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Poisoning Information for the Public & Health Care Professionals

Atlantic Canada Poison Centre
Antidote Kit Manual

1-800-565-8161 or 902-470-8161 | atlanticcanadapoisoncentre.ca
Last updated: 07/2015
Pediatric Adult
Last updated: 07/2015
Antidote
Adult

Atropine

dl-hyoscyamine

Print Monograph
Antidote
Adult

Atropine

dl-hyoscyamine

Indications

  • Drug/toxin induced bradycardia.
  • Reversal of cholinergic toxidrome due to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, muscarine containing mushrooms, pilocarpine, choline esters. Symptoms include; excessive bronchial secretions leading to respiratory compromise, excessive oral and GI secretions, and bradycardia. Pralidoxime, in conjunction with atropine, should be used in the treatment of moderate to severe organophosphate poisonings and certain carbamate poisonings.

Dosage

DRUG/TOXIN INDUCED BRADYCARDIA

  • 1 mg IV direct. Repeat every 3 - 5 minutes, as needed.
  • Maximum total dose of 3 mg.

ORGANOPHOSPHATE, CARBAMATE AND MUSHROOM POISONING

  • 1 - 2 mg IV initially. If no response, the dose is doubled every 5 - 10 minutes until tracheobronchial secretions are dry and patient can be oxygenated.
  • Continue treatment until gradual reduction* in dose does not cause reappearance of cholinergic symptoms. In severe organophosphate poisoning, very large doses and treatment for days to weeks have been necessary (total of 9 - 11 g over 30 - 40 days). Administration by infusion in severe cases may be considered. Initial infusion rates of 0.02 - 0.08 mg/kg/hour have been recommended (up to 2.4 mg/kg/hour has been required).

*After prolonged use of high doses of atropine it must be tapered gradually and reinstated if cholinergic symptoms recur.

  • Endpoint of therapy: Resolution of excessive bronchial secretions and symptomatic bradycardia.

Administration

  • IV Direct: Administer undiluted over 15 - 30 seconds. Cardiac monitoring is required.
  • Infusion: Add 20 mg (34 mL of a 0.6 mg/mL solution) to 66 mL (remove 34 mL from 100 mL minibag) of sodium chloride 0.9% or dextrose 5% in water to provide a final concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. Cardiac monitoring and an infusion device are required.
  • Other: May be administered via intraosseous line.

Compatibility, Stability

  • Compatible with sodium chloride 0.9% or dextrose 5% in water.
  • Mix infusion immediately before administering.
  • Decomposition occurs in alkaline solutions.

Potential Hazards of Administration

  • Dry mouth, dilated pupils, urinary retention, and constipation.
  • With large doses; severe tachycardia, respiratory depression, delirium, fever.
  • Local irritation at IV site.
  • Paradoxical bradycardia if injection too slow or dose too low (less than 0.5 mg).

Miscellaneous

  • Preservative - free product is preferred if large doses are required.
  • Atropine is primarily effective for the treatment of muscarinic effects of organophosphate poisoning and will not reverse nicotinic effects (muscular weakness, diaphragmatic weakness, etc).
  • Contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, obstructive uropathy, myasthenia gravis, tachycardia secondary to cardiac insufficiency or thyrotoxicosis, acute hemorrhage associated with unstable cardiovascular status, severe ulcerative colitis or toxic megacolon, obstructive gastrointestinal disease (pyloric stenosis), paralytic ileus, or intestinal atony. In the case of life threatening symptoms, potential benefit of use should be taken into account.

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