Pharmacologic Substance
pilocarpine Audio
pi·lo·car·pine [ pahy-luh-kahr-peen, -pin, pil-uh- ]
Brand Names:
Isoptocarpine; Pilocar; Salagen
Effect:
Decreased Intraocular Fluid Pressure; Pupillary Constriction
May Treat:
Glaucoma, Angle-Closure; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Mydriasis; Xerostomia
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; DrugInfo; PDR
Definitions related to pilocarpine:
  • A drug used to increase salivation in people who have dry mouth caused by opioids or radiation therapy. Pilocarpine belongs to the family of drugs called alkaloids.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A natural alkaloid extracted from plants of the genus Pilocarpus with cholinergic agonist activity. As a cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent, pilocarpine predominantly binds to muscarinic receptors, thereby inducing exocrine gland secretion and stimulating smooth muscle in the bronchi, urinary tract, biliary tract, and intestinal tract. When applied topically to eyes, this agent stimulates the sphincter pupillae to contract, resulting in miosis; stimulates the ciliary muscle to contract, resulting in spasm of accommodation; and may cause a transitory rise in intraocular pressure followed by a more persistent fall due to opening of the trabecular meshwork and an increase in the outflow of aqueous humor.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A slowly hydrolyzed muscarinic agonist with no nicotinic effects. Pilocarpine is used as a miotic and in the treatment of glaucoma.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • Slowly hydrolyzed muscarinic agonist with no nicotinic effects, used as a miotic and in the treatment of glaucoma.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.