What is Glycopyrrolate medication uses and side effects?

Why is this medication prescribed?

Glycopyrrolate comes under the class of medications called anticholinergics, it helps to reduce the excessive drooling caused by medical conditions such as cerebral palsy and saliva in children between 3 and16 years of age. The combination with other medications glycopyrrolate is used in the treatment of ulcers in adults and children 12 years of age and older. It works by decreasing the stomach acid and saliva production amount you make in the body.

How should this medicine be used?

Glycopyrrolate is available in the form of a tablet and solution (liquid) to take by mouth. If you want to reduce saliva and drooling in children with certain medical conditions the doctor will prescribe you to take the solution 3 times a day. And remember to take the solution on an empty stomach, so you have to take this solution at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. For the treatment of ulcers, usually, the doctor will prescribe you to take a tablet 2 or 3 times a day. Remember to use this medication regularly at the same time each day. 

Don’t try to use this medication more or less often than prescribed by your health care professionals and use the glycopyrrolate exactly in the same quantity that your doctor prescribed you to take. If you have any type of question or anything that you don’t understand then ask that to your health care professionals and follow your prescription label carefully as directed.

The dosage of this medication totally depends upon your medical condition and response to treatment but first, your doctor starts your child dosage by a very low amount. After that he/she will increase your dosage by watching medical conditions and response to treatment or this medication. 

If you are using the solution of glycopyrrolate on your child then don’t measure the dose with a household spoon, use an oral syringe to measure the dose of glycopyrrolate.

Don’t stop using glycopyrrolate even if you feel well. Don’t try to stop using this medication without talking to your health care professionals.

Other uses of glycopyrrolate

Ask your health care professional for more information because glycopyrrolate is also prescribed for other uses.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Always follow your dietary recommendations and exercise plan made by your health care professional. And ask your doctor for instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity. Or if your doctor didn’t give you any instructions, you can continue your normal diet. 

What special precautions should I follow?

You should have followed this special precaution before using glycopyrrolate:

• If you are allergic to glycopyrrolate, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in glycopyrrolate tablets or solution then tell your doctor and pharmacist and ask them for all ingredients.
• If you are taking extended-release (long-acting) potassium chloride tablets or capsules while you are using the glycopyrrolate then don’t use them. And if you want to use them, talk to your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you have or have ever had glaucoma, difficulty urinating, hiatal hernia with reflux, a blockage or narrowing of your stomach or intestines, coronary artery disease, paralytic ileus, toxic megacolon, myasthenia gravis,  enlargement of the prostate, overactive thyroid, high blood pressure, ulcerative colitis, heart failure, irregular or rapid heartbeats, disorders of the nervous system, or kidney or liver disease then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery while you are using glycopyrrolate then tell your doctor and dentist.
• Don’t ever try to drive a car because this drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision and not operate any machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• Don’t use the glycopyrrolate, if you have or have ever had a condition in which digested food does not move through the intestines, life-threatening widening of the intestine, a disorder of the nervous system.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant while using glycopyrrolate. If you become pregnant while using it then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products especially amantadine, atenolol, digoxin, levodopa, ipratropium, medications for anxiety, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems, sedatives, tranquilizers, tricyclic antidepressants, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trimipramine, and vitamin D, or planning to take them while using this product then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you have experienced any of the following symptoms such as fast, weak pulse or fast, lack of sweating in hot weather, hot, red skin, decreased alertness, loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, or fever while you are using this product then contact your doctor immediately.

If you have experienced or faced any of the problems mentioned above then contact your health care professionals immediately. Follow all the mentioned precautions carefully, these are all precautions that you can take while using this product.

What side effects can glycopyrrolate cause?

Don’t use this medication without your doctor’s prescription, Doctors will suggest glycopyrrolate

by judging the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. You should have to know the side effects and symptoms of this medication before taking this.

Some common side effects of glycopyrrolate:

If you experience any of these common side effects or symptoms and do not go away  or are getting worse, then stop taking or using glycopyrrolate and call your doctor immediately:

• You’ll feel difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• You’ll feel an upset stomach.
• You’ll feel nausea.
• You’ll feel a loss of taste.
• You’ll feel a headache.
• You’ll feel a dry mouth.
• You’ll feel blurred vision.
• You’ll feel vision problems.
• You’ll feel nervousness.
• You’ll feel confused.
• You’ll feel dizziness.
• You’ll feel nasal congestion.
• You’ll feel vomiting.
• You’ll feel drowsiness.
• You’ll feel weakness.
• You’ll feel constipation.
• You’ll feel bloated.

Some serious side effects of glycopyrrolate:

If you experience any of these serious side effects or symptoms and do not go away  or are getting worse, then stop taking or using glycopyrrolate and call your doctor immediately:

• You’ll feel diarrhea.
• You’ll feel rash, itching, or swelling on the face, tongue, or throat.
• You’ll feel trouble breathing.
• You’ll feel eye pain, swelling, or redness in your eyes.
• You’ll feel hives.
• You’ll feel a fast or irregular heartbeat.
• You’ll feel mental or mood changes such as confusion, hallucinations, agitation, unusual excitement.
• You’ll feel difficulty urinating or unable to urinate.

It can also cause other side effects and if you have any unusual problems while using this product then immediately contact your health care professionals because this is not the complete list of all symptoms and side effects of this medication.

What can I do if I forget a dose?

If you forgot to take this medication and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double and it would be harmful to you.

What happens if I overdose?

Some of the symptoms or side effects can occur because of an overdose of this medication. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you have experienced any of the following symptoms or side effects immediately. 

What are the Interactions of glycopyrrolate with other drugs?

Your healthcare professionals can already be aware of any drug interactions. Don’t try to change, stop, or start the dosage of any medicine before checking or before talking to your doctor or pharmacist. If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications, other vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal products, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, or planning to take them, then tell your doctor and pharmacist before starting the treatment with this product.

Drugs can interact with glycopyrrolate:

• Potassium chloride tablets or capsules
• Pramlintide

Before using the glycopyrrolate medication, tell your healthcare professionals of all the products you use because this documentation doesn’t contain all the possible interactions. And the most important thing when you are taking these products doesn’t start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines you are using without your doctor’s approval. 

What can I know about the storage and disposal of this medication?

You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.

Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put that medicine in a tightly closed container in which they came. 

What other information should I know?

Don’t miss any of your doctor and laboratory appointments because your doctor will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information. So, keep all your appointments with your doctor, pharmacist, the laboratory. And before having any laboratory test, if you are already taking this product then tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you feel your health condition is getting worse or your dose may need to be adjusted. 

And ensure that no one is taking your medicine or no one has them. It is very important to tell your pharmacist about all your prescriptions and non-prescription you were taking and make a list of them and carry the list all the time. It would help you in case of emergencies. When you meet or visit your doctor you should bring the list. It’s important to your doctor.

Brand names

• Cuvposa
• Robinul
• Robinul Forte

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