Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pilocarpine oral tablet to treat adults with symptoms of dry mouth due to:
This article describes possible side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about pilocarpine, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Pilocarpine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Salagen. Pilocarpine also comes in an eye drop, but this form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about this form, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of pilocarpine
Pilocarpine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pilocarpine in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of pilocarpine
Pilocarpine may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- sweating*
- nausea*
- diarrhea*
- frequent urination
- chills
- asthenia (weakness)
- flushing
- dizziness
- rhinitis
- mild allergic reaction*
Pilocarpine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pilocarpine in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of pilocarpine
Pilocarpine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from pilocarpine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with pilocarpine.
Serious side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- changes in blood pressure and heart rate
- heart problems, such as palpitations or irregular heart rhythm
- changes in vision, including blurred vision
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pilocarpine in detail” section below.
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Get free cardCommon questions about side effects of pilocarpine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet compare with those seen with the eye drops form of the drug?
Side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet are often different than those seen with pilocarpine eye drops. This is partly because eye drops can have side effects that occur because you apply the drop directly to the eye.
The oral tablet and eye drop forms of pilocarpine are approved for different uses. Pilocarpine oral tablet is prescribed to treat the symptoms of dry mouth due to certain conditions. Pilocarpine eye drops are prescribed for some eye conditions, such as lowering the pressure in the eyes in people with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Common side effects of pilocarpine eye drops reported in studies may include:
- headache
- eye irritation or pain
- problems focusing when you look at something close up after looking at something far away (or vice versa)
- blurred vision
- eye redness
To see how these compare with common side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet, see the “More common side effects of pilocarpine” section above. In general, side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet are more likely to be systemic (affecting the whole body, not just a single body part) effects, such as sweating, nausea, or diarrhea.
If you have questions about how the side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet compare with the pilocarpine eye drops, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can also give you advice about how to limit side effects of either form.
Do side effects of pilocarpine go away?
Yes, side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet usually go away with time.
Side effects may occur at any time during treatment with pilocarpine oral tablet. If mild side effects occur, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.
If you’re having side effects with pilocarpine oral tablet that persist or are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine if a symptom you’re having is a possible side effect of the medication. They can suggest ways to manage any side effects. Or they can discuss whether a different treatment is an option.
Is withdrawal a possible side effect of pilocarpine?
No, withdrawal isn’t expected with pilocarpine oral tablet. Withdrawal describes symptoms that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual.
In studies, withdrawal wasn’t seen in people taking the drug, even if they took it for a long time.
Pilocarpine oral tablet is prescribed to help treat symptoms of dry mouth due to certain causes. If you stop pilocarpine oral tablet, but you still have the condition that’s causing dry mouth, your dry mouth symptoms may come back.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about side effects of pilocarpine. Do not stop taking pilocarpine without talking with your doctor first.
Does pilocarpine cause long-term side effects?
Long-term side effects aren’t expected with pilocarpine oral tablet. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with pilocarpine.
Side effects of pilocarpine in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet.
Sweating
Sweating was the most common side effect in studies of people taking pilocarpine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.
With sweating, sweat glands on your skin release salt-based fluid. It’s also called perspiration. It’s the way your body naturally cools itself. In general, sweating occurs most often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, armpits, and face.
Higher doses of pilocarpine oral tablet may increase the risk of sweating.
Ways to manage
It’s important to drink enough fluids if you experience sweating. Dehydration can occur if you don’t replace fluids that you lose through sweating.
If you have mild sweating that is bothersome or persists, tell your doctor. They can help determine the cause of sweating. Your doctor may also recommend strategies to manage mild sweating, such as:
- removing clothing layers
- wearing light clothing to allow your skin to breathe
- drinking water or other fluids
- limiting foods that can increase sweating, such as hot or spicy foods
Your doctor can also discuss whether other treatment options for dry mouth may be a better option for you.
Nausea
Nausea also was common in studies of people taking pilocarpine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.
Higher doses of pilocarpine oral tablet may increase the risk of nausea. And certain other factors can increase the risk of nausea in general. These include:
- overeating
- eating certain foods, such as greasy, fatty, or spicy foods
- some medical conditions, such as heartburn or stomach ulcers
If you have more severe nausea that leads to vomiting, this could result in dehydration.
Ways to manage
If you experience nausea, tell your doctor. They may recommend ways to help reduce your risk of nausea, such as:
- eating smaller, more frequent meals
- limiting high fat, greasy, or spicy foods
- eating foods that may be less likely to cause nausea
If you have nausea that is bothersome or does not go away with time, your doctor may discuss other options for treating your dry mouth.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea was another common side effect in studies of people taking pilocarpine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.
With diarrhea, you have loose, watery stools. You may feel the urgent need to have a bowel movement, and you may need to go to the bathroom more often. It’s sometimes called “the runs.”
Certain factors can increase the risk of diarrhea with pilocarpine oral tablet, including older age (ages 65 years and older). Higher doses of pilocarpine oral tablet may also increase the risk of this side effect.
Ways to manage
If you have concerns about diarrhea with pilocarpine oral tablet, tell your doctor. They may suggest strategies to help limit diarrhea, such as avoiding greasy or fatty foods. Pilocarpine oral tablet can be taken with or without food. Taking it with food might decrease the risk of diarrhea.
If you have diarrhea that is bothersome or persists, contact your doctor.
Allergic reaction
For some people, pilocarpine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to pilocarpine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for pilocarpine
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking pilocarpine oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take pilocarpine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether pilocarpine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking pilocarpine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- heart disease
- liver problems
- gallstones
- kidney stones
- certain eye problems, such as narrow-angle glaucoma or iritis
- mental health problems
- past allergic reaction to pilocarpine
Pilocarpine and pregnancy
It’s not known whether pilocarpine oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Pilocarpine and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether pilocarpine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Pilocarpine and alcohol
Pilocarpine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol. But alcohol may contribute to dehydration and possibly worsen your dry mouth.
Drinking alcohol may also cause certain side effects that can occur with pilocarpine oral tablet too, such as nausea, diarrhea, or changes in vision. So drinking alcohol while taking pilocarpine oral tablet may make these side effects worse.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it before you start treatment with pilocarpine oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Will side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet go away with time?
- Does the dosage of pilocarpine oral tablet affect the risk of side effects?
- Is it possible to have withdrawal symptoms when stopping pilocarpine?
- How do the side effects of pilocarpine oral tablet compare with other drugs used to treat dry mouth?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.