🔅 Scopolamine is a natural or synthetic substance that belongs to the class of drugs called anticholinergics, which means that they block the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine in the brain and body.

– Scopolamine has various effects depending on the dose, route of administration, and individual factors.

Some of the effects are:

• Prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness or anesthesia.

• Treatment of certain stomach or intestinal problems, muscle spasms, and Parkinson-like conditions.

• Reduction of saliva production before surgery.

• Induction of temporary amnesia, docility, and lack of free will.

• Production of powerful hallucinations, unconsciousness, and death in high doses.

Scopolamine is famous for its use as a medication for motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting. It is also listed by the World Health Organization as an essential medicine.

– Scopolamine can be taken orally, applied as a transdermal patch, injected, or absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes.

Scopolamine is also notorious for its use as a tool for crime and interrogation.

– In some countries, especially in South America, scopolamine is known as "the Devil's Breath" or "Burundanga" and is used to incapacitate people for robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder. Scopolamine can make people lose their memory, their ability to resist, and their sense of reality.

– Scopolamine can also make people more susceptible to suggestion and manipulation, which is why it has been used by some governments as a "truth serum" during interrogations.

– Scopolamine is derived from certain plants of the nightshade family, such as Scopolia, Hyoscyamus niger, Datura, and Brugmansia. These plants have been used for centuries as sources of medicine, poison, and psychoactive drugs.

– Scopolamine can also be synthesized in a laboratory from other chemicals. Scopolamine has a complex chemical structure that consists of: 17 carbon atoms, 21 hydrogen atoms, one nitrogen atom, and four oxygen atoms.

– Its chemical formula is C17H21NO4 and its molecular weight is 303.36 g/mol.

– Its IUPAC name is (–)- (S)-3-Hydroxy-2-phenylpropionic acid (1R ,2R ,4S ,5S ,7α ,9S )-9-methyl-3-oxa-9-azatricyclo [3.3.1.0 2,4 ]non-7-yl ester.

– Scopolamine can interact with other drugs or substances that affect the nervous system, such as alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, opioids, and sedatives.

– Scopolamine can be detected in blood, urine, saliva, hair, or tissue samples using various analytical methods such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

– Scopolamine can be treated with activated charcoal or physostigmine if overdose or poisoning occurs.

SCOPOLAMINE IN SURGERY

– Scopolamine is a drug that can be used in surgery to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by anesthesia or pain medications. It can also reduce the production of saliva and other secretions in the mouth and throat, which can interfere with breathing or intubation during surgery. Scopolamine can also induce temporary amnesia, which can help patients forget the unpleasant experience of surgery. Scopolamine can be administered in different ways before or during surgery, depending on the type and duration of the procedure. Some of the common methods are:

🔅 Transdermal Patch

– This is a patch that is applied to the skin behind the ear at least four hours before surgery. It releases scopolamine slowly into the bloodstream and lasts for up to 72 hours. This method is convenient and effective for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting, especially for patients who are prone to motion sickness.

🔅 Injection

– This is a shot that is given into a muscle or a vein before or during surgery. It acts faster than the patch and lasts for about four hours. This method is more suitable for short-term procedures or for patients who cannot tolerate the patches.

🔅 Oral Tablet

– This is a pill that is swallowed with water before surgery. It takes about an hour to work and lasts for about six hours. This method is less commonly used than the patch or injection, as it may cause more side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and drowsiness.

– Scopolamine is a useful drug for surgery, as it can prevent nausea and vomiting, reduce saliva production, and induce amnesia. However, it can also cause side effects such as dizziness, confusion, headache, and increased heart rate. Therefore, it should be used with caution and under medical supervision.

SIDE EFFECTS OF SCOPOLAMINE ON HUMAN HEALTH

– Scopolamine is a drug that can have various effects on human health and young children exposed to it, depending on the dose, route of administration, and individual factors. Some of the possible side effects are:

• Dry mouth, increased thirst, dry skin, constipation, painful or difficult urination, drowsiness, dizziness, feeling restless, or blurred vision.

• Agitation, confusion, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light, burning feeling while urinating, difficulty in speaking, disturbance in attention, dry or itchy eyes, eyelid irritation, headache, loss of memory, poor coordination, problems with memory, restlessness, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there.

• Anxiety, blurred or loss of vision, change in consciousness, decrease in frequency or volume of urination, deep or fast breathing with dizziness, difficulty in passing urine (dribbling), disturbed color perception, double vision, dry or flushed skin, fast or irregular heartbeat or pulse, halos around lights, irritability, loss of consciousness, nervousness, night blindness, numbness of the feet, hands and around the mouth, over bright appearance of lights, painful urination, pounding in the ears, seizures, shaking sleepiness trouble with sleeping tunnel vision unusual drowsiness dullness tiredness weakness or feeling of sluggishness. These are symptoms of overdose and can be fatal.

• Increased risk of glaucoma (a condition that damages the optic nerve and can cause blindness), enlarged colon (a condition that causes abdominal pain and constipation), heart failure (a condition that reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood), myasthenia gravis (a condition that causes muscle weakness), infection (due to reduced saliva production and immune function), and organ damage (due to reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery).

– Young children exposed to scopolamine may be more sensitive to its effects and may experience more severe side effects than adults. Scopolamine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 months. Children who accidentally ingest scopolamine may develop symptoms such as fever, warmth, vomiting, feeling restless or excited confusion hallucinations weak or shallow breathing or seizure. These are signs of poisoning and require immediate medical attention.

– Scopolamine is a drug that can have various effects on human health and young children exposed to it depending on the dose route of administration and individual factors. Some of the possible side effects are dry mouth dizziness confusion hallucinations heart problems and overdose. Young children exposed to scopolamine may be more sensitive to its effects and may experience more severe side effects than adults.

– Some of the drugs that contain scopolamine and their trade names:

1). Scopolamine Transdermal Patch: This is a patch that is applied to the skin behind the ear to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness or anesthesia. This is the trade name for this product in the United States and Canada, respectively.

2). Scopolamine Ophthalmic: This is a solution that is instilled into the eye to dilate the pupil and prevent eye spasms. (USA)

3). Scopolamine Injection: This is a solution that is injected into a muscle or a vein to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery or to reduce saliva production before surgery. (USA)

4). Scopolamine Oral Tablet: This is a pill that is swallowed to treat certain stomach or intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome or peptic ulcer. (USA)

– These are some of the drugs that contain scopolamine and their trade names. However, scopolamine can also be found in combination with other drugs or substances, such as atropine, chlorpheniramine, hyoscyamine, phenobarbital, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, and others.

– These products have different trade names and uses depending on their ingredients and formulations. Therefore, it is important to read the label carefully and consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any product that contains scopolamine.