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 of atropine?
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.
Where can I get more information about atropine?
Your pharmacist has information about atropine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of atropine?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking atropine and seek
emergency medical attention:
an allergic reaction (swelling of your lips, tongue, or face, difficulty
breathing, closing of your throat, or hives);
an irregular or fast heart rate;
rash or flushing; or
eye pain.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to
take atropine and talk to your doctor if you experience
headache, dizziness or lightheadedness;
weakness or nervousness;
blurred vision, large pupils, or sensitivity of the eyes to
bright light;
nausea, bloating, heartburn, or constipation;
changes in taste;
difficulty urinating;
decreased sweating; or
nasal congestion, stuffiness, or a dry mouth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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 should I avoid while taking 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 other drugs will affect atropine?
Many other drugs may increase the side effects of atropine. Before taking this medication, tell
your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin),
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or
tiotropium (Spiriva);
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
mepenzolate (Cantil);
bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin
(Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or
solifenacin (Vesicare); or
irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl),
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atropine. Talk to
your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009