Pilocarpine Eye Drops

Who is this for?

Pilocarpine is a medicine that works by making the pupil of your eye smaller and helping fluid drain out of your eye, which lowers the pressure inside your eye.

Activates muscarinic cholinergic receptors on the ciliary muscle and iris sphincter, causing pupillary constriction (miosis) and increased aqueous humour outflow, thereby reducing intraocular pressure. Also stimulates muscarinic receptors on salivary glands to increase saliva production in xerostomia.

Is Pilocarpine safe to take with another drug?

For eye drops: Put 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye 2 to 4 times a day, or as your doctor directs. Tilt your head back, pull down your lower eyelid, and drop the medicine inside. Close your eye gently and press the corner near your nose for 1-2 minutes to keep the medicine in your eye. For pilocarpine tablets (used for dry mouth): Take 5mg three times a day, usually with meals.

If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue your normal schedule. Do not double the drops to make up for the missed dose.

• Blurred or dim vision especially at night
• headache around the brow area
• stinging or burning when you first put the drops in
• sweating
• and watery eyes

If you are using other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between different drops. Beta-blocker medicines (like timolol eye drops, often used together for glaucoma) can increase the effect of pilocarpine. Atropine-containing medicines will work against pilocarpine and cancel out its effect.

Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat — this is important in Nigerian weather. Do not freeze the eye drops. Once opened, most eye drop bottles should be used within 28 days and then thrown away. Keep out of reach of children.