Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ophthalmic atropine, homatropine, and scopolamine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to atropine, homatropine, or scopolamine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as certain preservatives.

Pregnancy—Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. However, these medicines may be absorbed into the body.

Breast-feeding—These medicines may be absorbed into the body. Atropine passes into the breast milk in very small amounts and may cause side effects, such as fast pulse, fever, or dry skin, in babies of nursing mothers using ophthalmic atropine. It is not known whether homatropine or scopolamine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using one of these medicines and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Infants and young children and children with blond hair or blue eyes may be especially sensitive to the effects of atropine, homatropine, or scopolamine. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment . Children should use a lower strength of this medicine.

Older adults—Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of atropine, homatropine, or scopolamine. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ophthalmic atropine, homatropine, or scopolamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Brain damage (in children) or
• Down's syndrome (mongolism) (in children and adults) or
• Glaucoma or
• Other eye diseases or problems or
• Spastic paralysis (in children)—Use of ophthalmic atropine, homatropine, or scopolamine may make the condition worse