Pilocarpine Hcl (pilocarpine HCl)
Parasympathetic Miotics Ophthalmic (Eye) Drops; Oral Tablet
Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
Overview
Pilocarpine, a direct-acting parasympathomimetic agent, is a miotic.
Pilocarpine shares the uses of the miotics.
Generic name: pilocarpine HCl
Pronunciation: (PYE-loe-KAR-peen)
Drug class: Parasympathetic Miotics
Therapeutic class: Mouth-Throat-Dental - Preparations
Reference product & biosimilars
No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.
Today’s intelligence on Pilocarpine Hcl
Indications
The following indications are listed for Pilocarpine Hcl:
- Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Miosis Induction During Ocular Surgery
- Ocular Hypertension
- Open Angle Glaucoma
Also known as: Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma, Acute Narrow Angle Glaucoma, Chronic Glaucoma, Compensated Glaucoma, Glaucoma Simplex, Increased Intraocular Pressure, Increased Iop, Induce Pupil Constriction During Ocular Procedure, Induction Of Miosis During Eye Procedure, Open-Angle Glaucoma, Raised Intraocular Pressure, Simple Glaucoma.
Dosing
Dosage and concentrations of pilocarpine hydrochloride are expressed in terms of the salt.
Pilocarpine hydrochloride is applied topically to the conjunctival sac as an ophthalmic solution. If pilocarpine hydrochloride gel is used concomitantly with ophthalmic solutions, the solutions should be instilled first and the gel should be applied at least 5 minutes later.
Following topical instillation of miotic ophthalmic solutions, finger pressure should be applied on the lacrimal sac for 1-2 minutes to minimize drainage into the nose and throat and reduce the risk of absorption and systemic reactions. Excess solution around the eye should be removed with a tissue and any medication on the hands should be rinsed off immediately.
| Drug label | Dosing type | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Pilocarpine Hcl 5 Mg Tablet | Maintenance | Take 1 tablet (5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day. |
| Pilocarpine Hcl 1.25% Eye Drop | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route once daily ; may instill 1 additional drop 3-6 hours after the first dose. |
| Pilocarpine 1% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 12 hours. |
| Pilocarpine 2% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 4 hours. |
| Pilocarpine 4% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 4 hours. |
| Drug label | Dosing type | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Pilocarpine Hcl 5 Mg Tablet | Maintenance | Take 1 tablet (5 mg) by oral route 3 times per day. |
| Pilocarpine Hcl 1.25% Eye Drop | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route once daily ; may instill 1 additional drop 3-6 hours after the first dose. |
| Pilocarpine 1% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 12 hours. |
| Pilocarpine 2% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 4 hours. |
| Pilocarpine 4% Eye Drops | Maintenance | Instill 1 drop into affected eye(s) by ophthalmic route every 4 hours. |
Drug interactions
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.
There are no severe interactions for this drug.
Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
Cholinergics/Quinidine
SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
MECHANISM OF ACTION: The anticholinergic properties of quinidine may oppose cholinergic drug effects.
CLINICAL EFFECTS: Quinidine may antagonize the effects of cholinergic drugs in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Cardiac slowing secondary to cholinergic drugs would tend to be prevented by quinidine.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: If both drugs are administered, observe the myasthenic patient for signs and symptoms of the disease.
DISCUSSION: Caution is warranted in co-administration of these drugs due to their opposing pharmacologic properties.
Contraindications
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Anterior uveitis
- Iritis
- Severe persistent asthma
- Biliary calculus
- Biliary tract disorder
- Cholecystitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Disease of liver
- Psychotic disorder
- Retinal detachment
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Kidney stone
- Retinal detachment
Adverse reactions
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
Less Frequent
- Vision impairment
Rare or Very Rare
- Abnormal ECG
- Bradycardia
- Hearing loss
- Iris cyst
- Ocular pain
- Retinal detachment
- Retinal tear
- Sialorrhea
- Vitreomacular adhesion
- Vitreous detachment
More Frequent
- Blurred vision
- Chills
- Conjunctival hyperemia
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- General weakness
- Headache disorder
- Hyperhidrosis
- Increased urinary frequency
- Nausea
- Night blindness
- Rhinitis
- Visual changes
Less Frequent
- Acute abdominal pain
- Dyspepsia
- Edema
- Eye tearing
- Eye tearing
- Headache disorder
- Hypertension
- Myopia
- Ocular irritation
- Pharyngitis
- Toxic amblyopia
- Vomiting
Rare or Very Rare
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Accommodation disorder
- Acute cognitive impairment
- Appetite changes
- Body odor
- Dysphagia
- Dysuria
- Epistaxis
- Esophagitis
- Fatigue
- Hypothermia
- Muscle fasciculation
- Palpitations
- Paresthesia
- Photophobia
- Symptoms of anxiety
- Syncope
- Tachycardia
- Tremor
- Visual changes
- Vitreous floater
- Voice change
Precautions
No enhanced messaging available.
No enhanced messaging available.
No enhanced messaging available.
No enhanced messaging available.
No enhanced messaging available.
