Glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic medication. It is used before or even during an operation to reduce secretions and it even reverses the unwanted effects of certain medicines used during surgery (muscle relaxants). It also helps to treat peptic ulcers when oral medication is not tolerated.

Glycopyrrolate is given by your doctor or nurse. Let your doctor know about all other medications you are taking as some may affect, or be affected by this medicine. You should keep taking this medicine for as long as your doctor recommends. If you stop treatment too early your symptoms may come back and your condition may worsen.

The most common side effects of this medicine include dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision, photophobia, dilation of the pupil, cycloplegia, ocular hyperemia, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, and reduced sweating. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it can worsen your sleepiness.

Inform your doctor if you have glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, heart failure, and high blood pressure.

• General Anaesthesia
• Peptic ulcer disease

General Anaesthesia
Glycopyrrolate is used before and during surgery to reduce secretions of the mouth, throat, or stomach, such as saliva, stomach acid, or to prevent problems related to heart rhythm during anesthesia, intubation, or surgery. It also helps decrease the unwanted effects that may be caused by certain medicines like, neostigmine, pyridostigmine, etc. It is given by a specialist doctor called an anesthetist in a hospital setup.

Peptic ulcer disease
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which painful sores or ulcers develop in the inner lining of the stomach or gut (intestine). Glycopyrrolate reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes which prevents further damage to the ulcer as it heals naturally. You may be given other medicines along with this medicine depending on what caused the ulcer.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Licolate

• Urinary retention
• Blurred vision
• Dilatation of pupil
• Cycloplegia (paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye)
• Ocular hyperemia
• Slow heart rate
• Palpitations
• Reduced sweating

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic medication. It works by blocking the activity of a chemical messenger (acetylcholine) in the brain. This helps dry up secretions (saliva, stomach acid etc.) from glands before surgery, increases a low heart rate and reverses the unwanted effects of certain medicines used during surgery (muscle relaxants and anaesthetics). By lowering stomach acid content, it also helps treat peptic ulcers.

• Glycopyrrolate is used before an operation, to reduce saliva and other secretions and to make the stomach contents less acidic.
• It may also be used to reduce side effects of muscle-relaxing drugs and to prevent of slowing of heart beat during surgery.
• It is given as an injection into a muscle or into a vein.
• Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration as Glycopyrrolate may cause dizziness and blurred vision.

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Drugs.com. Glycopyrrolate Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings. [Accessed 28 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:

Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Glycopyrrolate. [Updated 2018 Dec 3]. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2020] (online) Available from: