Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Minims Pilocarpine?
Minims Pilocarpine contains the active ingredient pilocarpine nitrate. Minims Pilocarpine
is commonly used at the end of an eye examination to return the size of the pupil
back to normal. It is also used to decrease pressure in the eye, by allowing more
fluid to flow out from within the eye, and help control glaucoma (a condition in which
the pressure of fluid in the eye may be high).
For more information, see Section
1. Why am I using Minims Pilocarpine? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use Minims Pilocarpine?
Do not use if you are allergic to any medicine containing pilocarpine or to any of
the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Do not use if you have an inflammation
in the eye(s), pupillary block glaucoma (a condition that prevents normal flow of
fluid through the pupil), have or have had detached retina or conditions that predispose
to detachment of the retina. Do not use while wearing soft contact lenses. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Minims Pilocarpine?
Your doctor will normally instil the drops into your eyes for you. The usual dose
is one or two drops instilled into the eye.
If your doctor instructs you to instil the drops, more instructions can be found in
Section
4. How do I use Minims Pilocarpine? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using Minims Pilocarpine?
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Things you should do
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If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are using Minims Pilocarpine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are using
this medicine.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop using Minims Pilocarpine before first talking to your doctor. If you stop
using your eye drops, your eye pressure may rise again and damage to your eye may
occur.
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if you think they have the same condition
as you.
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Things to be careful of
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Be careful before you drive, use any machines or perform tasks at night or in poor
light until you know how Minims Pilocarpine affects you. It may cause blurred vision
for a short time and difficulty adapting to the dark. Allow enough time to regain
clear vision before performing such activities.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep the unopened eye drops in a refrigerator (2-8°C) where children cannot reach
them. Do not freeze the eye drops or expose them to strong light.
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6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If they do occur, they are usually minor and
temporary. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may not experience any of them. Less
serious side effects include: blurred vision, burning, stinging, redness or watering
of the eyes, local irritation or feeling of having something in the eye, poor night
vision, short sightedness, headache or browache. Serious side effects include: increased
sweating, muscle tremors, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, watering of the mouth,
trouble breathing or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of
the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Active ingredient:
Pilocarpine nitrate
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Minims Pilocarpine. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Minims Pilocarpine.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Minims Pilocarpine?
Minims Pilocarpine contains the active ingredient pilocarpine nitrate. Minims Pilocarpine belongs to a family of medicines called parasympathomimetics.
Minims Pilocarpine is commonly used at the end of an eye examination to return the
size of the pupil back to normal. It is also used to decrease pressure in the eye, by allowing more fluid to flow out
from within the eye, and help control glaucoma (a condition in which the pressure
of fluid in the eye may be high).
2. What should I know before I use Minims Pilocarpine?
Warnings
Do not use Minims Pilocarpine if:
You are allergic to any medicine containing pilocarpine.
You are allergic to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always
check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
You have a condition known as iritis, an inflammation of the coloured part of the
eye.
You have a condition known as uveitis, a serious inflammation of the eye.
You have a certain type of glaucoma called "pupillary block glaucoma", a condition
that prevents normal flow of fluid through the pupil.
You have iridocyclitis, a condition that makes parts of the eyes swollen and inflamed.
You have certain forms of secondary glaucoma (a type of glaucoma that happens due
to another eye problem or health condition).
You have or have had detached retina (back part of the eye) or conditions that predispose
to detachment of the retina.
You are wearing soft contact lenses. Remove them before instilling Minims Pilocarpine
into your eye(s).
Check with your doctor if:
You have had an allergy to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
You have inflamed eye(s) or damaged or scratched cornea.
You have or have had breathing difficulties or lung problems or predisposition to
lung problems (e.g. asthma).
You have or have had heart problems.
You have stomach ulcer.
You have urinary tract obstruction.
You have Parkinson's disease.
You are to have eye surgery.
A child who has primary congenital glaucoma (a rare form of childhood glaucoma) has
been prescribed with Minims Pilocarpine.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
This medicine has been developed for use in the eye only. It should not be swallowed
or injected.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Minims Pilocarpine may interfere with each other. These medicines
may be affected by Minims Pilocarpine or may affect how well it works. These include:
Atropine and related medicines
Cyclopentolate
Belladonna alkaloids
Other medicines or eye drops for glaucoma.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Minims Pilocarpine.
4. How do I use Minims Pilocarpine?
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may
differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions in this leaflet, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for help.
How much to use
Use Minims Pilocarpine only when prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will tell
you how often to use the eye drops and how many drops to use each time.
The usual dose of Minims Pilocarpine is one or two drops instilled into the eye(s).
How to use Minims Pilocarpine
If you are wearing soft contact lenses, remove them before putting the drops in your
eye(s).
You may find it easier to put drops in your eye while you are sitting or lying down.
In most cases, your doctor will instil the eye drops. However, if you are required
to instil the drops, follow the steps below:
1. Wash your hands well with soap and water.
4. Hold the container upside down in one hand between your thumb and forefinger.
5. Using your other hand, gently pull down your lower eyelid to form a pouch or pocket.
6. Tilt your head back and look up.
7. Put the tip of the container close to your lower eyelid. Do not let it touch your
eye.
8. Release the required number of drops into the pouch or pocket formed between your
eye and eyelid by gently squeezing the container.
9. Close your eye. Do not blink or rub your eye.
10. While your eye is closed, place your index finger against the inside corner of your
eye and press against your nose for about two minutes (or one minute, when administering
to children). This will help to stop the medicine from draining through the tear duct
to the nose and throat, from where it can be absorbed into other parts of your body.
11. Repeat steps 4-10 for the other eye if needed.
12. Throw away any eye drops left in the container.
13. Wait at least 15 minutes before replacing your soft contact lenses.
If you use too much Minims Pilocarpine
If you accidentally put more drops in your eyes than advised by your doctor, immediately
rinse your eye(s) with warm water.
Accidental swallowing of the solution is unlikely to cause any bad side effects due
to the low content of pilocarpine nitrate.
If you think that an infant or young age child may have swallowed any or all of the
contents of the container of Minims Pilocarpine, you should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(in Australia phone
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while using Minims Pilocarpine?
Things you should do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are using Minims Pilocarpine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are using
this medicine.
Things you should not do
Do not stop using Minims Pilocarpine before first talking to your doctor. If you stop
using your eye drops, your eye pressure may rise again and damage to your eye may
occur.
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if you think they have the same condition
as you.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or operate any machines until you know how Minims Pilocarpine
affects you.
Minims Pilocarpine may cause blurred vision for a short period of time when it is
instilled into the eye. Allow sufficient time to regain clear vision before driving
or using machines.
Driving or performing tasks at night and in poor light
Be careful at night and in poor light until you know how Minims Pilocarpine affects
you.
Minims Pilocarpine may cause difficulty adapting to the dark. Caution is advised with
driving or performing hazardous tasks in poor light.
Looking after your medicine
Keep the unopened eye drops in a refrigerator (2-8°C) where children cannot reach
them. Do not freeze the eye drops or expose them to strong light.
When to discard your medicine
Discard each single dose unit and any remaining solution in it immediately after use.
Do not save unused contents.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If your doctor tells you to stop using the eye drops, if it is out of date or if the
packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects online (in Australia, go to
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems ). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety
of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Minims Pilocarpine contains
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Active ingredient (main ingredient)
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Pilocarpine nitrate (2% w/v)
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Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)
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Purified water
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
The eye drops do not contain any preservatives.
What Minims Pilocarpine looks like
Minims Pilocarpine (AUST R 32280) comes in single dose units (polypropylene tubes)
containing 0.5mL of a clear, colourless sterile ophthalmic solution. Each tube is
wrapped in a polyester/paper blister. The blisters are packed in cartons of 20 units.
Who distributes Minims Pilocarpine
In Australia, Minims Pilocarpine is supplied by:
Bausch & Lomb (Australia) Pty Ltd
Level 2, 12 Help Street
Chatswood, NSW 2067
Phone: 1800 251 150
This leaflet was prepared in April 2025.