Is Atropine a controlled substance?

Atropine is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Atropine

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Atropine is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IM once in ball pythons, per Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Emergency

Routes

IVIMSC

Indications

AnticholinergicBradycardiaCPR protocolorganophosphate toxicityOrganophosphate toxicosisOrganophosphate/carbamate toxicityPre-anesthetic Pre-anesthetic (rabbits without atropinase)Pre-anesthetic anticholinergicprevent and correct bradycardiareduce secretionsTo lessen intraoperative secretions

Mechanism of Action

Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Increases heart rate (vagolytic), reduces secretions, and mydriasis.

Side effects & warnings

Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.

Species with Atropine dosing data (21 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot Ball Python Bearded Dragon Cat (Domestic)Cattle (Beef/Dairy)Dog (Domestic)Guinea Pig Horse (Equine)Mouse Rabbit (Domestic)Sugar Glider Swine (Pig)

Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugs All Ball Python drugs All Bearded Dragon drugs

Evidence levels across 21 dose rules

Moderate×8Strong×9Extrapolated×2Weak×2

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 16 published sources

· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237. / 83. Jepson L. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, WB Saunders, New York, NY; 2009. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.794 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012. / 47. Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Hamster, Ratte, Maus und Rennmaus, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2014. doi:10.1055/b-004-129947 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 (2026-08-01).
· Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small animal and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract: Therapeutics. 2018;21:399-442. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2018.01.015 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.871 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 21 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 12 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Cat (Domestic)	IM	0.02–0.04 mg/kg	once	Strong	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.141 (2026-08-01).
Cat (Domestic)	IV or IM	0.02–0.04 mg/kg	once (preanaesthetic; no repeat interval printed)	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed, Atropine, printed p.114 (corpus PDF p.141). Page NOTE: "FDA approval has not been required for atropine products in animals. All dosages should be considered extra-label."

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Other formulations of Atropine

Atropine Ophthalmic

Calculate Dosage for Atropine