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Overview: Pilocarpine is used to treat dry mouth in certain people. Common side effects include excessive sweating, runny or stuffy nose, and nausea. Pilocarpine may cause blurry vision, making it harder to see clearly and judge distances, especially at night. Be careful when driving at night or doing activities in low light where you need to see well.

Uses

What is pilocarpine used for?

Pilocarpine is commonly used to treat dry mouth in people who have Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that makes it hard for the body to produce enough saliva. Pilocarpine can also be used to help people with dry mouth caused by radiation treatment for certain types of cancer.

Pilocarpine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

Pilocarpine is also available as an eye drop. See Pilocarpine ophthalmic for more information.

How does pilocarpine work (mechanism of action)?

Pilocarpine helps your body make more saliva to treat dry mouth.

How is pilocarpine supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Salagen

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 5 mg oral tablets
  • 7.5 mg oral tablets

How should I store pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine should be stored at room temperature, up to 77 F (25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of pilocarpine?

The most common side effects of pilocarpine are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Excessive sweating
  • Excessive amounts of saliva
  • Nausea
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Chills
  • Flushing, when your face or body suddenly feels warm and turns red
  • Increased urination (peeing)
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling unusually weak or tired

There may be other side effects of pilocarpine that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of pilocarpine?

While less common, the most serious side effects of pilocarpine are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Pilocarpine may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking pilocarpine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Breathing Problems. Pilocarpine may cause the muscles around the airways to tighten (bronchospasm), which can be serious. The risk is higher in people with breathing problems, such as asthma and COPD. Stop taking pilocarpine and contact your healthcare provider right away if you have trouble breathing.

Vision Problems. Pilocarpine may cause blurry vision, making it harder to see clearly and judge distances, especially at night. Be careful when driving at night or doing activities in low light where you need to see well.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use pilocarpine?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take pilocarpine.

  • Salagen
  • Pilocarpine
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific pilocarpine products they stock.

Asthma. You should not take pilocarpine if you have uncontrolled asthma.

Eye Problems. You should not take pilocarpine if you have certain eye problems, such as iritis (inflammation of the iris, the colored part of your eye) or narrow-angle glaucoma. 

What should I know about pilocarpine before using it?

Do not take pilocarpine unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share pilocarpine with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep pilocarpine out of the reach of children.

Pilocarpine may cause you to sweat more than usual and become dehydrated, which can be dangerous. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicine.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using pilocarpine?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if pilocarpine is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Heart problems, including chest pain or an abnormal heart rhythm
  • Breathing problems, such as asthma or COPD
  • Eye problems, such as glaucoma
  • Liver problems
  • Mental health problems
  • Memory problems, such as dementia 
  • History of kidney stones
  • History of gallstones

Other Medicines and Supplements. Pilocarpine may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking pilocarpine, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how pilocarpine could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if pilocarpine passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should stop breastfeeding or stop pilocarpine.

Interactions

Does pilocarpine interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between pilocarpine and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect pilocarpine. The risk of blurred vision may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking pilocarpine.

Does pilocarpine interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking pilocarpine.

  • A beta-blocker, such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), atenolol (Tenormin), or propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL), which is a medicine that may be used for certain heart conditions or to reduce blood pressure
  • Donepezil or rivastigmine, which is a medicine commonly used to treat Alzheimer’s dementia
  • An anticholinergic medicine, which includes antihistamines and medicines commonly used for overactive bladder, Parkinson’s disease, or stomach problems
  • An inhaled anticholinergic, such as tiotropium (Spiriva), umeclidinium (Incruse), ipratropium (Atrovent), or aclidinium (Tudorza), which is a medicine commonly used for COPD 

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with pilocarpine. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much pilocarpine?

If you or someone else has used too much pilocarpine, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of pilocarpine?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.