ICD codes
| Code | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acute angle-closure glaucoma | ||
| H40.21 | ICD10CM | Acute angle-closure glaucoma |
| H40.211 | ICD10CM | Acute angle-closure glaucoma, right eye |
| H40.212 | ICD10CM | Acute angle-closure glaucoma, left eye |
| H40.213 | ICD10CM | Acute angle-closure glaucoma, bilateral |
| H40.219 | ICD10CM | Acute angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye |
| Ocular hypertension | ||
| H40.05 | ICD10CM | Ocular hypertension |
| H40.051 | ICD10CM | Ocular hypertension, right eye |
| H40.052 | ICD10CM | Ocular hypertension, left eye |
| H40.053 | ICD10CM | Ocular hypertension, bilateral |
| H40.059 | ICD10CM | Ocular hypertension, unspecified eye |
| Open angle glaucoma | ||
| H40.1 | ICD10CM | Open-angle glaucoma |
| H40.10 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma |
| H40.10x0 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma, stage unspecified |
| H40.10x1 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma, mild stage |
| H40.10x2 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma, moderate stage |
| H40.10x3 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma, severe stage |
| H40.10x4 | ICD10CM | Unspecified open-angle glaucoma, indeterminate stage |
| H40.11 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma |
| H40.111 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye |
| H40.1110 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1111 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye, mild stage |
| H40.1112 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1113 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye, severe stage |
| H40.1114 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, right eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.112 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye |
| H40.1120 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1121 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye, mild stage |
| H40.1122 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1123 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye, severe stage |
| H40.1124 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, left eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.113 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral |
| H40.1130 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, stage unspecified |
| H40.1131 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, mild stage |
| H40.1132 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, moderate stage |
| H40.1133 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, severe stage |
| H40.1134 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, indeterminate stage |
| H40.119 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye |
| H40.1190 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1191 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye, mild stage |
| H40.1192 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1193 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye, severe stage |
| H40.1194 | ICD10CM | Primary open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.12 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma |
| H40.121 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye |
| H40.1210 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1211 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye, mild stage |
| H40.1212 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1213 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye, severe stage |
| H40.1214 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, right eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.122 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye |
| H40.1220 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1221 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye, mild stage |
| H40.1222 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1223 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye, severe stage |
| H40.1224 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, left eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.123 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral |
| H40.1230 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral, stage unspecified |
| H40.1231 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral, mild stage |
| H40.1232 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral, moderate stage |
| H40.1233 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral, severe stage |
| H40.1234 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, bilateral, indeterminate stage |
| H40.129 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye |
| H40.1290 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1291 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye, mild stage |
| H40.1292 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1293 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye, severe stage |
| H40.1294 | ICD10CM | Low-tension glaucoma, unspecified eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.13 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma |
| H40.131 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye |
| H40.1310 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1311 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye, mild stage |
| H40.1312 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1313 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye, severe stage |
| H40.1314 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, right eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.132 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye |
| H40.1320 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1321 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye, mild stage |
| H40.1322 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1323 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye, severe stage |
| H40.1324 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, left eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.133 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral |
| H40.1330 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral, stage unspecified |
| H40.1331 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral, mild stage |
| H40.1332 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral, moderate stage |
| H40.1333 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral, severe stage |
| H40.1334 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, bilateral, indeterminate stage |
| H40.139 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye |
| H40.1390 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1391 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye, mild stage |
| H40.1392 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1393 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye, severe stage |
| H40.1394 | ICD10CM | Pigmentary glaucoma, unspecified eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.14 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens |
| H40.141 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye |
| H40.1410 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1411 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye, mild stage |
| H40.1412 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1413 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye, severe stage |
| H40.1414 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, right eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.142 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye |
| H40.1420 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1421 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye, mild stage |
| H40.1422 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1423 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye, severe stage |
| H40.1424 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, left eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.143 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral |
| H40.1430 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral, stage unspecified |
| H40.1431 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral, mild stage |
| H40.1432 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral, moderate stage |
| H40.1433 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral, severe stage |
| H40.1434 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, bilateral, indeterminate stage |
| H40.149 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye |
| H40.1490 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye, stage unspecified |
| H40.1491 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye, mild stage |
| H40.1492 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye, moderate stage |
| H40.1493 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye, severe stage |
| H40.1494 | ICD10CM | Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens, unspecified eye, indeterminate stage |
| H40.15 | ICD10CM | Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma |
| H40.151 | ICD10CM | Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, right eye |
| H40.152 | ICD10CM | Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, left eye |
| H40.153 | ICD10CM | Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, bilateral |
| H40.159 | ICD10CM | Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye |
| Presbyopia | ||
| H52.4 | ICD10CM | Presbyopia |
| Xerostomia | ||
| K11.7 | ICD10CM | Disturbances of salivary secretion |
| R68.2 | ICD10CM | Dry mouth, unspecified |
| Xerostomia secondary to radiation therapy | ||
| K11.7 | ICD10CM | Disturbances of salivary secretion |
| R68.2 | ICD10CM | Dry mouth, unspecified |
| Xerostomia secondary to sjogren's syndrome | ||
| M35.00 | ICD10CM | Sjogren syndrome, unspecified |
| M35.0C | ICD10CM | Sjogren syndrome with dental involvement |
ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).
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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
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