Scopolamine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 13, 2024.

Applies to scopolamine: transdermal patch extended release.

Serious side effects of scopolamine

Along with its needed effects, scopolamine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking scopolamine:

More common side effects

• agitation

Less common side effects

• bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
• blurred vision or other changes in vision
• confusion
• increased sensitivity of the eyes to light

Incidence not known

• burning feeling while urinating
• delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
• difficulty in speaking
• disturbance in attention
• dry, itchy eyes
• eyelid irritation
• headache
• loss of memory
• poor coordination
• problems with memory
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking scopolamine:

Symptoms of overdose

• anxiety
• blurred or loss of vision
• change in consciousness
• decrease in frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• deep or fast breathing with dizziness
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• disturbed color perception
• double vision
• dry mouth
• dry, flushed skin
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• halos around lights
• headache
• irritability
• loss of consciousness
• nervousness
• night blindness
• numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth
• overbright appearance of lights
• painful urination
• pounding in the ears
• seizures
• shaking
• sleepiness
• trouble with sleeping
• tunnel vision
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Other side effects of scopolamine

Some side effects of scopolamine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• dizziness
• dry mouth
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• burning feeling at the application site
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• itching, skin rash
• lightheadedness
• sensation of spinning

Less common side effects

• body aches or pain
• congestion
• cough
• dryness or soreness of the throat
• fever
• hoarseness
• runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• trouble in swallowing
• voice changes

For healthcare professionals

Applies to scopolamine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral tablet, transdermal film extended release.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included dry mouth, dizziness, and somnolence.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Dry mouth (up to 66.7%)
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nausea, vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract symptoms, swallowing difficulty^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 16.7%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Drowsiness, sedation, somnolence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Central nervous system simulation
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Attention disturbance, balance disturbances, headache, increased seizure frequency, memory impairment
• Frequency not reported: Anticholinergic effects, coma, dystonia, eclamptic seizures, loss of consciousness, neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Postmarketing reports: Coordination abnormalities, speech disorder, vertigo^[Ref]

Increased seizure frequency occurred in patients with epilepsy.

Eclamptic seizures occurred in pregnant patients.^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Accommodation disorder, blurred vision, cycloplegia, eyelid irritation, mydriasis/unilateral mydriasis, myopia, pupil dilation, visual accommodation disorder, visual impairment
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Acute glaucoma precipitation, closed angle glaucoma, narrow angle glaucoma
• Frequency not reported: Acute angle closure glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, loss of accommodation, periorbital swelling, photophobia
• Postmarketing reports: Amblyopia, dry eyes, eye pruritus^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Agitation, confusion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hallucinations, restlessness
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Disorientation, visual hallucinations
• Frequency not reported: Delirium, mental confusion, mental excitement, neuropsychiatric adverse reactions, psychiatric disorders, psychotic disorder
• Postmarketing reports: Acute psychosis, paranoia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Skin irritation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal sweating, pruritus, skin reactions, urticaria
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Generalized rash
• Frequency not reported: Decreased sweating, dyshidrosis, dry skin, erythema, mild to moderate skin reactions, rash^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia
• Frequency not reported: Arrhythmias, cardiorespiratory distress, decreased blood pressure, edema, flushing, mild to moderate cardiovascular system symptoms, palpitations, transient bradycardia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis
• Frequency not reported: Asthma syndrome, dyspnea, mild to moderate respiratory tract reactions, reduced bronchial secretions^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Urinary retention
• Frequency not reported: Impaired micturition, micturition difficulty, urinary disorders, urinary disturbances, urinary emergency
• Postmarketing reports: Dysuria^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction, anaphylactic reactions, anaphylactic shock/fatal anaphylactic shock, anaphylactoid reactions, hypersensitivity reactions with respective clinical/laboratory manifestations, other hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Drug withdrawal symptoms/post-removal symptoms, hyperthermia at high temperatures (decreased sweating), idiosyncratic reactions^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Injection site pain, MRI skin burns/application site burning (patch)^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Facial swelling^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Thirst^[Ref]

Further information

Scopolamine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer