Health Centres - Minims pilocarpine nitrate
How does it work?
Pilocarpine belongs to a class of medicines known as miotics.
What is it used for?
-
Glaucoma
Warning!
- This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
- It is recommended that you receive regular eye examinations while you taking this medicine, as it can sometimes cause eye problems. Consult your doctor if you experience any disturbances in your vision while taking this medicine.
- Patients with dark eyes may need more concentrated medication or to apply the drops more frequently. Care then has to be taken to avoid overdosage.
- The conjunctiva and cornea cover the front of the eye, and the conjunctiva also lines the inside of the eyelids. If these are damaged care should be taken when giving the medicine to patients.
Use with caution in
-
Asthma
-
Heart disease
-
High blood pressure
- Obstruction of the urinary tract (urethra)
-
Parkinson's disease
-
Peptic ulcer
Not to be used in
- Inflammation of the coloured part of the eye and the muscle that controls it (uveitis)
- Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient
- Soft contact lens wearers
- Sudden inflammation of the front of the eye
- Sudden inflammation of the iris of the eye (acute iritis)
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Headache across the forehead (browache)
- Burning sensation in the eye
- Itchiness of the eye
- Eye pain
- Congestion of the blood vessels in the lining (conjunctiva) of the eye
- Short-sightedness (myopia)
- Changes in the lens of the eye, after long term use
- Bleeding into the chamber behind the lens of the eye (vitreous haemorrhage)
- Inablity of the pupil to change size (pupillary block)
- Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis)
- Visual disturbances (eye preparations only)
- Retinal detachment
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Griping pain in the abdomen (colic)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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