Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Pilocarpine nitrate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate contains a miotic agent. It is used to make the pupil of the eye smaller. Your doctor or eye specialist may use it to:
- reverse the effects of eye drops which cause the pupil to enlarge
- treat high pressure of liquid inside the eye (glaucoma) in emergency situation This medicine is indicated for children, adults and the elderly.
What you need to know before you take it
e Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate Do not use Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate if:
- you are allergic to pilocarpine nitrate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- you have had an allergy to other miotic agents in the past
- you have some particular eye conditions where the constriction of the pupil should be avoided (e.g. inflammation of the iris, some forms of glaucoma)
- you wear soft contact lenses. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking medication for:
- Heart disease (heart failure)
- Bronchial asthma
- Stomach ulcers
- High blood pressure
- Urinary tract obstruction
- Parkinson's disease
- Any other eye conditions If the answer to any of these questions is yes, tell your doctor or eye specialist. Other medicines and Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate Tell your doctor or eye specialist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
- Creams or pills containing corticosteroids
- Medicines belonging to a family called anticholinergics
- Medicines used to treat allergic reactions (e.g. hayfever, hives) called antihistamines
- A pain killer called pethidine
- Medicines used to treat depression
- Any other medicine used to make the pupil of the eye smaller Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or eye specialist for advice before taking this medicine as he/ she may decide to use these drops or to prescribe you an alternative. Contact lenses Do not use these eye drops if you wear soft contact lenses. Your doctor will ask you to remove your contact lenses prior to the administration of the drops. There is no information on the effect of this product on contact lenses. Therefore, do not wear your contact lenses until the effects of the drops have completely worn off. Driving and using machines These eye drops may affect your ability to focus and/or see in the dark. As with all eye drops, your vision may be blurred after putting the drops in. Wait until your vision is clear before driving or using machines
How to take it
Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate The drops are for single use only and provided in single use Minims units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once opened, use immediately. Discard any unused portion. Dosage Your doctor or eye specialist will decide the appropriate dosage of Minims® Pilocarpine depending on the reason for which it has been prescribed. He/she will give you more detailed instructions. Make sure you follow these instructions carefully. Use in children and adolescents Your child's doctor will start the treatment with Minims® Pilocarpine on the lowest available dose. Depending upon response and tolerance, the doctor may decide to increase the dose to the maximum recommended adult dosage of the 2% pilocarpine eye drop solution. Method of administration Make sure you follow these instructions carefully: 1. Wash your hands. 2. Use a mirror, this will help you to see what you are doing. 3. Carefully dry your eyes using a tissue. Twist and pull cap to separate from the Minims body (Diagram 1). 4. Pull your lower eyelid down gently, and then carefully place 1 or 2 drops inside your lower eyelid. 5. Close your eye and blink a few times to make sure your eye is covered by the liquid. 6. Close the eyelids. It is advisable to press gently on the inner corner of your eyelid for 1 minute. This will help stop the solution draining into your nose and throat. This is especially advisable in children, the elderly and population at risk. 7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for the other eye if necessary, then throw away the Minims unit, even if some solution remains. If you use more Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate than you should, an overdose is very unlikely to occur. If you suddenly feel unwell after receiving the drops, tell your doctor or eye specialist or contact your nearest emergency department immediately.
Possible side effects
- Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
- Reactions in and around the eyes can occur: sensations of burning, itching, stinging, blurring of vision, discomfort in the eyes and red eyes.
- You may have difficulty to focus and/or adjust your eyes to the dark and experience bleeding in the main part of the eye.
- You may experience changes to your eyes when you use the product for a long period.
- Browache or headache may occasionally occur, especially in younger patients who have just started using this medicine.
- Other reactions have been rarely reported: low blood pressure, abnormally slow heart beat, wheezing and shortness of breath, salivation, sweating, sickness, diarrhoea and watering of the eyes. If any of the side effects gets serious, please seek immediate medical attention. If you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.You can also report side effects directly via: Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use the eye drops after the expiry date which is stated on the overwrap of each unit and on the carton after the letters "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze. Store in the original package in order to protect from light. The drops are for single use only and provided in single use Minims units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once opened, use immediately. Discard any unused portion. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate contains
- The active ingredient is pilocarpine nitrate. Each Minims unit contains approximately 0.5 ml eye drops solution of pilocarpine nitrate 2% w/v (10 mg).
