atropine
Brand names: AtroPen
Atropine is a medicine that can temporarily block severe effects on your body. It can treat certain types of poisoning and help with a very slow heart rate.
Drug Shortage Alert
atropine is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Accord Healthcare Inc.. Status: Unavailable.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$5.70/unit
Generic Available
Yes (15 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Atropine is used to treat severe or life-threatening muscarinic effects.
Common side effects
Dry mouth, Blurred vision, Sensitivity to light
Key warnings
If you have coronary artery disease, the total dose of atropine should be limited to avoid a fast heart rate.
How It Works
Atropine works by blocking the effects of a chemical called acetylcholine in your body. This helps to reduce saliva, relax your airways, and increase your heart rate. It counteracts the effects of certain poisons by blocking their action on your body.
How to Take It
Atropine is given as an intravenous (IV) injection by a healthcare provider. The dose will be based on your heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms. The doctor will check the solution to make sure it is clear and the container is intact before giving it to you. Each vial is for a single dose only, and any unused portion should be thrown away.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant and have a life-threatening condition, you should still receive atropine if needed. Small amounts of atropine can pass into breast milk. To minimize exposure to the baby, you may pump and discard your milk for 24 hours after using atropine before breastfeeding again.
Missed Dose
Since atropine is given by a healthcare provider, you don't have to worry about missing a dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 4,610 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,881 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2000–2025.
Total Reports
7,881
Death-Related Reports
1,594
Hospitalization Reports
3,432
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 609 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 555 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 535 |
| 4 | HYPOTENSION | 485 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 458 |
| 6 | DEATH | 445 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 394 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 383 |
| 9 | BRADYCARDIA | 381 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 363 |
| 11 | PAIN | 341 |
| 12 | CARDIAC ARREST | 308 |
| 13 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 289 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 287 |
| 15 | HYPERTENSION | 251 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
If you have coronary artery disease, the total dose of atropine should be limited to avoid a fast heart rate. Atropine may cause acute glaucoma, pyloric obstruction, complete urinary retention, or thick bronchial secretions.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Mexiletine Atropine Sulfate Injection decreased the rate of mexiletine absorption without altering the relative oral bioavailability; this delay in mexiletine absorption was reversed by the combination of atropine and intravenous metoclopramide during pretreatment for anesthesia.
Mechanism: Atropine slows down the movement of the stomach, which makes it take longer for mexiletine to be absorbed into the body.
What to do: Your doctor should be aware that mexiletine may take longer to start working when you are also taking atropine.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Mexiletine Atropine Sulfate Injection decreased the rate of mexiletine absorption without altering the relative oral bioavailability; this delay in mexiletine absorption was reversed by the combination of atropine and intravenous metoclopramide during pretreatment for anesthesia.
Mechanism: Metoclopramide speeds up the stomach and can cancel out the slowing effect that atropine has on digestion.
What to do: Your healthcare provider may use these together to help other medicines reach your bloodstream at the correct speed.
In occasional susceptible patients or in those receiving anticholinergic drugs (including antiparkinsonism agents) in addition, the atropine-like effects may become more pronounced (e.g., paralytic ileus).
Mechanism: Both drugs have similar drying effects on the body, which can lead to more severe side effects like severe constipation or a blocked bowel.
What to do: Tell your doctor immediately if you experience severe stomach pain, constipation, or difficulty urinating.
No significant adverse interactions with commonly used premedications or drugs used during anesthesia and surgery (including atropine, scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, diazepam, hydroxyzine, d-tubocurarine, succinylcholine and other nondepolarizing muscle relaxants) or topical local anesthetics (including lidocaine, dyclonine HCl and Cetacaine) have been observed in adults or pediatric patients.
Mechanism: These medications do not cause any significant bad reactions when they are given at the same time for surgery.
What to do: Your doctor can use these together safely while following standard monitoring during your procedure.
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was r...
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause a fast heartbeat and sleepiness, and taking them together makes these side effects much stronger.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your heart rate and sleepiness levels if you are prescribed both medications.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before receiving atropine?
Can atropine cause constipation?
Will atropine make me feel hot?
How will atropine affect my vision?
Can atropine interact with other medications?
Is atropine safe for children?
What if I have kidney or liver problems?
Can atropine cause allergic reactions?
What is atropine used for?
How is atropine given?
What are the common side effects of atropine?
Does atropine interact with other medications?
What drug class is atropine?
Is atropine safe during pregnancy?
Has atropine been recalled?
Is atropine currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Tri-Coast Pharmacy
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection findings resulted in concerns regarding quality control processes
Lowlite Investments, Inc. D/B/A Olympia Pharmacy
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What the FDA Data Shows for atropine
The FDA label for atropine (sold under brand names such as AtroPen) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticholinergic class. Atropine is used to treat severe or life-threatening muscarinic effects. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Dry mouth, Blurred vision, Sensitivity to light.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 4,610 voluntary reports. The database also lists 6 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $5.70.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 28, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages