Glycopyrrolate (Intramuscular, Intravenous)

Glycopyrrolate injection is used before and during surgery to reduce secretions in the mouth, throat, or stomach (such as saliva or stomach acid), to prevent heart rhythm issues (during anesthesia, intubation, or surgery), or to avoid side effects from certain medications (like neostigmine or pyridostigmine). It is also used to treat peptic ulcers when you cannot take medicine by mouth or when quick treatment is necessary.

This medicine must be given only by your doctor or under their close supervision.

It is very important for your doctor to check your or your child's progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to monitor for unwanted effects.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience blurred vision, trouble reading, sensitivity to light, or any other changes in vision during or after treatment. Your doctor may want your eyes to be examined by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or engage in any activities that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medicine may make it harder for your body to cool itself down. Be careful not to get overheated during hot weather or while doing activities such as exercising or using a sauna or whirlpool.

This medicine may delay stomach emptying. Contact your doctor right away if you experience vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, stomach discomfort, upset, or pain, swelling or pressure in the stomach area, a full or bloated feeling, or increased stomach pain.

This medicine may cause heart rhythm issues. Inform your doctor immediately if you or your child feels dizzy or lightheaded, has fast or irregular heartbeats, or feels like fainting.

Do not take other medicines unless your doctor has discussed them with you. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor must consider the risks of taking the medicine against the benefits it will provide. For this medicine, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

There have not been appropriate studies on how glycopyrrolate injection affects children when used to treat peptic ulcer. Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Geriatric

Studies so far have not shown any specific problems in elderly patients that would limit the use of glycopyrrolate injection. However, older adults are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart issues, which may require careful monitoring and possible dose adjustments.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before using this medication during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together, even if an interaction might occur. In these situations, your doctor may adjust the dose or take other precautions. It's especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions are based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Potassium Chloride
• Potassium Citrate

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both.

• Aclidinium
• Amantadine
• Amifampridine
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Atropine
• Belladonna
• Benztropine
• Biperiden
• Brompheniramine
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Carbinoxamine
• Carisoprodol
• Chlorpheniramine
• Chlorpromazine
• Clemastine
• Clidinium
• Clomipramine
• Clozapine
• Codeine
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Cyclopentolate
• Cyproheptadine
• Darifenacin
• Desipramine
• Dicyclomine
• Dimenhydrinate
• Diphenhydramine
• Donepezil
• Doxepin
• Fesoterodine
• Flavoxate
• Fluphenazine
• Glucagon
• Glycopyrronium Tosylate
• Homatropine
• Hydroxyzine
• Hyoscyamine
• Imipramine
• Ipratropium
• Loxapine
• Meclizine
• Mepenzolate
• Methacholine
• Nortriptyline
• Olanzapine
• Orphenadrine
• Oxitropium Bromide
• Oxybutynin
• Oxycodone
• Paroxetine
• Perphenazine
• Pimozide
• Pipenzolate Bromide
• Pirenzepine
• Prochlorperazine
• Procyclidine
• Promethazine
• Propantheline
• Propiverine
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Revefenacin
• Scopolamine
• Secretin Human
• Solifenacin
• Stramonium
• Tapentadol
• Terodiline
• Thioridazine
• Thiothixene
• Tiotropium
• Tizanidine
• Tolterodine
• Trifluoperazine
• Trihexyphenidyl
• Trimipramine
• Tropicamide
• Trospium
• Umeclidinium

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used during or around mealtimes, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines can also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional about using this medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues can affect the use of this medicine. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially:

• Brain damage or
• Down syndrome or
• Spastic paralysis (persistent muscle spasms)—Use with caution in children with these conditions. May increase the risk of more serious side effects.

• Glaucoma or
• Heart or blood vessel problems with bleeding, unstable or
• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) or
• Problems passing urine (e.g., bladder neck obstruction, prostatic hypertrophy) or
• Stomach or bowel blockage (e.g., achalasia, pyloroduodenal stenosis, paralytic ileus) or
• Stomach or bowel issues (e.g., bowel weakness, ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Heart disease or
• Heart failure or
• Heart rhythm problems (e.g., arrhythmia) or
• Hiatal hernia or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Neuropathy (nerve disease) or
• Surgery on your bowels (e.g., colostomy, ileostomy)—Use with caution. May worsen side effects.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects will happen, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse right away if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

• Bloated feeling
• blurred or double vision or other changes in vision
• change in near or distance vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• confusion
• constipation
• cough
• difficulty in focusing eyes
• difficulty swallowing
• dizziness
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fainting
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• headache
• high fever
• hives, itching, skin rash
• irregular heartbeat
• recurrent lightheadedness
• nervousness
• pain or discomfort in the eye
• pounding in the ears
• pounding or rapid pulse
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• rigid muscles
• seizures
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sweating
• tightness in the chest
• trouble urinating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help right away if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Agitation
• anxiety
• irritability
• mood or other mental changes
• muscle weakness or paralysis
• nightmares
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• tremor
• unusual feeling of excitement

Some side effects may happen that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also have ways to prevent or lessen some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• decreased amount of breast milk
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• decreased sweating
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• inability to have or keep an erection
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• loss of taste
• mental excitement
• nausea
• sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also happen in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Gastrointestinal Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Antimuscarinic

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given as a shot into a muscle or as a needle placed into a vein. This medicine may be given 30 to 60 minutes before receiving anesthesia, a narcotic pain reliever, or sleep medicine, or during surgery.