Trans-dermal scopolamine patches and side effects

Key words: Trans-dermal scopolamine patch, Hallucinations, Mydriasis

Trans-dermal scopolamine patches are commonly used, without medical prescription, to reduce motion sickness. Side effects of overdosage/hypersensitivity include hallucinations, psychosis, amnesia, hyperactivity, mydriasis, dry mouth, skin hyperemia and urinary retention. The article describes the case of a 15-year-old girl, who came to the Paediatric Emergency Unit with bilateral mydriasis, visual hallucinations, retrograde amnesia and confusion due to a repeated application of transdermal scopolamine patches. The symptoms resolved gradually after the removal of the patches, without any other intervention other than clinical observation. This case suggests that symptoms such as thought disorder, hallucinations, amnesia and mydriasis may be caused, even in young patients, by the misuse/abuse of drugs that, as they do not require medical prescription, can be assumed without control, even unintentionally.