What it means
An anticholinergican-tee-koh-lin-ER-jikA drug or effect that blocks acetylcholine, a nerve messenger, in parts of the nervous system.anti- againstcholinergic acting like acetylcholineFull entry that blocks acetylcholine in the brain's balance and vomiting centers. The patch is put on hairless skin behind the ear and works for up to 3 days. Side effects include dry mouth, drowsiness, blurred vision and widened pupils, trouble passing urine, and confusion or hallucinations, especially in older adults. It is not used in people with narrow-angle glaucoma.
For the nurse
For motion sickness, apply the patch at least 4 hours before it is needed. Teach the client to wash their hands after touching the patch, since drug rubbed into an eye can widen that pupil, to use only one patch at a time, and to remove it before an MRI.
At a glance
| Drug class | anticholinergic (antiemetic) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Transderm Scop |
| Spanish | escopolamina |
| Also written | Transderm Scop |
Related terms
nausea
An uneasy feeling in the stomach with the urge to vomit.
glaucoma
An eye disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, usually with raised pressure inside the eye, leading to loss of vision.
anticholinergic
A drug or effect that blocks acetylcholine, a nerve messenger, in parts of the nervous system.
mydriasis
Widening (dilation) of the pupil of the eye.