Pilocarpine

How does Pilocarpine work?

Pilocarpine hydrochloride is a medicine that mimics the body's natural signals to make things like sweat, saliva, and tears. It also affects the eyes, making the pupils smaller and focusing the vision better. It can increase stomach activity, and its effects on the heart can be unpredictable. When taken by mouth, it makes your mouth water, most strongly about an hour later, and this effect lasts a few hours. Studies show it helps people with dry mouth problems produce more saliva. The medicine is made with several other ingredients besides the active part.

Is Pilocarpine effective?

Yes, Pilocarpine is effective when used as prescribed for conditions like glaucoma, dry mouth, or Sjögren's syndrome. Its effectiveness depends on proper use and adherence to the prescribed treatment plan.

What is Pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine hydrochloride comes in a pill form containing 5 milligrams of medicine. What it does in the body and why it's used isn't explained here. More information is needed to understand how it works and what it treats.

For how long do I take Pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine is a medicine. For people with head and neck cancer who take it, doctors need to see if it helps for at least 3 months. But for people with Sjogren's Syndrome, they only need to take it for 6 weeks to see if it works.

How do I take Pilocarpine?

Eye Drops:

• Wash hands. Tilt head back, pull down lower eyelid, and apply the prescribed drops. Close eyes for 1–2 minutes. Avoid touching the dropper to your eye.

Oral Tablets:

• Take as prescribed, with or without food. Drink plenty of water.

Ophthalmic Gel:

• Apply a small amount to the lower eyelid at bedtime. Wash hands before and after use.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions and store the medication properly.

How long does it take for Pilocarpine to start working?

Pilocarpine helps increase saliva production. You'll notice a difference within 20 minutes of taking it, with the biggest effect around an hour later. The effect wears off after 3-5 hours. To really see improvement from dry mouth, you need to take it regularly for several weeks.

How should I store Pilocarpine?

Keep the medicine in a cool place, between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Put it in a tightly closed, dark container. Make sure kids can't get to it.

What is the usual dose of Pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine is a medicine. For head and neck cancer, adults usually take 15 to 30 milligrams (mg) a day, but no more than 10 mg at one time. For Sjogren's syndrome, adults take 5 mg four times a day. Your doctor will decide the right amount for you, based on how you respond to the medicine and how you feel. It's not known if it's safe or works well for children.

Can I take Pilocarpine with other prescription drugs?

Pilocarpine is a medicine that affects your heart's rhythm. Taking it with beta-blockers (another type of heart medicine) can sometimes cause problems with your heart's electrical signals. Taking it with other medicines that do similar things can make the effects too strong. But, it can cancel out the effects of medicines that do the opposite.

Can Pilocarpine be taken safely while breastfeeding?

It's not known if the medicine pilocarpine passes into breast milk. Since many medicines *do* pass into breast milk, and pilocarpine could harm a baby, a mother taking it needs to choose between stopping the medicine or stopping breastfeeding. The choice depends on how important the medicine is for the mother's health.

Can Pilocarpine be taken safely while pregnant?

Pilocarpine is a medicine that's risky during pregnancy. Tests on rats showed problems like lower birth weight and bone issues in babies at high doses of the drug. Even lower doses caused problems. Because there haven't been enough tests on pregnant women, doctors only use it if the benefit to the mother is much greater than any risk to the baby.

Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Pilocarpine?

Alcohol can worsen side effects like dizziness or drowsiness. It's best to avoid or limit alcohol.

Is it safe to exercise while taking Pilocarpine?

Exercise is generally safe, but excessive sweating or dehydration may occur. Stay hydrated.

Is Pilocarpine safe for the elderly?

Pilocarpine is a medicine. It works similarly in older and younger people, but older adults are more likely to have side effects like needing to pee more often, diarrhea, and dizziness. These side effects are even more common in older people with Sjogren's syndrome. If you have serious heart or liver problems, your doctor will start you on a lower dose and may monitor you carefully. If you have very serious liver problems, you shouldn't take it.

Who should avoid taking Pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine can have some serious side effects. It might cause heart problems, especially if you already have heart issues. Your vision can get blurry, especially at night, and breathing problems could get worse if you have asthma or lung disease. It's not known how safe it is for pregnant women, babies, or people with severe liver problems. Common side effects include headache, blurry vision, sweating, trouble breathing, stomach problems, and heart problems. It's important to tell your doctor about all your medications, especially if you take beta-blockers or similar drugs. Sweating a lot is also a common side effect.