Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Atropine belongs to a class of medications called mydriatics, which dilate the pupil to make it bigger. It is also a cycloplegic agent (medication that relaxes the eye muscles which help the eye to focus).

Doctors may prescribe atropine eye drop to children before a spectacle degree test (refraction test). Atropine will dilate your child’s eyes so that the spectacle degree test is most accurate.

Atropine may also be used to relieve pain caused by eye inflammation. Hence, it is used often in post-surgery cases or in uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye).

How should I take or use this medication?

• Proper use of eye drop

  • Wash your hands with soap and water, and read the instructions on the label.

  • Tilt your head backwards and look up.

  • Gently pull the lower eyelid down to form a pocket and squeeze the bottle to apply one drop into your eye. To prevent the tip of the bottle from getting dirty, make sure the tip does not touch the eye or any other surface.

  • Keep your eyes closed and press down gently on the inner corner of your eye for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the medication to be absorbed.

  • If you need to use more than 1 drop of medication, or if you are using another type of eye drop, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before applying the next eye drop. This is to prevent the first drop of medication from being washed away by the second drop of medication before it has time to work. This also prevents any medication interactions between different eye drops.

  • If your doctor prescribed both eye drops and eye ointments, you should use the eye drops first
    

    • Click on this link for a step-by-step guide on how to apply eye
      https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/A-Step-By-Step-Guide-On-How-To-Instil-Eye-Drops
      

• For contact lens wearers, remove your contact lens before each application of medication.
  

• Do not stop using your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to use a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Then use your next dose at the usual time. Do not use two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.

• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications, and herbal remedies.

• You have a history of closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma. (This is a condition where the fluid drainage structure inside the eye gets blocked. This results in fluid buildup and increased eye pressure that damages the eye’s nerve.)

• You are using any other eye preparations.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

• Eye stinging or burning sensation

• Eye redness

• Glare/Sensitivity to light

• Blurring of near vision

  • Do not drive or engage in any activities that require concentration (e.g operating machinery).

These symptoms are usually mild and will go away after some time. Check with your healthcare professional if these conditions are severe or do not improve.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue

• Difficulty in breathing

• Itchy skin rashes around your eyes or over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight.

Discard this medication 1 month after opening.

Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Dec 2022