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?

[tojopop]

I was given this patch on 1/25 to prevent nausea after gallbladder surgery. Never got sick- but my LAP "you will feel great in 2 days" surgery took a different path. Took the patch off after wearing for 72 hours. I was stoned and weak and pale as a ghost (one of it's side effects is pallor). My mouth was dry as a bone. Pupils like saucers. Saw my surgeon the day after I took off the patch and I was doing better. Then the next day hit and I just went down hill. Horrific headache- which I still have. Blurred vision- also still happening. I had to see 2 doctors who are not saying much and now on for another eye exam- which I had right before surgery. Here's a bit more to this story.  I take 0.5MG of klonopin each night for sleep. These drugs metabolize through the liver on the same enzyme. So it creates an overdose effect. I have now cut the klonopin in 1/2 and will stay on that. Anymore and this anti anxiety medication now brings on horrific anxiety attacks.  I can't drink any caffeine as it starts me shaking.  This is from the bellandonna plant and it is a powerful narcotic. Surgeons like it because it stops dreaming- completely -only other thing that does that is a lobotomy. So no surgical nightmares and the lack of saliva makes it easier to keep you aspirated during surgery. I spoke to the manufacturer and they only wanted to know my experience so they could share with the research lab. No answers. This site saved me. Thought the worst was going on from the surgery. Bad drug.

[Hali1]

I used the scopolopine patch for approx. 1 1/2 days when I recently had to fly with a flu which caused nausea. I couldn't keep my eyes open for the almost 24 hours of travel time and when forced to wake up at my arrival destination, realized I had light sensitivity visually, blurred and diminished vision and related nausea and dizziness. I left the patch on part way through my first night at home and awoke with my eyes so dry through the shut lids that I had to apply drops throughout the night to lubricate them. I also had significant pain in the back of my head extending to behind my eyes. I removed the patch, now wondering if it was contributing or actually causing my symptoms. The next day I had no option but to go to work and had to wear magnifying glasses to see the extremely large computer screen that I've never had trouble seeing before. I went to an opthamologist the next day and was told my vision (both near and far) had dramatically decreased and my intraocular pressures (think glaucoma) were elevated bilaterally. He felt it was related to the use of the patch and said with me being a lower weight, the dose would have been too strong (there is no option to get a smaller dose) and he said my being fair skinned and blue eyed predisposes me to side effects with the patch. It has been 8 days since I removed the patch and while my intraocular pressures are improving, the blurred and poor vision remains. Now the opthamologist wants blood work done and feels the symptoms are likely no longer related to the patch. It seems pretty coincidental that all these issues occurred after using the patch. I am now out of pocket for two opthamologist appts, about to see a FD and a bunch of blood work, not to mention the horrendous feeling of having everything blurred around me. You couldn't pay me enough to use this patch again.

[jstnrgrs]

My wife is now dealing with withdrawal symptoms.  She stated the patch on Nov 10 for a cruise, and took it odd on Nov 18.  She's been very dizzy for the past two days, within some mild headache.  Today I convinced her to start meclizine step down (she didn't want to start at such a high dose).  We'll see how we'll that works.

[Carmac92]

I had the same side effects most of you list 24 hours after taking off the patch- extreme nauseousness (lying on the floor trying to stop the motion and wishing I could just throw up - no waves, just the worst nauseous I've ever been, blurred vision, dizziness, shaky, mental confusion, trouble making sentences. I am so grateful you all posted this cause my dr had never heard of scopolamine withdrawal. Urgent care agreed with your weaning schedule, so i did 2 bonine 3xd for 72 hours, 1 bonine 3xd for 72 hours, 1 bonine 2xd for 48 and then off. The bonine made me tired, but i was releaved of the nauseousness within an hour and all the other symptoms as the week went on. I can't believe what all of you went through, with MRIs and seizure meds, etc. I'm wondering if I can use this again and control it, or if I'm taking a chance. If I know how to wean in advance, can it be controlled? I'm kind of scared to try!

[littlegazha]

hi was wondering how long before it went away im going on 3 weeks thank you

[littlegazha]

hi just was wondering i had surgery and i been going through this for 3 weeks how long did it take to go away thank you