Vision is the highest value to be protected. Eye drops "Pilocarpine" is often prescribed for older people with glaucoma. The drug stimulates smooth muscle muscarinic receptors, causing muscle contraction. Drops should be prescribed only by a doctor, as they have serious contraindications and side effects.
Description
Eye drops "Pilocarpine" is an alkoloid-based drug. It is actively used in ophthalmology to reduce intraocular pressure, to narrow the pupil in glaucoma, as well as after surgery. Drops are known, they can be bought at any pharmacy, are inexpensive (37 rubles). The drug is rapidly absorbed.
If glaucoma is closed-angle, then the pupil narrows; after drops, the iris shifts from the angle of the anterior chamber, contributing to the opening of the Schlemm's canal. The active substance increases the tone of the eye muscles. If glaucoma is open-angle and ocular hypertension is present, only a single instillation causes a decrease in eye pressure by 25%. The drug is released in the form of eye drops of 1% 10 ml.
Who is appointed?
Eye drops "Pilocarpine" is prescribed in the following cases:
- with open-angle glaucoma;
- angle-closure glaucoma;
- after operation;
- for examinations to narrow the pupil;
- to eliminate the symptoms of an overdose from drugs that dilate the pupil.
Drops without a prescription are dispensed in pharmacies, but it is better to use them after consulting a specialist.
Composition and pharmacology
Drops "Pilocarpine" contain the active substance - one percent pilocarpine hydrochloride 10 mg / ml, as well as additional components:
- polyvinyl alcohol;
- lemon acid;
- sodium citrate;
- water;
- benzalkonium chloride.
The active substance is an alkaloid that is contained in the leaves of a plant of the genus pilocarpus. It is used in ophthalmology to narrow the pupil and improve the outflow of fluid inside the eye. Due to this, the pressure decreases. Drops facilitate the outflow of moisture, increase its amount. The tool quickly penetrates the cornea, binds to tissues, acts from four to fourteen hours.
What is glaucoma? "Pilocarpine": instructions
Eye drops "Pilocarpine" is an effective tool, but the dosage is set by the doctor individually. If glaucoma is primary, instill in one eye one drop of the solution two to six times a day. If glaucoma is closed-angle, then 1 drop is instilled within two hours once every fifteen minutes, every three to four hours.
Drops are effective for glaucoma. This ophthalmological disease can lead, without proper treatment, to the death of the optic nerve fibers and its destruction. All this leads to complete loss of vision. The peculiarity and danger of glaucoma is that there are no symptoms of the disease. Patients seek help when they gradually begin to lose their vision, and the nerve is already badly damaged. Most manage to help with the help of drops, the correct treatment, but in some cases an operation is needed.
To understand if glaucoma is possible by the presence of blind spots along the edges of the field of view. Gradually, they become more, they increase. The main reason for the late diagnosis of glaucoma is the absence of pain. With a closed-angle form (rare), the patient feels pain in the eyes, head, and mucous membranes redden. Preventive measures will help to prevent the disease in time. Drops are sometimes prescribed to reduce pressure in the eyes if the disease has not yet progressed.
Diagnosis of glaucoma occurs in the office of an ophthalmologist. It includes measurement of intraocular pressure, examination with a slit lamp, measurement of the field of view, as well as additional examinations. Despite the severity of the disease, glaucoma responds well to treatment in the early stages with eye drops. Antiglaucoma agents include prostaglandins and alpha antagonists. These two groups quickly reduce eye pressure. Often , carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are used to treat glaucoma , which not only reduce pressure, but also lead to an improvement in the blood supply to the eyeball. Even if the disease is in an advanced stage, the intraocular pressure is first reduced by drops, and then radical methods are taken.
Contraindications
Eye drops "Pilocarpine" can not be used for diseases that prohibit the narrowing of the pupil artificially (iridocyclitis, iritis). Drops are also not prescribed after surgery if the narrowing of the pupil causes complications. You can not use them if the patient has an individual intolerance to the components and active substance. With caution, the drug is prescribed for high myopia (myopia), as well as for patients who may experience retinal detachment.
Side effects
The instructions for use with Pilocarpine eye drops say that immediately after instillation, the eyes may turn red, a burning sensation, pain, and visual impairment will occur, especially in the evening and night hours. Sometimes lacrimation, conjunctivitis appears, cramps develop, inflammation of the skin of the eyelids begins. Patients rarely have bronchospasm, bradycardia, increased salivation, and strong discharge from the nose. Long-term treatment with drops causes clouding of the lens, damage to the cornea, sometimes the formation of cysts and retinal detachment.
In general, Pilocarpine in the form of drops is safe, but relatively. All these side effects are extremely rare. The active substance is removed from the bloodstream quickly. Even if twenty drops are instilled within an hour, it will not cause serious side effects. Signs of an overdose include: nausea, decreased heart rate. Drops will decrease if they are used simultaneously with antidepressants. It is enhanced if polycaprine interacts with anticholinesterases, drugs that contain this substance.
During the course of treatment, it is important to be careful while driving, especially in the dark. With caution, drops are prescribed for pregnant and lactating women. After opening the bottle, the medicine retains its properties for a month.
Analogues of "Pilocarpine"
Eye drops have several analogues. These include: "Azopt", "Cosopt", "Betoptic", "Fotil". Information about them:
- Azopt. Eye drops, which are prescribed to reduce increased intraocular pressure with open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension. Consists of 1% ophthalmic suspension and brinzolamide. Drops are 870 rubles.
- Cosopt. The drug is effective in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The drops are colorless, slightly viscous. They contain dorcholamide, hydrochloride, timolol maleate, as well as excipients. The price in pharmacies is 940 rubles per 20 mg.
- Betoptic. Drops reduce intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma. The drug is a beta-blocker. It reduces the production of intraocular fluid. It costs 390 rubles.
- "Fotil". An antiglaucoma agent that blocks beta-adrenergic receptors reduces the amount of intraocular fluid, but improves its outflow. Assign with closed-angle, open-angle glaucoma, in the absence of the lens. Recommended for severe intraocular pressure. The price is 285 rubles.
Why are Pilocarpine Eye Drops Good? A prescription for the drug is not needed, but only the ophthalmologist prescribes the treatment with drops. The medicine not only eliminates the symptoms, but treats the cause of intraocular pressure. Often it is prescribed in combination with other drugs.
Reviews
Pilocarpine eye drops, judging by the reviews, really help. According to users, they reduce eye pressure within a few hours after application. Drops relieve pain, and are cheap. Of the minuses: adverse reactions, contraindications. After instillation, the eyes begin to watery, eyesight may disappear for a while, headache, pupils become very narrow. Use drops only allowed under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.