Ocu-Carpine

Pilocarpine is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of dry mouth for those with certain conditions. Pilocarpine belongs to a group of medications called cholinergic agonists. These work by increasing the amount of saliva in the mouth.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken 2 to 4 times a day, with or without food.

Common side effects of pilocarpine include sweating, nausea, dizziness, and visual disturbances. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how pilocarpine affects you.

Ocu-Carpine is part of the drug class:

• Other parasympathomimetics

Pilocarpine is used to treat glaucoma and other eye conditions.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain pilocarpine. It may not be specific to Ocu-Carpine. Please read with care.

To use the eye drop form of pilocarpine:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

To use the eye gel form of pilocarpine:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Squeeze a thin strip of gel into this space. A 1½-cm (approximately ½-inch) strip of gel is usually enough, unless you have been told by your doctor to use a different amount. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the eye gel, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). After using the eye gel, wipe the tip of the gel tube with a clean tissue and keep the tube tightly closed.

To use the eye insert form of pilocarpine:

• This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before using this medicine.
• If you think this medicine unit may be damaged, do not use it. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• If the unit seems to be releasing too much medicine into your eye, remove it and replace with a new unit. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For eye drop dosage form:
  • For chronic glaucoma:
    • Adults and children—One drop one to four times a day.
  • For acute angle-closure glaucoma:
    • Adults and children—One drop every five to ten minutes for three to six doses. Then one drop every one to three hours until eye pressure is reduced.
• For eye gel dosage form:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and teenagers—Use once a day at bedtime.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For eye insert dosage form:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and children—Insert one ocular system every seven days.
    • Infants—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Store the eye system form of this medicine in the refrigerator. Keep from freezing. Store the 3.5-gram size (of the gel form) at room temperature.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Increased sweating
• muscle tremors
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• troubled breathing or wheezing
• watering of mouth

• Eye pain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Blurred vision or change in near or far vision
• decrease in night vision

• Eye irritation
• headache or browache

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Applies to pilocarpine ophthalmic: ophthalmic device, ophthalmic gel/jelly, ophthalmic solution, ophthalmic suspension

Along with its needed effects, pilocarpine ophthalmic (the active ingredient contained in Ocu-Carpine) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking pilocarpine ophthalmic:

• Increased sweating
• muscle tremors
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• troubled breathing or wheezing
• watering of mouth

• Eye pain

Some side effects of pilocarpine ophthalmic may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Blurred vision or change in near or far vision
• decrease in night vision

• Eye irritation
• headache or browache

Applies to pilocarpine ophthalmic: compounding powder, ophthalmic gel, ophthalmic insert, ophthalmic solution

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Accommodative change, blurred vision, eye irritation, visual impairment, eye pain
Frequency not reported: Ciliary spasm, itching, smarting/burning, sensitization of the lids and conjunctival vascular congestion, transient myopia, lens changes with chronic use, decrease in visual acuity in poor illumination, increased pupillary block, vitreous hemorrhaging, retinal detachment[Ref]

General

The most commonly reported side effects were accommodative change, blurred vision, eye irritation, visual impairment, and eye pain.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Changes in blood pressure, cardiac rhythm[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Sweating, increased salivation, lacrimation[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Headache, browache
Frequency not reported: Tremor[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Bronchial spasm, pulmonary edema[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea[Ref]

Some side effects of Ocu-Carpine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.