Brand Name/ Generic Dosage

Name

Classification

Indication

Contraindication

Side Effects

Nursing Interventions

Isopto
Atropine/Atropine
Sulfate

Anticholinergic
Antimuscarinic
Parasympatholytic
Antiparkinsonian
Antidote
Diagnostic agent
(ophthalmic
preparations)
Belladonna alkaloid

Antisialagogue for
preanesthetic
medication to prevent
or reduce respiratory
tract secretions

Treatment of
parkinsonism;
relieves tremor and
rigidity

Restoration of
cardiac rate and
arterial pressure
during anesthesia
when vagal
stimulation produced
by intra-abdominal
traction causes a
decrease in pulse rate,
lessening the degree
of AV block when
increased vagal tone
is a factor (eg, some
cases due to digitalis)

Relief of
bradycardia and
syncope due to
hyperactive carotid
sinus reflex

Relief of
pylorospasm,
hypertonicity of the
small intestine, and
hypermotility of the
colon

Relaxation of
the spasm of biliary
and ureteral colic and

Contraindicated with
hypersensitivity to
anticholinergic drugs.
Systemic
administration

Contraindicated
with glaucoma;
adhesions between
iris and lens;
stenosing peptic
ulcer; pyloroduodenal
obstruction; paralytic
ileus; intestinal atony;
severe ulcerative
colitis; toxic
megacolon;
symptomatic prostatic
hypertrophy; bladder
neck obstruction;
bronchial asthma;
COPD; cardiac
arrhythmias;
tachycardia;
myocardial ischemia;
impaired metabolic,
liver, or kidney
function; myasthenia
gravis.

Use cautiously
with Down syndrome,
brain damage,
spasticity,
hypertension,
hyperthyroidism,
lactation.
Ophthalmic solution

Contraindicated

dizziness, fainting,
new or increased eye
pressure/pain/swellin
g/discharge.Tell your
doctor immediately if
any of these rare but
very serious side
effects occur:
slow/shallow
breathing,
mental/mood changes
(e.g., confusion,
agitation),
fast/irregular
heartbeat.A very
serious allergic
reaction to this drug
is
rare, rash, itching/sw
elling (especially of
the
face/tongue/throat),
severe dizziness,
trouble breathing

Ensure adequate
hydration; provide
environmental control
(temperature) to
prevent hyperpyrexia.

Have patient
void before taking
medication if urinary
retention is a
problem.

adults vary from

around 0.5 mg to 1
mg (5 - 10 mL of the
0.1 mg/mL solution)
for antisialagogue
and other antivagal
effects, to 2 to 3 mg
(20 - 30 mL of the 0.1
mg/mL solution) as
an antidote for
organophosporous or
muscarinic mushroom
poisoning. When
used as an antidote,
the 2 to 3 mg dose
should be repeated no
less often that every
20 to 30 minutes until
signs of poisoning are
sufficiently lessened
or signs of atropine
poisoning

Teaching points
When used
preoperatively or in
other acute situations,
incorporate teaching
about the drug with
teaching about the
procedure; the
ophthalmic solution
is used mainly
acutely and will not
be self-administered
by the patient; the
following apply to
oral medication for
outpatients:

Take as
prescribed, 30 min
before meals; avoid
excessive dosage.

Avoid hot
environments; you
will be heat
intolerant, and
dangerous reactions
may occur.