Minims Pilocarpine Nitrate 2.0%
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Read all this leaflet carefully before you start using your medicine. It contains a summary of the information available on your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Remember this medicine is for you. Do not give it to someone else.
1. What Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate eye drops is and what it is used for
2. Before you use your eye drops
3. How to use your eye drops
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store your eye drops
6. Further information
1. What Minims® Pilocarpine Nitrate eye drops is and what it is used 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.
2. Before you use your eye drops Do not use these drops if
• you are allergic to the active substance (pilocarpine nitrate).
• 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.
Take special care
Ask yourself the following questions:
• Do you have a heart disease (heart failure)?
• Do you have asthma?
• Do you have stomach ulcers?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Do you have problems with passing urine?
• Do you have Parkinson's disease?
• Do you have any other eye conditions?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, tell your doctor or eye specialist
Do you use any of these medicines
• creams or pills containing corticosteroids
• medicines belonging to a family called anticholinergique
• 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
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, tell your doctor or eye specialist
If you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding
Tell your doctor or eye specialist, 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.
3. How to use your eye drops
The drops are in special single use “Minims” units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once used, they must be thrown away.
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.
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, and twist off the cap from the Minims body of the unit.
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 eye for 3 minutes. 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, 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.
4. Possible side effects
• 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.
5. How to store your eye drops
Keep out of the reach and sight 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 in special single use “Minims” units, to treat both eyes if necessary. Once used, they must be thrown away.
6. Further information
What do your eye drops contain
• The active ingredient is pilocarpine nitrate. Each Minims unit contains approximately 0.5 ml eye drops solution of pilocarpine nitrate 2% (10 mg).
• The other ingredient is purified water.
• This medicine does not contain a preservative as it is a sterile single use unit.
Contents of the pack Each carton contains 20 units.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Chauvin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
106 London Road - Kingston-upon-Thames - KT2 6TN - UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8781 2900 / Fax: +44 (0)20 8781 2901 Manufacturer:
Laboratoire Chauvin - Z.I.Ripotier - 07200 Aubenas - France
A copy of this Patient Information Leaflet is available in large print and audio format
DATE OF PREPARATION: September 2007