In the U.S.—

In Canada—

• Cholinergic

Pilocarpine ( pye-loe-KAR-peen) tablets are used to treat dryness of the mouth and throat caused by a decrease in the amount of saliva that may occur after radiation treatment for cancer of the head and neck or in patients with Sjogren's syndrome. This medicine may help you speak without having to sip liquids. It may also help with chewing, tasting, and swallowing. This medicine may reduce your need for other oral comfort agents, such as hard candy, sugarless gum, or artificial saliva agents.

Pilocarpine may also be used to treat dryness of the eyes caused by Sjogren's syndrome

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Oral
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pilocarpine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pilocarpine taken by mouth or used in the eye. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Pilocarpine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that pilocarpine, when given in very high doses, may cause birth defects. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether pilocarpine passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor..

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of pilocarpine in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults—This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using pilocarpine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amantadine (e.g., Symmetrel) or
• Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps) or
• Antidepressants (medicine for depression) or
• Antidyskinetics (medicine for Parkinson's disease or other conditions affecting control of muscles) or
• Antihistamines or
• Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
• Buclizine (e.g., Bucladin) or
• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Cyclizine (e.g., Marezine) or
• Cyclobenzaprine (e.g., Flexeril) or
• Disopyramide (e.g., Norpace) or
• Flavoxate (e.g., Urispas) or
• Ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent) or
• Meclizine (e.g., Antivert) or
• Methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) or
• Orphenadrine (e.g., Norflex) or
• Oxybutynin (e.g., Ditropen) or
• Procainamide (e.g., Pronestyl) or
• Promethazine (e.g., Phenergan) or
• Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) or
• Trimeprazine (e.g., Temaril)—Pilocarpine may reduce the effect of these medicines or these medicines may reduce the effects of pilocarpine

• Antimyasthenics (ambenonium [e.g., Mytelase], neostigmine [e.g., Prostigmin], pyridostigmine [Mestinon]) or
• Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (acebutolol [e.g., Sectral], atenolol [e.g., Tenormin], betaxolol [e.g., Kerlone], carteolol [e.g., Cartrol], labetalol [e.g., Normodyne], metoprolol [e.g., Lopressor], nadolol [e.g., Corgard], oxprenolol [e.g., Trasicor], penbutolol [e.g., Levatol], pindolol [e.g., Visken], propranolol [e.g., Inderal], sotalol [e.g., Sotacor], timolol [e.g., Blocadren]) or
• Bethanecol (e.g., Urecholine) or
• Ophthalmic beta-adrenergic blocking agents (betaxolol [e.g., Betoptic], carteolol [e.g., Ocupress], levobunolol [e.g., Betagan], metipranolol [e.g., OptiPranolol], timolol [e.g., Timoptic])—Pilocarpine may increase the side effects of these medicines

• Carbachol (e.g., Isopto Carbachol) or
• Demecarium (e.g., Humorsol) or
• Echothiophate (e.g., Phospholine Iodide) or
• Isoflurophate (e.g., Floropryl) or
• Physostigmine (e.g., Isopto Eserine) or
• Pilocarpine (ophthalmic) (e.g., Isopto Carpine)—Pilocarpine may increase the effects of these ophthalmic glaucoma medicines

• Asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems, or
• Gallbladder problems or
• Glaucoma, angle closure, or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Iritis (inflammation of the iris [colored part] of the eye) or
• Kidney problems or
• Mental problems or
• Peptic ulcer disease, acute—Pilocarpine may make the condition worse

• Retinal detachment, tendency for, or
• Retinal disease—Pilocarpine may increase the risk of a detached retina

Take this medicine only as directed. Do not take it more often and do not take a larger dose than directed. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

It is important that you visit your dentist regularly even though this medicine may make your dry mouth feel better. Having a dry mouth condition makes you more likely to have dental and other mouth problems.

Dosing—

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

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For dryness of eyes:
    • Adults—5 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day.
  • For dryness of mouth and throat:
    • Adults—5milligrams (mg) three or four times a day.
    • Children—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—

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

This medicine may cause difficulty in reading or other vision problems, especially at night. It may also cause some people to become dizzy or lightheaded. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or able to see well. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause you to sweat more than is usual. If you do, it is important that you drink extra liquids to offset this sweating so you do not lose too much fluid and become dehydrated. Check with your doctor if you are not sure how much extra liquid to drink or if you cannot drink as much liquid as you should.

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:

• Symptoms of overdose
  • Chest pain;  confusion;  diarrhea (continuing or severe);  fainting ;  fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat (continuing or severe);  headache (continuing or severe);  nausea or vomiting (continuing or severe);  shortness of breath or troubled breathing;  stomach cramps or pain;  tiredness or weakness (continuing or severe);  trembling or shaking (continuing or severe) ;  trouble seeing (continuing or severe) 
  
  

Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common
  • Chills;  cough;  diarrhea;  feeling of warmth or heat;  fever;  flushing or redness of skin especially on face and neck;  increased need to urinate;  indigestion;  joint pain;  muscle aches and pains;  nausea;  passing urine more often;  runny nose ;  unusual tiredness or weakness;  Sweating 
  
  

• Less common or rare
  • fast heartbeat;  headache;  holding more body water;  swelling of face, fingers, ankles, or feet;  trembling or shaking ;  trouble swallowing;  trouble seeing;  unusual weak feeling;  voice change;  vomiting 
  
  

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