What Are The Side Effects For Pilacarbine?

Posted on Wed, 27 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 Answered on

Wed, 17 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I just started on 5mg of pilacarbine for dry mouth, due to the fact that some of my regulare meds are causing my mouth to be dry. I take 1 tab 2 twice a day, I am concerned about the side effects. the regulare meds I am on are protonix, compazine,and robinxin-prn, and a high blood preasure drug the name I can't remember. Should I be concerned about the pilcarbine and my high blood preasure med

Answered by Dr. Naveen (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pilocarpine is safe...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query. I wil try my best to help you out with this problem.

Pilocarpine is one of the safest medicine to be used for increasing the salivation. Pilocarpine drops are also used in case of dry eyes. Hence, it is one of the safe medicines.

Pilocarpine should not be used when you are taking those medicines which causes dryness of the mucus membranes.

At present, none of your medicines have interaction with Pilocarpine and it's absolutely safe to use.

Hope I have answered your query; I will be available for the follow up queries.

regards

Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Naveen (3 hours later)

why should I not use pilacarbine, if it helps and it does not interfer withi my other meds

Answered by Dr. Naveen (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can definitely use it without any doubts...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for writing back

You can definitely use pilocarpine, it's absolutely safe with the other medicines you are taking at present.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Naveen (1 hour later)

but you said in your first letter that I should not use it, also can this med cause your stomach to feel up set

Answered by Dr. Naveen (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No, Pilocarpine does not cause stomach upset...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Welcome back

In my first response I did mention that Pilocarpine shouldn't not be used with those medicines which cause dryness of the mouth and the mucus membranes. That means those medicines which antagonise the actions of pilocarpine.

But, I had also mentioned that the present set of medicines which you are taking do not cause any interaction with pilocarpine.

No, pilocarpine doesn't cause stomach upset in general. But, rarely diarrhea has been reported, which is know to happen with any other medicines.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju