Drug Notes

Glycopyrrolate (By injection)

Glycopyrrolate (glye-koe-PIR-oh-late)

Treats peptic ulcers when you cannot take medicine by mouth or when treatment needs to be fast. Also used before and during surgery to dry up your mouth, throat, and stomach.

Brand Name(s):

Glycopyrrolate Novaplus, Robinul

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or a vein.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
• You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.
• Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

If a dose is missed:

• Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. Throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a phenothiazine medicine such as prochlorperazine, promethazine, Compazine®, Mellaril®, Phenergan®, Thorazine®, or Trilafon®. Tell your doctor if you are using a medicine to treat Parkinson's disease such as levodopa or Sinemet®, or if you are using an antidepressant medicine such as amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline, Elavil®, Pamelor®, or Sinequan®. Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a potassium supplement such as K-Dur® or K-Tab®. Tell your doctor if you are using atropine, dicyclomine, scopolamine, Bentyl®, or Transderm Scop®.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, overactive thyroid, heart problems, or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have nerve problems, hiatal hernia, heartburn, diarrhea, colitis, a colostomy or ileostomy, or any other problems with your digestive system.
• If this medicine is being used by your child, make sure the doctor knows if your child has Down's syndrome, problems with muscle spasms, or brain damage.
• This medicine may keep you from sweating enough, which may cause your body to get too hot. Be careful in hot weather, or while doing activities such as exercising or using a sauna or whirlpool.
• This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or cause blurred vision. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Confusion or feeling excited.
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate.
• Diarrhea, constipation, or stomach bloating.
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat.
• Fever, or sweating.
• Muscle weakness or stiffness.
• Seizures.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Confusion, nervousness, or trouble sleeping.
• Dry mouth, or loss of taste.
• Headache.
• Men: unable to have or keep an erection.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Redness, pain, swelling, or itching where the injection is given.
• Vision problems, sensitivity to light.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017