Pilocarpine (Ophthalmic)

Brand name(s): rp

Proper Use of This Medicine

To use the eye drop form of pilocarpine:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

To use the eye gel form of pilocarpine:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Squeeze a thin strip of gel into this space. A 1½-cm (approximately ½-inch) strip of gel is usually enough, unless you have been told by your doctor to use a different amount. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• Immediately after using the eye gel, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). After using the eye gel, wipe the tip of the gel tube with a clean tissue and keep the tube tightly closed.

To use the eye insert form of pilocarpine:

• This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before using this medicine.
• If you think this medicine unit may be damaged, do not use it. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• If the unit seems to be releasing too much medicine into your eye, remove it and replace with a new unit. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of too much medicine being absorbed into the body and the chance of side effects.

Dosing-

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

The number of doses you use each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you use the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using ophthalmic pilocarpine.

• For eye drop dosage form:
  • For chronic glaucoma:
    • Adults and children-One drop one to four times a day.
  • For acute angle-closure glaucoma:
    • Adults and children-One drop every five to ten minutes for three to six doses. Then one drop every one to three hours until eye pressure is reduced.
• For eye gel dosage form:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and teenagers-Use once a day at bedtime.
    • Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For eye insert dosage form:
  • For glaucoma:
    • Adults and children-Insert one ocular system every seven days.
    • Infants-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose-

• For patients using the eye drop form of pilocarpine: If you miss a dose of this medicine, use 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.
• For patients using the eye gel form of pilocarpine: If you miss a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
• For patients using the eye insert form of pilocarpine: If you forget to replace the eye insert at the proper time, replace it as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage-

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Store the eye system form of this medicine in the refrigerator. However, keep the medicine from freezing.
• Store the 5-gram size of the gel form of this medicine in the refrigerator. Store the 3.5-gram size at room temperature. Also, keep both sizes of the gel form of this medicine from freezing.
• Keep the solution form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Last Revised: 06/21/1995

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