The ROP FAQ
Development of content for this site is supported by your contributions, the sale of products through various affiliate programs, and Sarah's work as a writer, speaker, and in other areas listed on her services page. If the material on this site has been helpful or encouraging to you, please consider shopping using the sites linked here--and return to do your shopping anytime using these links to continue supporting this site--or making a contribution using the Amazon Honor System.
Reload for a different book selection...
The following post is archived from the ROP list, which was moderated by Dr. Scott Richards until August, 2002. The list is now hosted at YahooGroups.
Date: January 11, 1999
From: Scott Richards
"What is atropine for after a surgery? I have all these different drops, and I'm trying to learn what they all do."
Atropine dilates the pupil, but it also paralyzes the ciliary muscle. This provides pain relief, since much of the pain after an eye surgery is caused by spasm of that muscle.
The following is provided as a note of experience from Sarah Blake.
I experienced a severe psychiatric reaction to Atropine in 1999. My doctors disagreed on the potential of this medication to cause systemic side effects. Some believe it should not cause any effects at all while others believe it is a potentially dangerous neurotoxin. Several parents have asked on various forums about the potential of this medication to cause reactions in their infants. I believe because of my own reaction that parents should follow their instincts on this, though Dr. Richards' information should also be informative. Your child may experience an increase in pain if you withdraw this medication. Use your best judgment, and communicate with your doctors even if you act against their advice.
Finally, I have learned since listing Atropine as a drug allergy that it is very important to ensure that hospitals are always aware of this reaction. Atropine is used in other forms during some types of emergency care. I now list this adverse reaction on my Medic Alert bracelet.
Hosted by Sarah J. Blake