4.6 Muscarinic Receptor Agonists
Pilocarpine is a muscarinic receptor agonist.
Mechanism of Action: Pilocarpine causes the ciliary muscle to contract, allowing for the drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, thus reducing intraocular pressure related to glaucoma.
Indications: Pilocarpine is used to treat glaucoma.
Nursing Considerations: Apply light finger pressure on lacrimal sac for 2 minutes after instilling to minimize systemic absorption. Remove contact lens before administration.
Side Effects/Adverse Effects: Adverse effects of muscarinic (cholinergic) agonists can be memorized using the mnemonic “DUMBBELSS” reflecting Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis (constriction of the pupil of the eye), Bronchospasm, Bradycardia, Excitation of the skeletal muscle and CNS, Lacrimation, Sweating, and Salivation.
Health Teaching & Health Promotion: Advise the client to use caution with night driving. Additionally, use of this medication can cause hypotension.[1]
Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid on pilocarpine in Table 4.6.[2]
Table 4.6 Pilocarpine Medication Grid
Class/Subclass |
Prototype/Generic |
Nursing Considerations |
Therapeutic Effects |
Side/Adverse Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscarinic Agonist | pilocarpine | Apply light finger pressure on lacrimal sac for 2 minutes after instilling to minimize systemic absorption. Remove contact lens before administration | Controls intraocular pressure in glaucoma | Individuals should use caution with night driving
Individuals may experience light-headedness, bronchospasm, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, sweating, lacrimation, and salivation |
- uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ucentral ↵
- This work is a derivative of DailyMed by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the Public Domain. ↵
