Pilomax 5mg Tablet 10'S

Introduction About PILOMAX 5MG TABLET

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET contains Pilocarpine which belongs to the group of medicines called Cholinergic agonists. It is used to manage xerostomia (dry mouth) in patients receiving radiotherapy for cancer of the head or neck.

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET can also be used to manage dryness of mouth or eyes in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (an auto-immune disease affecting the tear or salivary gland). Your doctor will regularly check your eyes before and during management with pilocarpine, particularly if you have had any eye disorders.

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET may cause excessive sweating. So, try to take more fluids such as water or juices. If it does not help and if you feel more dehydrated contact your doctor immediately. PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients having kidney, lung or heart problems or any eye inflammation.

Before taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have any bile duct, gall bladder, stomach, intestinal, cognitive or eye problems. PILOMAX 5MG TABLET should not be used in pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor. Your doctor will tell you whether you should stop taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET or breast-feeding.

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (below 18 years of age). The most common side effects of taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET are flu-like symptoms, sweating, headache and increased urge to urinate, weakness, chills, etc. Contact your doctor if any of the symptoms bother you.

Uses Of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET

Manages dry mouth or eyes:

• induced by radiotherapy given for head and neck cancer
• occurring in Sjögren’s syndrome

How PILOMAX 5MG TABLET Works

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET makes your body produce more saliva, tears, sweat, gastric juices and mucus by stimulating certain nerves and glands in your body.

How to use PILOMAX 5MG TABLET

Always take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET as directed by your physician. Swallow with a glass of water and do not crush or chew it. Try to take your medicines at intervals spread out evenly over the day (Ex. take your first dose in the morning, next in the afternoon and one in the evening). Correct dose and duration will be decided by your doctor depending upon your age, body weight and health condition. Do not stop taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET unless your doctor advises you to stop.

Side Effects Of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET

How To Manage Side Effects

Nausea or vomiting:

Take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET with or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Drink clear or ice-cold drinks, eat light, bland foods and avoid fried, oily or sweet foods. Avoid drinking too much liquid along with your meals, drink slowly in between meals. Talk to your doctor if the nausea doesn’t improve.

Diarrhea:

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not consume any medicine on your own without consulting your doctor. Consult with your doctor if diarrhea doesn’t improve.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. Try to have smaller and frequent meals. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, contact your doctor.

Dizziness

Lie or sit down immediately when you feel dizzy. If you're feeling severe episode of spinning (vertigo), lie in a dark and quite place with eyes closed. Try to avoid vehicle driving. Discuss with your doctor if the symptom worsens.

Headache:

Apply hot or cold-water bag on your head. Try to take rest in a quiet and dark room. Drink tea or coffee. Massage on scalp or head with mild pressure. Consult your doctor for advice.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless considered clearly necessary. Women should use appropriate contraceptive measures to avoid pregnancy while taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET. Consult your doctor for advice.

Breastfeeding

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless considered clearly necessary. Consult your doctor for advice.

Driving and Using Machines

Do not drive or operate any machines if you feel dizzy, have problems seeing well at night or other vision problems after taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET.

Kidney

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients having uncontrolled kidney disease. PILOMAX 5MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients having other kidney problems like renal insufficiency or kidney stones. Consult your doctor before taking it.

Liver

If you have cirrhosis (liver disorder), your doctor will prescribe the right dose of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET depending on how you respond to> management. Consult your doctor for advice.

Allergy

Do not take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET if you are allergic to Pilocarpine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Lungs

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients having uncontrolled asthma. PILOMAX 5MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients having other lung problems such as chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Consult your doctor before taking it.

Heart Disease

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients having uncontrolled heart disease. PILOMAX 5MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients having serious heart problems like heart failure or irregular pulse. Consult your doctor before taking it.

Interactions

A. Drug - Drug interactions:

Before taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• medicines used to manage high blood pressure, heart problems or eye problems (Ex. atenolol, propranolol, timolol, irbesartan)
• medicines used to manage asthma (Ex. ipratropium, tiotropium)
• medicine used for diarrhoea (Ex. atropine)
• medicines used to manage glaucoma, nervous system or mental diseases or Alzheimer’s disease (Ex. adrenaline, isoprenaline, dopamine)
• medicines used to speed up gastric or intestinal passage (Ex. bethanechol, domperidone)
• medicines used to manage blood clotting (Ex. warfarin, dicoumarol)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Symptoms of overdose are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, unwanted passage of stool and urine, sweating, salivation, increased secretion from the bronchi, shrinking of eye pupil, slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, muscle spasms, twitching or general weakness.

Synopsis

More Information

• Keep PILOMAX 5MG TABLET out of reach of children
• Do not store above 25°C

FAQs About PILOMAX 5MG TABLET

Can PILOMAX 5MG TABLET cause excessive sweating?

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET might cause excessive sweating. If you sweat excessively during this management, drink more liquids. If you cannot drink enough liquids, consult your doctor as you may get dehydrated and have organ damage if this continues.

Can PILOMAX 5MG TABLET affect male fertility?

PILOMAX 5MG TABLET may impair fertility in men as well as women. If you are planning to father a child, you should ask your doctor for advice before taking PILOMAX 5MG TABLET.

Can PILOMAX 5MG TABLET be taken by patients with liver problems?

In patients having cirrhosis (liver disorder), your doctor will start your management at a lower daily dose. Depending on how you respond to management, your doctor may slowly increase your dose up to the recommended daily dose. Consult your doctor for advice.

How long do I need to take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET for?

Your doctor will tell you exactly how long you will need to take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET. If no improvement is observed after 2-3 months, your doctor may decide to discontinue management.

What if I miss a dose of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET?

If you miss a dose of PILOMAX 5MG TABLET, take it as soon as you remember. However, skip that dose if it's almost time for the next one. Do not take PILOMAX 5MG TABLET two times to make up for the missed dose.

References

1. Brunton L.L., Hilal-Dandan R, Knollmann B.C. Muscarinic Receptor Agonists and Antagonists. Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Thirteenth Edition. 2017. Page - 152.

2. Vivino, Frederick B. et al. Pilocarpine tablets for the treatment of dry mouth and dry eye symptoms in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, multicenter trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. January 1999. [Accessed on 21st June 2022]. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/414409

3. Jacobs, Charlotte D. and M. Van Der Pas. A multicenter maintenance study of oral pilocarpine tablets for radiation-induced xerostomia. Europe PMC. March 1996. [Accessed on 21st June 2022]. https://europepmc.org/article/med/8723429

4. Norgine B. V. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in September 2020] [Accessed on 21st June 2022]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1370.pdf

5. Amdipharm Limited. Salagen (Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Tablets). [Revised in February 2020] [Accessed on 21st June 2022]. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00055315.PDF

Useful Diagnostic Tests

• Ophthalmoscopy

Author Details

Written By Dr. Jeenal Rajani - Pharm.D.

Reviewed For Accuracy By Dr. Purvi Raghuvanshi - MBBS, ENT

Last updated on 07 Dec 2022 | 03:31 PM(IST)