Most side effects are directly related to the antimuscarinic actions of atropine. Adverse effects following single or repeated doses are most often the result of excessive dosage.
More Common: Cardiovascular: Tachycardia and palpitations.
Central Nervous System: Dryness of the mouth, thirst (due to the reduction of salivary, bronchial and sweat secretions and are dose related).
Gastrointestinal: Urinary difficulty and retention, and constipation; due to inhibition of parasympathetic control of the bladder and GI tract respectively.
Ocular: Dilatation of the pupils (mydriasis) with loss of accommodation (cycloplegia) and photophobia can occur with increasing doses of atropine.
Skin: Flushing and dryness of the skin.
Less Common: Cardiovascular: Development of angina in patients with known cardiac problems has been reported.
Central Nervous System: Tremor, fatigue, drowsiness, ataxia, vomiting, mental confusion and/or excitement, dizziness. Anhidrosis also may occur and produce heat intolerance in patients living in a hot environment.
Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, retrosternal pain due to increased gastric reflux.
Skin: Hypersensitivity reactions may manifest as conjunctivitis or skin rash which, in some instances, progresses to exfoliation.