Pilocar

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.

Pilocar is part of the drug class:

• Other parasympathomimetics

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to pilocarpine, or if you have uveitis or pupillary block glaucoma.

Before using pilocarpine ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs.

Pilocarpine can cause side effects that can make it harder for you to see at night or in low light. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

Do not allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, including the eyes or hands. If the dropper becomes contaminated it could cause an infection in your eye, which can lead to vision loss or serious damage to the eye.

Avoid using any other eye medications your doctor has not prescribed.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Wash your hands before using the eye drops.

To apply the eye drops:

• Tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket. Hold the dropper above the eye with the dropper tip down. Look up and away from the dropper as you squeeze out a drop, then close your eye.

• Gently press your finger to the inside corner of the eye (near your nose) for about 1 minute to keep the liquid from draining into your tear duct.

• If you use any other eye medications, wait about 5 minutes after using pilocarpine eye drops before using the other medication.

• Do not allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, including the eyes or hands. If the dropper becomes contaminated it could cause an infection in your eye, which can lead to vision loss or serious damage to the eye.

Do not use the eye drops if the liquid has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

Store the drops at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Pilocarpine can cause side effects that can make it harder for you to see at night or in low light. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

Avoid using any other eye medications your doctor has not prescribed.

There may be other drugs that can interact with pilocarpine ophthalmic. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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 Pilocar. 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.