Many people wonder about scopolamine side effects. This dangerous prescription drug treats Parkinson’s disease, muscle spasms, and irritable bowel syndrome. However, the drug is also used to render people “submissive” to captors or those who wish to harm them. If you abuse scopolamine, scopolamine addiction treatment is the only way out of your dangerous gamble with your life.
Scopolamine Side Effects
When put into drinks, food, or on pieces of paper, scopolamine powder can cause individuals to act submissively. They become so easily manipulated by others that some victims suffer total financial loss and other damages because they fall under the influence of thieves and kidnappers. It’s no wonder that experts would be so concerned about scopolamine side effects.
The drug, however, has positive effects on people with Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or motion sickness. It’s also available as a behind-the-ear patch to remedy vomiting or seasickness or surgical painkillers. However, pharmacies no longer carry the tablet form of the drug, as its maker discontinued the drug in 2011.
Some off-label uses of the drug help people with depression, asthma, or chemotherapy-related sickness. It even helps some quit smoking. The FDA approved the drug for prescribing in 1979.
Scopolamine Abuse
Derived from the belladonna plant, scopolamine makes its way into hands of people interested in abusing the drug. In the past, prison inmates illegally obtained scopolamine and crushed the tablets to experience hallucinations, amnesia and other effects. However, outside of prison, criminals use the drug to sedate victims.
Scopolamine causes serious side effects. These include agitation, confusion, rambling speech, hallucinations, and paranoia. People also may suffer allergic reactions, such as difficulty breathing, constriction of their throat, hives, and swelling of the lips, face, and tongue. The drug also aggravates pre-existing health problems like problems with urination.
Common scopolamine side effects also include:
- Reduced sweating
- Dry mouth and dry skin
- Sleepiness
- Dry or itchy eyes
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
- Blurred vision
- Dilated pupils
Help for Scopolamine and Other Drug or Alcohol Abuse
If you abuse scopolamine or other substances, you need treatment for this abuse and possible addiction. Furthermore, choosing to abuse drugs of any kind usually means you suffer root problems leading you to self-medicate or numb yourself to these problems. When you’re in rehab, you learn about your causes of addiction and how to prevent substance use in your future.
Common programs you need in rehab treatment include:
Partial Hospitalization Program
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) can help people with substance use disorders or other mental health conditions manage their recovery. Unlike standard outpatient programs, which typically only meet for 2–3 hours per week, PHP allows patients to attend full days of treatment at a facility. This allows them to get the support and treatment they need without having to take time off from work or school.
Intensive Outpatient Program
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a type of addiction treatment that provides therapeutic services to individuals struggling with substance use in a group setting. These programs typically last between 3–5 days per week and involve both individual and group therapy sessions, as well as educational lectures and other activities designed to help patients develop the skills needed to maintain long-term recovery. IOPs are often used as a step-down program following inpatient or residential treatment.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment is a specialized form of therapy that helps individuals who suffer from both substance use and mental health disorders. Such individuals are commonly referred to as having “dual diagnosis.” The main goal of dual diagnosis treatment is to help patients overcome their symptoms while also addressing any underlying issues related to their disorder.
Aftercare
Aftercare typically involves staying in therapy or attending meetings with others who are in recovery, as well as taking on healthy habits to improve your overall physical and mental health. An effective aftercare plan should help you take the necessary steps to stay sober and enjoy a long and healthy life in recovery.
Get Help For Scopolamine Addiction Today
If you suffer addiction to scopolamine, you need a quality scopolamine addiction treatment program, such as Crestview Recovery. In Portland, Oregon, adults from all over the Pacific Northwest achieve lasting sobriety at Crestview Recovery. This program also helps you break free of dangerous scopolamine side effects and gives you a real chance for a better life. Call Crestview Recovery now at 866.262.0531 to learn more about available programs.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
