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
If your dry mouth is chronic and/or caused by a Sjogren’s or a side effect of radiation, your doctor may write you a prescription for a drug that increases natural saliva production like pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac).
—
Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 8 July 2025
In another case, starting pilocarpine, a medication that can stimulate salivary glands, did the trick.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
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
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Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 8 July 2025
In another case, starting pilocarpine, a medication that can stimulate salivary glands, did the trick.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Pilocarpine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilocarpine. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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