- The other ingredient is purified water. This medicine does not contain a preservative as it is a sterile single use unit. What Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate looks like and contents of the pack Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate is a clear colorless solution. Each carton contains 20 units. Marketing Authorisation Holder: Bausch & Lomb UK Ltd 106 London Road – Kingston-upon-Thames – KT2 6TN – UK Manufacturer: Laboratoire Chauvin Zone Industrielle de Ripotier 50 Avenue Jean Monnet 07200 Aubenas France This leaflet was last revised in: November 2023
Frequently asked questions about Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution
How do I take Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution?
Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution comes as eye drops containing 2%. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution?
The active substance in Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution is pilocarpine nitrate.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: pilocarpine nitrate
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Pilocarpine is used as a miotic, for reversing the action of weaker mydriatics and in the emergency treatment of glaucoma.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Adults (including the elderly)
Instil dropwise into the eye according to the recommended dosage.To induce miosis, one or two drops should be used.In cases of emergency treatment of acute narrow-angle glaucoma, one drop should be used every five minutes until miosis is achieved. Paediatric population
Based on the infrequency of reports of adverse events in children, and the extensive experience of use of pilocarpine in childhood glaucoma, concentrations of up to 2% may be safely used in children. Currently available data are described in section 5.1 but no recommendation on a posology can be made. Treatment should be started with the lowest available dose and concentration in patients under 18 years of age. Depending on clinical response and tolerability, the dose may be increased up to the maximum recommended adult dosage of the 2% pilocarpine eye drop solution. Directly after administration of any dose, the lacrimal punctum should be occluded for one minute with a finger to limit systemic exposure.
4.3. Contraindications
Conditions where pupillary constriction is undesirable e.g. acute iritis, anterior uveitis and some forms of secondary glaucoma.Patients with soft contact lenses should not use this preparation.Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Systemic reactions rarely occur when treating chronic simple glaucoma at normal doses. However, in the treatment of acute closed-angle glaucoma the possibility of systemic reactions must be considered because of the higher doses given. Caution is particularly advised in patients with acute heart failure, bronchial asthma, peptic ulceration, hypertension, urinary tract obstruction, Parkinson's disease and corneal abrasions. Retinal detachments have been caused in susceptible individuals and those with pre-existing retinal disease, therefore, fundus examination is advised in all patients prior to the initiation of therapy.Patients with chronic glaucoma on long-term pilocarpine therapy should have regular monitoring of intraocular pressure and visual fields.Systemic absorption may be reduced by compressing the lacrimal sac at the medial canthus for one minute during and following the instillation of the drops. (This blocks the passage of the drops via the naso-lacrimal duct to the wide absorptive area of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. It is especially advisable in children.)
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Although clinically not proven, the miotic effects of pilocarpine may be antagonised by long-term topical or systemic corticosteroid therapy, systemic anticholinergics, antihistamines, pethidine, sympathomimetics or tricyclic antidepressants.Concomitant administration of two miotics is not recommended because of inter-drug antagonism and the risk that unresponsiveness may develop to both drugs.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Safety for use in pregnancy and lactation has not been established, therefore, use only when clearly indicated.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Causes difficulty with dark adaptation, therefore, caution is necessary when night driving and when hazardous tasks are undertaken in poor illumination. May cause accommodation spasm. Patients should be advised not to drive or use machinery if vision is not clear.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Adverse drug reactions from clinical trials are listed by MedDRA system organ class. Within each system organ class, the adverse drug reactions are ranked by frequency, with the most frequent reactions first. In addition, the corresponding frequency category for each adverse drug reaction is based on the following convention: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). System organ class Frequency Undesirable effect
Eye disorders Not known Burning, itching, smarting, blurring of vision, ciliary spasm, conjunctival vascular congestion, induced myopia, sensitisation of the lids and conjunctiva, reduced visual acuity in poor illumination, lens changes with chronic use, increased papillary block, retinal detachments and vitreous haemorrhages.
Not known lacrimation
Nervous system disorders Not known Browache and headache (especially in younger patients who have just started therapy).
Not known Sweating, salivation
Cardiac disorders Not known bradycardia
Vascular disorders Not known hypotension
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Not known pulmonary oedema, bronchial spasm
Gastrointestinal disorders Not known nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9. Overdose
If accidentally ingested, induce emesis or perform gastric lavage. Observe for signs of toxicity (salivation, lacrimation, sweating, bronchial spasm, cyanosis, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea).
🇷🇴 Known in Romania as
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
⚠ Same active substance, but a different pharmaceutical form (for example a gel instead of a tablet). Not interchangeable — ask a pharmacist.
- PILOCARPINA APOTHEKE 5mg prescriptionPILOCARPINUM · taken by mouth
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
🇵🇱 Known in Poland as
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
- Pilocarpinum WZF 2%Pilocarpini hydrochloridum · eye / ear / nose
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2%w/v Eye Drops, Solution. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.