atropine sulfate monohydrate at a glance
Medicine class
Antimuscarinic (anticholinergic).
Main roles
Treating clinically important slow heart rhythms and certain poisonings, and preventing unwanted vagal or muscarinic effects around surgery.
Administration
Given into a vein by a healthcare professional under medical supervision.
Driving
Do not drive or operate machinery if blurred vision or drowsiness occurs.
What is atropine sulfate monohydrate used for?
This pre-filled syringe is licensed for adults for:
Preventing vagal reactions associated with tracheal intubation or surgical manipulation.
Limiting the muscarinic effects of neostigmine used after surgery to reverse non-depolarising muscle relaxants.
Treating haemodynamically significant bradycardia or atrioventricular block caused by excessive vagal tone, including during resuscitation.
Treating poisoning or overdose involving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, organophosphorus compounds, carbamates or muscarinic mushrooms.
How does atropine sulfate monohydrate work?
It competitively blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. This reduces secretions and gut or bladder activity, and removes vagal slowing of the heart so heart rate and conduction can increase.
atropine sulfate monohydrate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 0.5 mg/5 mL, 1 mg/5 mL, 3 mg/10 mL
How to take atropine sulfate monohydrate
A trained healthcare professional administers this presentation intravenously. The clear, colourless solution is supplied in a sterile single-use pre-filled syringe and must not be reused or mixed with other medicines.
Food does not affect this intravenous injection.
This adult syringe is unsuitable for accurately measuring paediatric amounts.
atropine sulfate monohydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Blurred vision, enlarged pupils or sensitivity to light
- Dry mouth, thirst or difficulty swallowing
- Constipation, reflux, nausea or abdominal bloating
- Reduced sweating, dry skin or flushing
- Reduced bronchial secretions
- Difficulty passing urine or urinary retention
- Fast heartbeat or palpitations
- Confusion, agitation or hallucinations, particularly with greater exposure or in older people
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
- Dangerous heart-rhythm disturbance, severe chest pain or hypertensive crisis
- Seizure, profound drowsiness or loss of consciousness
- Marked overheating, particularly where sweating is reduced
- Severe confusion, delirium or psychotic symptoms
atropine sulfate monohydrate in pregnancy
Atropine crosses the placenta and can increase maternal and fetal heart rates. Available experience has not raised concern about birth defects, but other outcomes are less well studied. Use should be limited to situations where a clinician considers it clearly necessary. Exposure alone is not expected to require monitoring beyond routine antenatal care.
atropine sulfate monohydrate while breastfeeding
Small amounts may enter breast milk, and infants can be particularly sensitive to antimuscarinic effects. Atropine may reduce milk production, especially with repeated use. Discuss the clinical need, breastfeeding benefits and possible infant monitoring with the treating team.
atropine sulfate monohydrate interactions
Other medicines with antimuscarinic effects can add to atropine’s adverse effects.
Tricyclic antidepressants
May increase dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, confusion and urinary retention.
Some H1 antihistamines
May increase sedation, dryness, constipation and difficulty passing urine.
Antimuscarinic antiparkinsonian medicines and antispasmodics
May intensify atropine-related antimuscarinic effects.
Common questions about atropine sulfate monohydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is atropine sulfate monohydrate used for?
This injectable adult presentation is used for selected slow-heart-rate emergencies, certain poisonings and specific perioperative indications.
Is atropine sulfate monohydrate the same as atropine?
Atropine sulfate monohydrate is a salt form that provides atropine, the active antimuscarinic component.
Who gives the injection?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.