Pilocarpine for Sjögren's syndrome

Examples

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Brand Name	Chemical Name
Salagen	pilocarpine

Pilocarpine is available only by prescription as tablets to be taken by mouth.

How It Works

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Pilocarpine increases the amount of saliva and tears produced by the salivary and tear glands. Pilocarpine tablets are used to relieve dryness in the mouth, throat, and eyes caused by Sjögren's syndrome.

Why It Is Used

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In Sjögren's syndrome, the moisture-producing glands of the body are attacked by the immune system and can become scarred and damaged, resulting in exceptional drying of the eyes and mouth. Besides being very uncomfortable and irritating, the dryness can lead to other symptoms, including yeast infections in the mouth (thrush), and cardboard-dry nasal and breathing passages. Pilocarpine stimulates an increase in the production of saliva and tears to relieve these symptoms.

How Well It Works

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Pilocarpine has shown good results in relieving the dry mouth symptoms and, to a lesser extent, the dry eyes symptoms caused by Sjögren's syndrome.¹

Side Effects

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Mild side effects may occur as you begin pilocarpine treatment. Check with your health professional if any of these side effects continue or become bothersome:

• Chills
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Feeling of warmth or heat
• Fever
• Flushing or redness of skin, especially on the face and neck
• Increased need to urinate
• Indigestion
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches and pains
• Nausea
• Runny nose
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Sweating

Less common side effects include:

• Fast heartbeat.
• Headache.
• Holding more body water.
• Swelling of face, fingers, ankles, or feet.
• Trembling or shaking.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Trouble seeing.
• Unusual weak feeling.
• Voice change.
• Vomiting.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pilocarpine. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking pilocarpine if you have:

• Asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems.
• Gallbladder problems.
• Glaucoma.
• Heart or blood vessel disease.
• Inflammation of the iris of the eye (iritis).
• Kidney problems.
• Mental problems.
• Acute peptic ulcer disease.
• A tendency for retinal detachment.
• Retinal disease.

If you are breast-feeding, pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your health professional before taking pilocarpine.

Be sure to talk to your health professional about other medications that you take, both prescription and nonprescription, before starting pilocarpine treatment.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Carsons S (2005). Sjögren's syndrome. In ED Harris Jr et al., eds., Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 7th ed., vol. 2, chap. 69, pp. 1105–1124. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.

Credits

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Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
Last Updated	May 18, 2006