pilocarpine

noun

pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn 

: a miotic alkaloid C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₂ obtained from jaborandi that is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride or nitrate especially in the treatment of glaucoma

Examples of pilocarpine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

David Guyton, an ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, points out that while generic pilocarpine is inexpensive as a glaucoma treatment, a 2.5-milliliter container of Vuity—roughly a month’s supply—is not. —Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 15 Feb. 2022

The active ingredient, pilocarpine, is one of a class of drugs called miotics, which pose some risk of retinal detachment (although no one had that problem in the clinical trials, says Dr. Chu). —Steven Odierna As Told To Stephanie Dolgoff, Good Housekeeping, 9 Mar. 2022

Several of the drops, including Vuity, shrink pupils with the same active ingredient: a drug called pilocarpine with a long history as a treatment for glaucoma. —Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 15 Feb. 2022

To run the test, a clinician uses a weak electric current to drive a sweat-gland-activating gel called pilocarpine into the patient’s skin. —Max G. Levy, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021

However, pilocarpine eye drops have already been approved at a higher concentration for glaucoma patients. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2021

Immediately after the skin had been exposed to the pilocarpine, the scientists swapped the patches for small spiral-shape discs designed to absorb the resulting perspiration. —Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, 26 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin Pilocarpus jaborandi, species of tropical shrubs

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pilocarpine

noun

pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn 

: a miotic muscarinic alkaloid that is obtained from jaborandi and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₂·HCl or nitrate C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₂·HNO₃ especially in the treatment of glaucoma and xerostomia