pilocarpine

noun

pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn How to pronounce pilocarpine (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pilocarpine was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near pilocarpine

Cite this Entry

“Pilocarpine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilocarpine. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

pilocarpine

noun
pi·​lo·​car·​pine ˌpī-lə-ˈkär-ˌpēn How to pronounce pilocarpine (audio)
: 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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