Salagen (Pilocarpine)

Usual adult dose:

Take SALAGEN tablets three or four times a day as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may recommend a reduced dosage if you suffer from liver or kidney problems. Do not take more than six tablets (30mg) per day.

Take SALAGEN tablets with or without food.

Do not chew or bite on the tablet.

Overdose:

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Overdose symptoms include salivation, sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing, changes in blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea and shock. Mental confusion and an irregular heartbeat can also occur.

Missed dose:

If you miss a dose of SALAGEN, take the next dose when you normally would. Do not take more than two tablets at a time.

Most side effects that could occur have been generally mild or of moderate intensity. The possible side effects are:

• mild to moderate sweating
• chills
• nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting
• diarrhea
• passing urine more often
• problems with digestion
• dizziness
• runny eyes
• runny nose
• headache
• flushing (redness in face)

BEFORE you use SALAGEN, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• an abnormal heart beat or have had heart failure
• either high blood pressure or low blood pressure
• asthma or difficulty breathing, bronchitis or emphysema
• liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or other
• blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, glaucoma or inflammation of the eye (iritis)
• frequent heartburn or indigestion, ulcers
• difficulty urinating, kidney failure or kidney stones
• gall stones
• confusion, tremors, psychiatric illness

or if you:

• are pregnant, become pregnant, or are breast feeding your baby. Your doctor will tell you should be taking SALAGEN
• are taking, or begin taking, any other medicines, even medicines you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may interfere with each other in your body.

Some people find SALAGEN tablets affect their vision. Make sure you know how this medicine affects you before you do dangerous activities at night or in low light (example: drive a car or use machines).

Check with your doctor before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including natural/herbal remedies while on SALAGEN.

Drugs that may interact with SALAGEN include:

• vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products

and medications used to treat:

• Myasthenia Gravis (e.g. ambenonium)
• Common cold or motion sickness (e.g. some antihistamines)
• Hypertension (e.g. beta blockers like propranolol and metoprolol)
• Irritable bowel disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Ulcers
• Urinary problems