Pilocarpine

Generic name: Pilocarpine (oral)
Brand names: Salagen
Dosage form: oral tablet (5 mg; 7.5 mg)
Drug class: Cholinergic agonists

Usage of Pilocarpine

Pilocarpine affects the nervous system and increases saliva secretion in the mouth.

Pilocarpine is used to treat dry mouth caused by Sjogren's syndrome, or by radiation to treat head and neck cancer.

Pilocarpine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Pilocarpine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Pilocarpine may cause serious side effects. Stop using pilocarpine and call your doctor at once if you have:

shortness of breath;

fast or slow heart rate;

severe headache, pounding in your neck or ears;

confusion, tremors; or

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects of pilocarpine may include:

increased sweating, urinating more than usual;

chills, or flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

headache, dizziness, weakness;

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

blurred vision, watery eyes; or

runny nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Pilocarpine

You should not use pilocarpine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

untreated or uncontrolled asthma; or

narrow-angle glaucoma.

To make sure pilocarpine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing disorder;

glaucoma or vision problems;

liver disease;

kidney disease;

heart disease;

gallbladder problems;

mental illness;

if you take heart or blood pressure medicine; or

if you use a bronchodilator to treat a breathing disorder.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether pilocarpine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using pilocarpine.

It is not known whether pilocarpine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Pilocarpine

Usual Adult Dose for Xerostomia:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally 3 times a dayMaintenance dose: 15 to 30 mg per day, given in divided dosesComments:-Doses should be adjusted based upon individual patient tolerance and response.-The lowest effective dose should be used for maintenance.-Single doses should not exceed 10 mg.-At least 12 weeks of continued treatment may be necessary to assess whether treatment will produce a beneficial response.Use: Treatment of symptoms of dry mouth from salivary gland hypofunction caused by radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Usual Adult Dose for Sjogren's Syndrome:

5 mg orally 4 times a dayComment: Efficacy was typically established by the sixth week of use.Use: Treatment of dry mouth symptoms in patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Warnings

You should not use pilocarpine if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or asthma that is untreated or uncontrolled.

What other drugs will affect Pilocarpine

Other drugs may interact with pilocarpine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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