Atropine sublingual | |
What is it? | Anticholinergic |
Mechanism of action | Non-selective antimuscarinic |
Starting dose | Four drops (800 μg—1 mg as size of drop varies) of 1% eye drops 4 hourly prn sublingually |
Time to onset of effect | Uncertain (half-life 2–2.5 hours)17 |
Formulation | 1% eye drops |
Indication | Sialorrhoea Noisy rattling breathing |
Common adverse effects | Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; dyspepsia; flushing; headache; nausea; palpitations; skin reactions; tachycardia; urinary disorders; vision disorders; vomiting16 |
Contraindications | Acute myocardial infarction; arrhythmias; autonomic neuropathy; cardiac insufficiency; cardiac surgery; diarrhoea; elderly; gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; hypertension; hyperthyroidism; narrow angle-closure glaucoma; ileus; prostatic hyperplasia; fever; ulcerative colitis; myasthenia gravis16 |
Caution | Elderly |
Licence | Unlicensed use and route for a licensed product |
Benefits | Small volume Established body of use in palliative care practice |
Risks | Varying dose with different droppers Systemic absorption |
Cost | £131.89 for 10 mL 1% eye drops |