1 May 2026Injectable drugsSource update: November 2024
Atropine injectable
Atropine injectable guidance for anaesthesia premedication, gastrointestinal spasms, and organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Parasympatholytic, antispasmodic.
Indications
- Premedication in anaesthesia.
- Spasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- 1 mg atropine sulfate in 1 ml ampoule for SC, IM, or IV injection.
- Also comes in 0.25 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml ampoules.
Dose and duration
Premedication in anaesthesia
- Child: 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg by SC or IV injection.
- Adult: 1 mg by SC or IV injection.
Spasms of the gastrointestinal tract
- Child from 2 to 6 years: 0.25 mg by SC injection, single dose.
- Child over 6 years: 0.5 mg by SC injection, single dose.
- Adult: 0.25 to 1 mg by SC injection every 6 hours if necessary, maximum 2 mg daily.
Organophosphorus pesticide poisoning
- Child: 0.02 to 0.05 mg/kg by IM or slow IV injection.
- Adult: 2 mg by IM or slow IV injection.
- Repeat every 5 to 10 minutes until signs of atropinisation appear.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not exceed recommended doses, especially in children and older patients because of the risk of severe anticholinergic effects.
- Do not administer to patients with urethro-prostatic disorders, cardiac disorders, or glaucoma.
- Do not administer to children with high fever.
- May cause urinary retention, dryness of the mouth, constipation, dizziness, headache, dilatation of the pupils, and tachycardia.
- Administer with caution and under close supervision to patients taking other anticholinergic drugs.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication; no prolonged treatment.
- Breast-feeding: avoid; no prolonged treatment.
- Do not mix with other drugs in the same syringe.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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