Pilocarpine is a muscarinic receptor agonist.

Mechanism of Action: Pilocarpine causes the ciliary muscle to contract, allowing for the drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye and reducing intraocular pressure related to glaucoma.

Indications for Use: Pilocarpine is used to treat glaucoma.

Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan: Muscarinic receptor agonists, such as pilocarpine, can be used in children and older adults. There are no necessary dose adjustments for kidney or liver dysfunction in older adults.

Remove contact lens before administration. Apply light finger pressure on lacrimal sac for 2 minutes after instilling to minimize systemic absorption.

Patient Teaching & Education:  Advise the client to use caution with night driving.  Additionally, use of this medication can cause hypotension.^[1]

Pilocarpine Medication Card

Now let’s take a closer look at the medication card on pilocarpine.^[2] Because information about medication is constantly changing, nurses should always consult evidence-based resources to review current recommendations before administering specific medication.

Medication Card 4.7.1: Pilocarpine

Class: Muscarinic Agonist

Prototypes: pilocarpine

Therapeutic Effects

• Controls intraocular pressure in glaucoma

Administration

• Remove contact lens before administration
• Apply light finger pressure on lacrimal sac for 2 minutes after instilling to minimize systemic absorption

Indications

• Management of intraocular pressure in glaucoma

Side Effects

• Caution client with night driving as medication can decrease visual acuity

Nursing Considerations

• Apply pressure on lacrimal sac after instilling

Media Attributions

• Figure 4.7a: Lacrimal Sac by OpenStax Microbiology is licensed under a CC BY 2.0 licence.