A 53-year-old women comes to see you for a consultation. She is scheduled to take a caribbean cruise in 2 weeks but is concerned about sea sickness. She has been on boats before and is very sensitive to motion sickness. A friend mentioned to her that there is a patch that is effective for this problem. She is in good health and takes no medications regularly. Her examination is normal. You prescribe a scopolamine transdermal patch for her.

2.  A 53-year-old women comes to see you for a
consultation. She is scheduled to take a
caribbean cruise in 2 weeks but is concerned
about sea sickness. She has been on boats
before and is very sensitive to motion sickness.
A friend mentioned to her that there is a patch
that is effective for this problem. She is in good
health and takes no medications regularly. Her
examination is normal. You prescribe a
scopolamine transdermal patch for her.

3. Questions
1. What is the mechanism of action of
scopolamine?
2. What are the common side effects of this
medication?
3. What are some relative contraindications to
its use?

4. Summary
 A 53-year-old woman with motion sickness
is prescribed transdermal scopolamine
before she takes a sea cruise.

5. Mechanism of action of
scopolamine
 Competitive antagonist of muscarinic
cholinoreceptors in the vestibular
system and the CNS

6. Common side effects
 Mydriasis
 Dry mouth
 Tachycardia
 Urinary retention
 Confusion
 Drowsiness

7. Relative contraindications
 Glaucoma
 Urinary obstruction
 Heart disease