Question
After taking atropine hydrochloride, the child’s lips around the mouth have become red and dry again, and they are experiencing fever throughout the body. Is the dosage too high?
Answer
Atropine hydrochloride is a muscarinic receptor antagonist with effects such as antispasmodic and vasodilation, which may cause symptoms like dry mouth, facial redness, and fever. The recommended dosage for children is 0.1 to 0.3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. For a 11-month-old baby, a 5-milligram dose may be too high. However, these symptoms usually subside within a few hours after the drug is excreted from the body.