Atropine Ophthalmic

Atropine Ophthalmic is a prescription medication used for the treatment of mydriasis, cycloplegia and uveitis. 

• Atropine Ophthalmic is available under the following different brand names: Isopto Atropine

Common side effects of Atropine Ophthalmic include:

• Eye pain and stinging on administration,
• Blurred vision,
• Eye sensitivity to light,
• Eye inflammation,
• Decreased tearing,
• Drowsiness,
• Increased heart rate, and
• Increased blood pressure,
• Dry skin/mouth/throat,
• Drowsiness,
• Restlessness,
• Irritability, and
• Flushed skin of the face and neck.

Serious side effects of Atropine Ophthalmic include:

• Confusion as to time, place, or person
• decreased tearing of the eyes
• drowsiness
• dry skin, mouth, or throat
• feeling of warmth
• hallucinations
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by the fact
• irritability
• redness of the clear part of the eye
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness

Rare side effects of Atropine Ophthalmic include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Ointment

• 1%

Solution

• 1%

Mydriasis/Cycloplegia

Adult dosage

• 1-2 drops solution, cycloplegia 1 hour before refraction & mydriasis 7-14 days

Uveitis

Adult dosage

• 1-2 drops up to four times daily

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Atropine Ophthalmic has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
• Atropine Ophthalmic has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs.
• Atropine Ophthalmic has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs.
• Atropine Ophthalmic has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity or known allergic reaction to any ingredient of the formulation

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Atropine Ophthalmic?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Atropine Ophthalmic?”

Cautions

• Elevation in blood pressure from systemic absorption reported following conjunctival instillation of recommended doses of this medication
• Although mydriatic/cycloplegic effects last for up to 2 weeks in an uninflamed eye, an inflamed eye may require 2-4 times DAILY dosing to see an effective pharmacologic effect
• Nor for injection; topical use only
• While pupils are dilated patients are advised not to engage in hazardous activities like driving
• Administration to infants requires caution; may produce systemic symptoms (discontinue medication if this occurs

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk; adequate animal development and reproduction studies have not been conducted with atropine sulfate; in humans, 1% atropine sulfate is systemically bioavailable following topical ocular administration; the drug should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus
• Lactation
  • There is no information to inform risk regarding the presence of the drug in human milk following ocular administrations of the drug to the mother; effects on breastfed infants and effects on milk production are also unknown
  • Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from the drug