Examples

Pilocarpine is available only by prescription as tablets to be taken by mouth.

How It Works

Pilocarpine increases the amount of saliva and tears produced by the salivary and tear glands. Pilocarpine tablets are used to relieve dryness in the mouth, throat, and eyes caused by Sjögren's syndrome.

Why It Is Used

In Sjögren's syndrome, the moisture-producing glands of the body are attacked by the immune system and can become scarred and damaged, resulting in exceptional drying of the eyes and mouth. Besides being very uncomfortable and irritating, the dryness can lead to other symptoms, including yeast infections in the mouth (thrush), and cardboard-dry nasal and breathing passages. Pilocarpine stimulates an increase in the production of saliva and tears to relieve these symptoms.

How Well It Works

Pilocarpine has shown good results in relieving the dry mouth symptoms and, to a lesser extent, the dry eyes symptoms caused by Sjögren's syndrome.¹

Side Effects

Mild side effects may occur as you begin pilocarpine treatment. Check with your health professional if you have any of these side effects or think you are having other side effects:

• Sweating
• Diarrhea
• Feeling warm or flushing and redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
• Muscle aches or pains
• Increased need to urinate
• Runny nose
• Changes in vision

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pilocarpine. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking pilocarpine if you have:

• Asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems.
• Gallbladder problems.
• Glaucoma.
• Heart or blood vessel disease.
• Inflammation of the iris of the eye (iritis).
• Kidney problems.
• Mental problems.
• Acute peptic ulcer disease.
• A tendency for retinal detachment.
• Retinal disease.

If you are breast-feeding, pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your health professional before taking pilocarpine.

Be sure to talk to your health professional about other medications that you take, both prescription and nonprescription, before starting pilocarpine treatment.

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Citations

1. Carsons S (2005). Sjögren's syndrome. In ED Harris Jr et al., eds., Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 7th ed., vol. 2, chap. 69, pp. 1105–1124. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.