FDA Label for Pilocarpine Hydrochloride

1 Indications And Usage

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is indicated for the:

1.1 Reduction Of Elevated Intraocular Pressure (Iop) In Patients With Open-Angle Glaucoma Or Ocular Hypertension

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1.2 Management Of Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

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1.3 Prevention Of Postoperative Elevated Iop Associated With Laser Surgery

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1.4 Induction Of Miosis

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2.1 Reduction Of Elevated Iop In Patients With Open-Angle Glaucoma Or Ocular Hypertension

One drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1%, 2%, or 4% should be applied topically in the eye(s) up to four times daily.  

Pilocarpine-naïve patients should be started on the 1% concentration as higher concentrations are often not tolerated initially. The frequency of instillation and concentration of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution are determined by the severity of the elevated intraocular pressure and miotic response of the patient. To limit systemic exposure to pilocarpine, patients may be instructed to perform punctal occlusion for 2 minutes after instillation of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution.

2.2 Management Of Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Prior to pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution use, treatment with secretory suppressants and hyperosmotic agents may be needed to lower IOP below 50 mmHg and relieve iris ischemia. 

For initial management of acute angle-closure glaucoma, one drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1% or 2% may be applied topically in the eye(s) up to three times over a 30-minute period. 

If laser iridoplasty or iridomy is used to break the attack, one drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 4% should be administered prior to the procedure. Following laser iridoplasty, one drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1% should be administered four times daily until an iridotomy can be performed.

2.3 Prevention Of Postoperative Elevated Iop Associated With Laser Surgery

One drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1%, 2%, or 4% (or two drops administered five minutes apart) should be applied topically in the eye(s) 15 to 60 minutes prior to surgery.

2.4 Induction Of Miosis

One drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1%, 2%, or 4% (or two drops administered five minutes apart) should be applied topically in the eye(s).

2.5 Use With Other Topical Ophthalmic Medications

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution may be used in combination with beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sympathomimetics or hyperosmotic agents. If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least five minutes apart.

2.6 Use In Pediatric Patients

In children under 2 years of age, one drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1% should be applied topically in the eye(s) three times daily. Children 2 years of age and over should be dosed as for adults. For the induction of miosis prior to goniotomy or trabeculotomy in children, one drop of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1% or 2% should be applied topically in the eye 15 to 60 minutes prior to surgery.

3 Dosage Forms And Strengths

Bottle filled with 15 mL of 1% (10 mg/mL), 2% (20 mg/mL), or 4% (40 mg/mL) pilocarpine hydrochloride sterile ophthalmic solution.

4 Contraindications

None.

5.1 Poor Illumination

Patients should be advised to exercise caution in night driving and other hazardous occupations in poor illumination. In addition, miotics may cause accommodative spasm. Patients should be advised not to drive or use machinery if vision is not clear.

5.2 Preexisting Retinal Disease

As with all miotics, rare cases of retinal detachment have been reported when used in certain susceptible individuals and those with preexisting retinal disease; therefore, a thorough examination of the retina including funduscopy is advised in all patients prior to the initiation of therapy.

5.3 Iritis

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is not recommended to be used when iritis is present.

5.4 Primary Congenital Glaucoma

Caution is advised when using pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in pediatric patients with primary congenital glaucoma for control of IOP as cases of a paradoxical increase in IOP have been reported. In addition, the use of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is not recommended in pediatric patients diagnosed with glaucoma secondary to anterior segment dysgenesis or uveitis (especially if uveitis is active).

5.5 Contact Lens Wear

Contact lens wearers should be advised to remove their lenses prior to the instillation of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution and to wait 10 minutes after dosing before reinserting their contact lenses.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The safety data described below reflect exposure in four controlled clinical trials of 90 days to 2 years duration in 317 patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. In the four clinical trials, patients were treated with pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 2%, two to four times daily or with pilocarpine 1%, 1.75%, or 2% in fixed combination with betaxolol 0.25%, two or three times daily. The most frequently reported adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 5% of patients in the pilocarpine 2% populations were: headache/brow ache, accommodative change, blurred vision, eye irritation, visual impairment (dim, dark, or “jumping” vision), and eye pain.

The adverse reaction profile reported for the use of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in pediatric patients is comparable to that seen in adult patients.

8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy. Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with pilocarpine hydrochloride. It is also not known whether pilocarpine hydrochloride can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in pediatric patients have been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

10 Overdosage

Systemic toxicity following topical ocular administration of pilocarpine is rare, but occasionally patients who are sensitive may develop sweating and gastrointestinal overactivity following the suggested dosage and administration. Overdosage can produce sweating, salivation, nausea, tremors and slowing of the pulse and a decrease in blood pressure. In moderate overdosage, spontaneous recovery is to be expected and is aided by intravenous fluids to compensate for dehydration. For patients demonstrating severe poisoning, atropine, the pharmacologic antagonist to pilocarpine, should be used.

