scopolamine withdrawal

[gina111]

I have a complicated question.  I was given a scopolomine patch for surgery.  I was hospitalized for 4 days.  About 48 hours after I was discharged, I began suffering from significant nausea and vertigo.  My OB\GYN surgeon prescribed more scopolomine patches. I also developed severe sinusitis and bronchitis in the week after my discharge and was put on an antibiotic.  Each time I used the patch, the symptoms were controlled, but about 24-48 hours after removal, the symptoms were back with a vengeance.  I called after the third patch, and my surgeon said I needed to see my PCP because it was no longer surgery related.  I asked whether I was having some sort of "rebound" symptoms from the removal of my patch, and she told me no. I went to my pCP, he believed it was an inner ear problem,  gave me another round of antibiotics, a steroid shot, a medrol dose pack and two more patches in  case the symptoms came beck before the meds worked.  I continue to have the same problems.  With my own research, I am reading that my symptoms may well be withdrawal from my scopolomine patch.  My question is whether this sounds like what may be causing my problem and if so, now what?  What is the best course of action to get through the incapacitating symptoms and get off this patch?

[Lizoforcas]

Did you do anything to get better?  I wonder if I just go cold turkey and tough it out?

[Kanthony252]

Hi Squast,
What kind of cream/steroid did you use to try to clear up the skin behind your ears??
My boyfriend is having the same problem with the skin behind his ears too and has been using just regular otc hydrocortisone cream.
Thanks

[illylover]

Hi Gina, hope I can still reach you so many years later. I had surgery 6 weeks ago and cannot get off scopolamine, causes unbearable nausea. Wish they never had put me on it. Do you think weaning the patch size would help getting rid of it? Or should I play with the length?
Thanks so much,
Krisztina

[nomorepatch]

Just wanted to post an update. I only took two 50mg doses of Meclizine on Saturday - one in the morning, and one in the evening - after ripping the patch off "cold turkey" on Friday at lunch.  On Sunday, I awoke and took a 25mg dose. I felt slightly off in my head but not nauseous all day long. I took one last 25 mg dose before bed and WOKE UP MONDAY FEELING NORMAL!

I am so excited to be done with this mess. There you have it, folks. You too can be off this patch in only 2 days. With no nausea !

[nomorepatch]

I too got "tricked" into becoming patch dependent. I was given one preoperativley for a laparoscopic surgery about a month ago, then when I returned home, a few days later, the nausea returned with a vengeance. I innocently asked my Dr. for a refill on the patch and here I am one month later.

I have tried more than once to get off this evil patch with the same hellish symptoms posted above by everyone else, only to have to put another patch back on. One incident was so frightening I almost called an ambulance. Well I am posting today because I removed my patch yesterday (Friday) at 11 am and have experienced NO nausea since then. Thanks be to God. I am now past the 24 hour mark as I write this (it is 4:30 pm on Saturday afternoon).

I felt only slightly "off" before bed (about 8 hours post removal), so I didn't take the full 50 mg Meclizine. I decided only to take the 25mg dose. I woke up feeling a little but hungover (tired,heavy headed), but no nausea. I managed to take a shower and cook breakfast for my family. About 10am, I decided to go ahead and take the 50mg dose of Meclizine because I felt in my gut the nausea was headed my way. I laid down 30 minutes later because I started feeling sleepy. I slept all afternoon, through lunch, and awoke at 4pm and I feel relatively normal! Hungry, but not nauseous.

I plan to take another 50 mg before going to sleep tonight. I will let everyone know how it goes.

I just wanted to say that this patch is evil, I will never be using one again, and I CANNOT WAIT until I am a few days out from it. I will post updates. I was so grateful for everyone else's as I researched the best way to get off this thing.

[Nance1387]

I started the patch three cycles ago. I was on meclinzine before. But was up to taking 150mg daily. Way too much. . The patch is working great. But i did notice that I removed it last night.72 hour limit. And forgot to replace it with new one. Well it didn't take long for my vertigo and labrynthitis to kick back in today.. But as soon as I put new patch on within a few hours the dizziness and nauseas has lessened..