What is Pilocarpine Ophthalmic Solution for Dogs? Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution is a prescription medication used to treat two conditions that cause the eyes to lose hydration:
primary glaucoma and dry eye
.
What is pilocarpine most commonly used for?
Pilocarpine is used to
treat dry mouth caused by radiotherapy in people with head and neck cancer
and to treat dry mouth in people with Sjogren’s syndrome (a condition that affects the immune system and causes dryness of certain parts of the body such as the eyes and mouth).
Is pilocarpine safe for dogs?
Its use in dogs and cats to treat dry eye or glaucoma, or to diagnose cranial nerve lesions is ‘off label’ or ‘extra-label’.
What does pilocarpine do to the eye?
Ophthalmic pilocarpine is
used to treat glaucoma
, a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision. Pilocarpine is in a class of medications called miotics. It works by allowing excess fluid to drain from the eye.
What type of glaucoma does pilocarpine treat?
Pilocarpine eye drops are used for glaucoma. They are most commonly used for
acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG)
. This occurs when the pressure inside your eye gets too high very quickly. AACG is sometimes referred to as acute closed-angle glaucoma, or simply, acute glaucoma.
How quickly does pilocarpine work?
Onset of miosis after topical administration of a 1% solution of pilocarpine hydrochloride or nitrate to the conjunctival sac occurs
within 10-30 minutes
, with maximal effect within 30 minutes. Miosis usually persists for 4-8 hours, rarely, up to 20 hours.
Does pilocarpine raise blood pressure?
Pilocarpine may have paradoxical effects on the cardiovascular system. The expected effect of a muscarinic agonist is vasodepression, but
administration of Pilocarpine may produce hypertension after
a brief episode of hypotension.
Does pilocarpine cause Miosis?
Pilocarpine will also cause constriction of the pupillary sphincter muscle
, resulting in miosis. The allowable daily dose is 30 mg. [5] With excessive dosing, it can propagate a cholinergic crisis.
What is the mechanism of action of pilocarpine?
Mechanism Of Action
Pilocarpine hydrochloride is a direct acting cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent which
acts through direct stimulation of muscarinic receptors and smooth muscle such as the iris and secretory glands
.
Can you use pilocarpine long term?
A recent multi-center study in SS patients suggests that
oral pilocarpine is effective and safe for long-term administration
.
What are the side effects of pilocarpine eye drops?
- severe stinging, burning, swelling, or redness of your eye;
- vision changes;
- eye pain or increased watering; or.
- signs of eye infection –swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or drainage.
Do pilocarpine side effects go away?
Some side effects of pilocarpine 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.
Does pilocarpine decrease blood pressure?
Direct administration of pilocarpine to the fetus resulted in an
immediate dose-dependent decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure
and a rapid fall in FHR.
How do you dilute pilocarpine?
Dilute pilocarpine (0.125 or 0.1 percent) can be made by
diluting readily available commercial 1% solution with sterile saline
. (Leavitt, 333) After 30-60 minutes the affected pupil will constrict more than the normal pupil.
When is the best time to take pilocarpine?
Take your doses
during (or straight after) a meal
, and make sure you take your last dose of the day with your evening meal. If you are taking pilocarpine because you have Sjögren’s syndrome, the usual dose is one tablet four times daily. Take a tablet with each of your three main meals, and also one at bedtime.
Is there an alternative to pilocarpine?
Cevimeline is a capsule that is usually taken three times a day; whereas pilocarpine is a tablet that is taken 4 times a day. As an alternative route, there are also saliva substitutes available as a prescription, including
Caphosol
as an oral solution, Aquoral as a spray, and NeutraSal as a powder.
