping I’ll get better and back to normal sooner than later. All of these terrible withdrawal symptoms are NOT worth wearing that patch! Never again!!"

• Wak...
• January 4, 2017

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "The first few times I used the patch, I thought it was a godsend. However, this last time I used it on a 6-hour flight, I began to have blurred vision, extreme dry mouth. The scariest side effect was hallucinations. I did not know who I was or where I was. Thank goodness I was not traveling alone. Dangerous. Will never use again!"

• Doo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2015

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "Used the patch for my first cruise as I normally suffer from motion sickness. I only got dry mouth and blurred vision, but most people think this is from the patch when in fact it's from your fingers after you have touched it or placed it. You must always wash your hands, as people do tend to scratch or touch their eyes and the medication is transferred. That was far more than a side effect via the application. I would never go on a cruise without it. Works a treat and can easily last for 4 days. I would highly recommend it."

• Mmc...
• June 24, 2016

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "I have severe motion sickness with nausea and vomiting... room spinning... vertigo. I put the patch on 4 hours before my flight and cruise, it works excellent for me without the drowsiness, blurred vision, and dry mouth. It works differently on different people, but you won't know until you try it."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2012

Scopolamine for Nausea/Vomiting "I was prescribed this medication to treat nausea and vomiting. The 1st day, I put the patch on as directed. For an hour after, I felt light-headed, then side effects went away. 2nd day, I noticed dryness in my throat/eyes/nose, however, I was finally able to hold down liquids but not food. 3rd day, when removed (same time I put it on), I noticed a welt where the patch was. Stopped use. 4th day, woke up to find the whites of my eyes were red, pupils dilated, painful, and blurred vision. Contacted the doctor who confirmed it was a side effect and to stop use."

• JLi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given the scopolamine patch prior to surgery to preemptively treat nausea and vomiting from the anesthesia and pain relievers. When I woke up from surgery, I experienced double vision in the middle and far distance range, and completely blurred vision in the near distance. I was unable to make out words up close, despite the fact that I've always had 20/20 vision or better. I was told that the effects would wear off in a few days, and my vision did improve somewhat, but never back to 100%. It has been about two months, and I now have to wear reading glasses, probably permanently. I would caution anyone against taking this drug. I certainly would have preferred a few days of nausea and vomiting over having to wear glasses for the rest of my life."

• wor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 25, 2012

Scopolamine for Motion Sickness "I have only used the patch for flying. I have severe chronic motion sickness. I start to get nausea while picking up my prescription for my flight. Usually, I combine a Valium or Xanax to ease the apprehension about possibly getting sick. If I don't take it early enough for my trip, it's likely that I'll vomit on the way to the airport, but after that I'm fine. Some of my problem is I self-induce my condition since I worry about it. I remove the patch as soon as I land, but I am wiped out for the rest of the day until I can sleep it off. Blurry vision lasts about a day and dry mouth about the same. Don't cut the patch in half for short trips... It will not work! I found out the hard way."

• Ash...
• March 6, 2018

For Motion Sickness "I have now had two experiences taking this patch. The first time was for a three-day boat excursion. I get motion sickness really bad, so I had a patch for the duration of our trip and was totally fine. I was so impressed with the patch and would have sworn by it. However! I just used it again for the second time this past weekend, and I have been completely miserable ever since. I took it due to a trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios, and I wanted to be able to ride the rides. Not only did it not work, but I felt nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, and had extremely bad blurred vision by the end of the trip. My mouth got so dry I could barely swallow. It’s as if any moisture throughout my mouth and esophagus has been sucked dry. I was scared to eat because it felt like I was going to choke. I’ve had the patch off for almost 48 hours and am still bedridden from headaches, nausea, paranoia, memory loss, and just an all-around mental confusion. I’m out of work and miserable."

• Swe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2020

For Motion Sickness "My husband and I used these scopolamine patches for a 6-day cruise. They worked great for him (and he usually gets terrible motion sickness), but I experienced awful side effects. I was dizzy all the time (I almost fell down the stairs, it was so bad), had cotton mouth really bad, and my pupils were extremely dilated. As a result, I was super light-sensitive and couldn't read anything. I took the patch off after 24 hours, and it took another 12-16 hours for the blurred vision to subside. I still felt dizzy for another 24 hours or so. Fortunately, I didn't get seasick on the cruise, and neither did my husband, so I guess they work. I just don't think I'll try them again. The side effects were not worth it to me!"

• kat...
• March 23, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "A week ago, I had gallbladder surgery. My 1st surgery in 66 years. I didn't want to wake up sick, so my surgeon suggested a scopolamine patch. I also took Emend and Zofran in the IV. I read horror stories before the surgery and after. Thank God I felt perfectly fine when I awoke and days later. I wore the patch for 68 hrs. On the 2nd day, Tues, I could hardly pee, and it burned. This went away by Wed. afternoon. The morning the patch was removed, I had warm tingling under the skin of my right arm, blurred vision that came on Tues night, left by Thurs, back on Friday afternoon, by Friday night it was gone again. I had a 'less common' side effect from Mon night till last night, which was the entire bottom of my left foot (same side as the patch) was numb, felt like neuropathy. This was gone late last night, Saturday. From Tues till Thurs I was a little lightheaded and wasn't walking too good, along with confusion."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

Scopolamine for Nausea/Vomiting "2 times I have used this patch, and both times have been a nightmare. Developed vertigo and had all of the side effects, such as blurred vision, dry mouth, and serious nauseousness and vomiting for 2 weeks. 2nd time developed Bell’s palsy and vomiting and nauseousness again. Will never use again. I followed the usage instructions exactly... still recovering."

• Ano...
• March 6, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I've had a horrible experience with this patch. I had a minor back surgery, and the patch was placed behind my left ear, but no instructions were given. The day after surgery, I tried to go for a walk, but when I stepped outside, everything became extremely bright and discolored, and I was disoriented. I noticed one dilated pupil. I took the patch off after having it on for 32 hours. The next day, I felt incredibly weak, tired, dizzy, lightheaded, with blurry vision, anxious, nervous, and had a headache. I ended up going to the ER when the symptoms continued. They seemed to be clueless about all these side effects from the patch. It's day three now, and I'm still having issues. I tried to take a quick walk, didn't even go a block, and I felt like my legs were going to give out, and like I was going to have a panic attack. The last thing I need after back surgery is being dizzy and off balance. This medicine is dangerous. I can't believe doctors aren't more up to speed about the debilitating side effects."

• KLo...
• February 26, 2008

For Motion Sickness "I took this for motion sickness before flying. I was instructed by my doctor to put it on the night before. When I got up the next morning, I had blurred vision, I had difficulty walking because my balance was so affected. I was extremely drowsy, and I felt as if I had been drugged. I had a terrible experience with the patch."