Scopolamine

What is Scopolamine?

Scopolamine (pronounced “skoe-POL-a-meen”), also known as hyoscine, is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in plants belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). One of its most common sources is the Borrachero tree, which grows in South America.

Scopolamine is a medication that comes as a skin patch which delivers tiny amounts of the drug over 72 hours. In small, controlled doses, scopolamine is effective at preventing nausea and motion sickness.^[1]

It’s available as both a generic medication called Scopolamine transdermal patch (meaning that the drug is slowly absorbed into your body through your skin) or under the brand name Transderm Scop.

What is Scopolamine used for?

Scopolamine is commonly used to treat nausea, vomiting, dizziness or cold sweats caused by motion sickness. This happens when repetitive movements like those in cars, planes, boats or amusement park rides confuse the brain’s balance system. Although it’s not just movement that triggers these symptoms—watching shaky videos or virtual reality rides can have the same effect.

Scopolamine is also often used to prevent nausea and vomiting that can happen after surgery, anesthesia, or taking painkillers like morphine, heroin or codeine.^[2]

Aside from its primary uses, scopolamine has some off-label applications. These include treating gastrointestinal spasms, nausea from chemotherapy, and asthma attacks. It can also be used as part of smoking cessation therapy or to help manage excessive sweating.^[2]

There’s also some evidence supporting its use as part of the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson’s disease^[3] and vertigo.^[4]

How does Scopolamine work?

Scopolamine is part of a group of medications called anticholinergics. It works by blocking a substance in the body called acetylcholine (sometimes referred to as ‘Ach’). This chemical helps control smooth muscle movement, relaxes blood vessels and slows the heart rate.

Motion sickness is most commonly explained by the sensory conflict theory. This suggests that we all have an internal sense of how our body moves, which is updated constantly by information from our eyes, inner ear (vestibular system), and sensors in our joints and muscles. Motion sickness happens when there’s a mismatch between what your brain is “told” by the sensory receptors versus what it “expects.”^[1]

When this mismatch happens, Ach can trigger vomiting by binding to certain (cholinergic) receptors in the brainstem and vomiting center in the brain. Scopolamine works by blocking these receptors, preventing nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness.

What doses of Scopolamine are there?

Scopolamine transdermal patch comes in one dose, designed to deliver 1 mg of scopolamine over three days. One pack contains 30 patches.

How to use Scopolamine patch

To use a scopolamine patch, apply it at least four hours before you need it to take effect. You can wear the patch for up to three days. If you need it longer, just remove the patch and apply a new one behind the other ear.

To apply the patch:

• clean the area behind your ear and dry it with a tissue;
• take the patch out of its pouch;
• don’t cut the patch;
• peel off the protective strip;
• press the adhesive side against the skin behind your ear;
• avoid touching the sticky side;
• after applying the patch, wash your hands with soap and water.

Limit the contact of the patch with water, as swimming or showering may cause the patch to fall off. If this happens, throw away the patch and apply a new one behind the other ear.

When you’re done traveling or don’t need the patch anymore, remove it, fold it with the sticky sides together, and dispose of it safely. Make sure to wash your hands and the area behind your ear afterward.

Using scopolamine with other drugs that cause drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion (like sedatives, opiates, or alcohol) or have anticholinergic effects (like certain antihistamines, meclizine, or Dramamine) can increase the effects of scopolamine. So in these cases, depending on what your doctor recommends, you’ll need to choose either scopolamine or the other medication (as both can’t be used at the same time).

How long does Scopolamine take to work?

Once you put on a scopolamine patch, your skin needs at least four hours to absorb the medicine. So, make sure to apply it at least four hours ahead of time if you’re traveling or doing anything that could make you feel motion sick.

How long does Scopolamine stay in your system?

Scopolamine patches release a small dose (1 mg) slowly and steadily over three days. However, the drug can still show up in urine for about four and a half days.^[1]