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?

[colandricha]

last night I stupidly put on 2 patches 1 behind each ear,   because I felt a little dizzy... I took them off about 2 hours later because the sight of the patch was itching me....I must have touched my eye with the same fingers that took off the patch on my left ear... about 1/2 hour later my vision was blurred in my left eye.  I was worried of course.. I went to the bathroom mirror and looked at my left eye it was totally dilated.... I hope this is temporary.  As a rule I do not use the patches, I use Meclazine, as needed only.

[MBro]

Wanted to post my experience in case it can help someone else...

I wore the patch for 8 days while on vacation at Disney due to my motion sickness with roller coasters, etc.  Started feeling sick about 18 hours after taking the patch off.  Major headache, and nausea (but no vomiting).  Found this forum and started following Mary's plan of a Meclizine taper.  I already had some Bonine so I used that (contains 25 mg Meclizine).  Two Bonine every 6 hours for about a day.  I was feeling better about 12 hours after taking the first dose.  After 24 hours I was feeling much better.  So then I was able to drop to one Bonine every 8 hours...only did a couple of those before I was able to stop completely.  Feeling back to normal now.

So the taper period is probably different for everybody, but the general idea seems to work for some.  Good luck to all.

[MizZeeMisery]

I am so grateful for this forum - thought I was losing my mind, had a sinus infection or pancreatic cancer! I will NEVER go on another cruise - this withdrawal is horrific. Thanks for the heads up about anti-vert - will now call my MD and request it. God bless you all!

[Ptpurr]

After reading all of these stories about withdrawal from the scop patch I realized that is exactly what I am going through. I had surgery for a hysterectomy on April 16th and was given the patch in the hospital to control severe nausea and vomiting. Unfortunately no one told me to take it off so I left it on for 4 days( I actually forgot it was there until I was washing my neck and found it there) Within 24 hrs of taking it off I was extremely sick so my husband called my doctor and he ordered more. Again wore the patch for 3 days and again within 24 hrs of removing was violently ill with nausea, vomiting, sweats, shakiness, and I was pale as a ghost. So of course I put another one on and now am afraid to remove it. I am only 100 lbs and already have lost 4 lbs after surgery as my appetite is awful. I'm worried if I suffer out the withdrawal I will lose even more weight. My doctor says he has never heard of someone getting sick after taking the patch off. I don't know if I should try meclizine or simply keep the patch on until it loses all its strength, or maybe both? Any ideas? I've already been helpless around the house for 2 weeks and don't want to be debilitated any longer.

[chickenface81]

Hi everyone. I actually DO have Mal de Debarquement Syndroms (MdDS), but I also had issues with the scopalomine patch. My last episode of MdDS started because I flew in an airplane, and because there is no cure for MdDS, my doctor asked if I'd tried the patch. I hadn't, and I've tried just about everything for MdDS. So I tried the patch. I had watery vision and felt strange the whole time, and then I had trouble getting off it. I noticed my scopalomine reaction was less by day 3, so I just left the patch on. I noticed someone else on here did the same thing. I too felt there must be some medication left in the patch after 3 days, and that worked to wean me off. Of course, once I was off the patch, my MdDS symptoms kicked into high gear, but that's a different story.

(For Mal de Debarquement sufferers out there who may be reading this, I've been told to bring a prednisone/medrol dose pack with you while traveling, and to start the pack at the first sign of symptoms. It may be autoimmune and/or related to migraines, and the prednisone has helped some people end their episodes if they have episodic - not constant - MdDS),

[Lab02]

I have used the scopolamine patch for many years (Scopolamine was also in pill form for a few years and that was much better and cheaper.) and I am a big fan.  I could not have done any of the travel I have done without it.  However, I have had one serious withdrawal episode.  It was a few years ago when I wore a patch for three continuous weeks while in Australia. When I returned home I ripped the patch off and suffered the extreme dizziness and nusea that others have described.  I went to bed for three days and did not move.  Since that time, I have never worn the patch for an extended period of time and I never take the patch off as soon as my trip ends or when the three operative days for the patch are up.  Instead, I leave the patch on for weeks on the theory that there is some residual medication and I let it titter itself out.  That seems to do the trick for me.  I have had no serious withdrawal symptoms after that one experience and I use the patch for a week or less about twice a year.  I have had some sight equilibrium problems, but nothing serious enough to keep me from my usual routines.  Really just a slight dizziness when I stand up quickly after being stationary for a long period of tiime (like when I get out of bed in the morning).  Everybody is different.  For me, using two patches over 7-10 days is fine as long as I leave that last patch on for a week or more.