Pilocarpine Eye Drops Bp 4.0% W/V
Out of date information, search anotherSUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Pilocarpine Eye Drops BP 4.0% w/v
2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Pilocarpine Hydrochloride BP 4.0% w/v
3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Eye Drops.
4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1. Therapeutic indications
• Pilocarpine is a direct acting miotic indicated for:
• chronic simple glaucoma
• acute (closed angle) glaucoma alone, or in conjunction with other agents to decrease
intra-ocular pressure prior to surgical treatment
• miosis - to counteract the effects of cycloplegic or mydriatic eye drops
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Dosage schedule:
Adults and the elderly
a) In the treatment of open angle glaucoma, the dosage is one or two drops every six hours or as prescribed by the physician.
The strength of the preparation and the frequency of use are determined by the severity of the condition and the response to treatment.
b) When used prior to surgery for acute attacks of closed-angle glaucoma, the dosage is one drop every five minutes until miosis is obtained or as directed by the physician.
c) To overcome weaker mydriatics, the normal dosage is one drop every five minutes until the effect is counteracted or as directed by the physician.
Children
The safety and efficacy of the product have not been established for use in children. It should only be used when considered essential by the physician.
Route of administration
For topical ocular use.
4.3. Contra-indications
• Hypersensitivity to any component.
• Acute iritis
• Anterior uveitis
• Some forms of secondary glaucoma
• Soft contact lenses.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Although rare, the possibility of systemic absorption should be considered especially in the treatment of acute closed-angle glaucoma where higher doses are administered. It should be used with caution in patients with bronchial asthma, peptic ulceration, urinary tract obstruction, Parkinson’s disease, acute heart failure and hypertension.
Fundus examination is advised in all patients before starting pilocarpine therapy since retinal detachment has been associated with the use of miotics in susceptible individuals and those with pre-existing retinal disease.
Regular monitoring of visual fields and intra-ocular pressure should be carried out in patients on long term therapy with pilocarpine for chronic simple glaucoma.
4.5.
Interactions with other medicaments and other forms of interaction
If systemic absorption occurs, pilocarpine may enhance the effects of alcohol and anticholinesterases and diminish the effects of anticholinergics. The effects of pilocarpine may be enhanced by anticholinesterases, MAOI’s, phenothiazines, antihistamines and tricyclic antidepressants. Adrenergic blockers may decrease the effects of pilocarpine.
4.6. Pregnancy and lactation
Safety of pilocarpine for use during pregnancy has not been established. Ophthalmic pilocarpine may be systemically absorbed and mothers using the drug may give birth to infants with signs mimicking neonatal meningitis such as restlessness, convulsions, diaphoresis and hypothermia. Pilocarpine should therefore only be used when essential during pregnancy.
Safety of pilocarpine for use during lactation has not been established and it should therefore only be used when clearly indicated. It is not known whether pilocarpine is excreted in breast milk. The possibility of systemic absorption however, should be borne in mind.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
The miotic effects of pilocarpine causes difficulty in adapting to the dark. Caution is therefore necessary if driving or operating machinery in poorly lit conditions. Pilocarpine impairs accommodation by paralysis or spasm and patients should not drive or operate machinery if they experience blurred vision.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Ocular side effects of pilocarpine include ciliary spasm, blurred vision, itching, smarting and burning, sensitisation of the lids and conjunctival vascular congestion, transient myopia, lens changes with chronic use, decrease in visual acuity in poor illumination, increased pupillary block, vitreous haemorrhaging and retinal detachment.
Headache and browache occur, especially in young patients who have recently initiated therapy. Other systemic effects following ocular use are rare but may include sweating, increased salivation, lacrimation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, tremor, bronchial spasm, pulmonary oedema and changes in blood pressure and cardiac rhythm.
4.9. Overdose
If pilocarpine is accidentally ingested, emesis should be induced or gastric lavage performed. The patient should be monitored for signs of pilocarpine toxicity such as increased salivation and sweating, lacrimation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If these occur, therapy with an anticholinergic such as atropine may be required.
5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1. Pharmacodynamic properties
Pilocarpine is an alkaloid of natural plant origin, which is a direct-acting cholinergic agonist. It acts primarily at muscarinic receptor sites both peripherally and centrally, affecting smooth muscle, the cardiovascular system and exocrine glands.
The precise mechanism by which pilocarpine reduces intra-ocular pressure has not been established, though it is believed to involve direct stimulation of the longitudinal muscle of the ciliary body, which in turn affects the scleral spur, widening the trabecular spaces and allowing for increased aqueous flow. Pilocarpine may also decrease aqueous formation with long term administration. Due to its activity at the muscarinic receptor sites of the ciliary muscles and iris sphincter, pilocarpine causes varying degrees of accommodation spasm and pupillary constriction.
5.2. Pharmacokinetic properties
Onset of miosis after topical administration of a 1% solution of pilocarpine hydrochloride or nitrate to the conjunctival sac occurs within 10-30 minutes, with maximal effect within 30 minutes. Miosis usually persists for 4-8 hours, rarely, up to 20 hours. Reduction of intra-ocular pressure is evident within 60 minutes, peaks within 75 minutes and, depending on the concentration of pilocarpine used, persists for 4-14 hours. Spasms of accommodation commence in about 15 minutes and persist for 2-3 hours.
5.3. Preclinical safety data
None available.
6.1. List of excipients
Benzalkonium Chloride Solution BP Purified Water BP
6.2. Incompatibilities
Soft contact lenses absorb water soluble compounds such as pilocarpine and its salts and the preservative benzalkonium chloride, and should therefore not be worn when administering pilocarpine eye drops.
6.3. Shelf life
24 months from manufacture. 28 days from first opening.
6.4. Special precautions for storage
Store upright below 25°C in a dry place away from strong light.
6.5. Nature and contents of container
Plastic tamper evident eye dropper bottle assembly. Pack size 10ml.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
No special instructions.
7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd Bampton Road,
Harold Hill,
Romford,
RM3 8UG
8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER
PL 0156/0078
9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
6 June 1997
10. DATE OF (PARTIAL) REVISION OF THE TEXT
November 1998