Glycopyrronium at a glance
Class
Antimuscarinic, also called an anticholinergic.
Licensed roles
COPD maintenance treatment, severe neurological drooling, severe underarm sweating and selected uses around anaesthesia.
What is Glycopyrronium used for?
Uses depend on the formulation:
Maintenance bronchodilation for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Severe chronic drooling associated with childhood-onset neurological disorders in children and adolescents.
Severe primary excessive sweating of the underarms in adults.
Selected uses around anaesthesia to control secretions and vagal effects.
How does Glycopyrronium work?
Glycopyrronium blocks muscarinic receptors. This relaxes airway muscle and reduces salivary and sweat-gland secretions. Its charged structure limits passage across the blood–brain barrier, although systemic anticholinergic effects can still occur.
Glycopyrronium preparations and strengths
Cream
Route: Cutaneous
Strengths: 2.2 mg
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 44 micrograms
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 320 micrograms/mL, 400 micrograms/mL, 1 mg/5 mL
How to take Glycopyrronium
Use only the prescribed formulation and device. Follow its leaflet and the training provided by a clinician or pharmacist.
Place inhalation capsules in the supplied inhaler immediately after removing them from the blister; do not swallow them.
Measure oral liquid accurately with the supplied device.
Swallow tablets as directed; ask about an alternative formulation if swallowing is not possible.
Apply cream only to the underarms using the pump cap, not your fingers. Wash the cap and hands afterwards and avoid the eyes, nose, mouth, damaged skin and contact with another person’s skin.
Injection is given intravenously or intramuscularly by a healthcare professional.
Glycopyrronium side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dry mouth
- Constipation, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
- Flushing or nasal symptoms
- Headache or blurred vision
- Cream application-site irritation, dry skin or dry eyes
- Throat irritation or upper-airway symptoms with inhaled treatment
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reaction or angioedema
- Sudden bronchospasm after inhalation
- Acute narrow-angle glaucoma symptoms
- Urinary retention
- Severe constipation, bowel obstruction or paralytic ileus
- Overheating associated with reduced sweating
Glycopyrronium in pregnancy
Advice is formulation-specific. Selected oral products are contraindicated. Inhaled treatment requires a benefit–risk assessment; underarm cream may be considered if necessary because systemic exposure is low; injection should be reserved for situations considered essential. Discuss the exact product with the prescriber.
Glycopyrronium interactions
Check the complete medication list for additive anticholinergic effects and formulation-specific interactions.
Other anticholinergic medicines
May increase dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision and overheating; some products contraindicate or discourage combined use.
Solid oral potassium chloride
Common questions about Glycopyrronium
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is glycopyrronium a steroid?
No. It is an antimuscarinic that blocks acetylcholine at peripheral muscarinic receptors.
Is inhaled glycopyrronium a rescue inhaler?
No. It is maintenance treatment and is not intended to relieve an acute bronchospasm attack.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.