Systemic absorption of ocular scopolamine in patients.

The systemic absorption of scopolamine 0.25% eyedrops given unilaterally was quantitated in eight patients following therapeutic drug application. Another set of eight patients received placebo drops to study the effect of scopolamine on heart rate, blood pressure and salivation. Scopolamine was rapidly and efficiently absorbed after its ocular administration. The peak plasma scopolamine concentration of 550 +/- 60 pg/ml was reached within 15 minutes in all but two patients. Ocular scopolamine did not affect patients blood pressure or heart rate when compared to patients in the placebo group. Thirty minutes after administration of scopolamine the salivary secretion was slightly but insignificantly reduced.