11 Description

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution is a cholinergic agonist prepared as a sterile topical ophthalmic solution. The active ingredient is represented by the chemical structure:

Chemical Diagram - chemical

Established name: pilocarpine hydrochloride Chemical name: 2(3H)-furanone, 3-ethyldihydro-4-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-methyl]- monohydrochloride, (3S-cis)-. Molecular Formula: C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₂ • HCl; Molecular Weight: 244.72 g/mol. 

Each mL of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution contains: Active: pilocarpine hydrochloride 1% (10 mg/mL), 2% (20 mg/mL), or 4% (40 mg/mL). Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01%. Inactives: hypromellose 2910, boric acid, sodium citrate, sodium chloride (present in 1% only); hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH); purified water. Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution has a pH of 3.5 to 5.5 and an osmolality of 290 to 350 mOsm/kg (1% and 2% products) and 550 to 600 mOsm/kg (4% product).

12.1 Mechanism Of Action

Pilocarpine hydrochloride is a direct acting cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent which acts through direct stimulation of muscarinic receptors and smooth muscle such as the iris and secretory glands. Pilocarpine contracts the ciliary muscle, causing increased tension on the scleral spur and opening of the trabecular meshwork spaces to facilitate outflow of aqueous humor. Outflow resistance is reduced, lowering IOP. Pilocarpine also produces miosis through contraction of the iris sphincter muscle. Miosis relieves appositional angle narrowing and closure, which lowers IOP in certain types of angle-closure glaucoma.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Systemic exposure to pilocarpine was evaluated in 14 healthy subjects administered 2 drops of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 4% to both eyes four times daily for eight days. A comparison of C_max values on Days 5 and 8 indicated that pilocarpine concentrations in plasma reached steady-state following topical administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 4%. The mean (SD) C_max and AUC_0-last values on Day 8 were 3.7 (3.2) ng/mL and 7.7 (8.4) ng×hour/mL, respectively. The T_max values on Day 8 ranged from 0.5 to 1 hour.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility

There have been no long-term studies done using pilocarpine hydrochloride in animals to evaluate carcinogenic potential.

14 Clinical Studies

In clinical trials reported in the medical literature, pilocarpine ophthalmic solution reduced IOP by 3-7 mmHg in patients with open-angle glaucoma. Pilocarpine ophthalmic solution has also been shown to be effective in the induction of miosis, in the prevention of postoperative elevated IOP, and in the management of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

16 How Supplied/Storage And Handling

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1%, 2%, and 4% is supplied sterile in natural low density polyethylene plastic ophthalmic dispensers and green low density polyethylene tips with green polypropylene caps.  

15 mL in 15 mL bottles
1%: NDC 61314-203-15
2%: NDC 61314-204-15
4%: NDC 61314-206-15 

STORAGE: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from freezing.

17 Patient Counseling Information

Avoiding Contamination of the Product

Do not touch dropper tip to any surface, as this may contaminate the contents.

Night Driving

Caution is advised with night driving and when hazardous activities are undertaken in poor illumination.

Accommodative Spasm

Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution may cause problems when changing focus between near objects and distant objects. Do not drive or use machinery if vision is not clear.

Contact Lens Wear

Contact lens should be removed prior to the instillation of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution. Wait 10 minutes after dosing before reinserting contact lenses.

Concomitant Topical Ocular Therapy

If more than one topical ophthalmic medication is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Systemic Exposure

To limit exposure to pilocarpine to the eye alone, close eyes gently and apply pressure with finger to the corner of eye by the nose for 2 minutes after instillation of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution.

Distributed by:

Sandoz Inc.

Princeton, NJ 08540

T2020-98

300039197 USG

Principal Display Panel

NDC 61314-203-15

Pilocarpine

Hydrochloride

Ophthalmic

Solution
1%

Rx only

STERILE

15 mL
 
SANDOZ

1percentcarton - carton

NDC 61314-203-15

Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution

1%

Rx only

STERILE     15 mL

SANDOZ

NDC 61314-204-15

Pilocarpine

Hydrochloride

Ophthalmic

Solution
2%

Rx only

STERILE

15 mL
 
SANDOZ

NDC 61314-206-15

Pilocarpine

Hydrochloride

Ophthalmic

Solution
4%

Rx only

STERILE

15 mL
 
SANDOZ