Reduction of the intensity of IOP elevation for the first 24 hours after cataract surgery.
Intraocular acetylcholine generally preferred.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Reduction of IOP in the emergency treatment of acute (congestive) angle-closure glaucoma† prior to surgery.
Pilocarpine generally preferred.
Ophthalmologic Examinations
Production of miosis to counteract mydriatic effects of sympathomimetic agents (e.g., hydroxyamphetamine, phenylephrine) after ophthalmoscopic examinations† in glaucoma patients.
Pilocarpine generally preferred.
Dosage and Administration
Administration
Ophthalmic Administration
Administer ophthalmic topical solution to the conjunctival sac; do not inject.
Administer intraocular injection by injection into the anterior chamber.
To minimize adverse effects, begin with a low concentration and increase gradually as needed. Additionally, instill daily dose or one of the daily doses at bedtime.
Following topical instillation, apply finger pressure on the lacrimal sac for 1–2 minutes to minimize drainage into nose and throat and reduce risk of absorption and systemic reactions. Remove excess solution around the eye with a tissue and rinse off any medication on hands immediately.
Intraocular Injection
Instill into anterior chamber of the eye before or after securing sutures, following the manufacturer’s directions. Vials are for single-dose use only; discard unused portion.
Dosage
Adjust concentration and frequency of solution instillation according to patient requirements and response, as determined by tonometric readings before and during therapy.
In patients with heavily pigmented irides, higher solution concentrations may be required.
Adults
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Ophthalmic Topical
1–2 drops of 1.5–3% topical solution up to 3 times daily.
Ocular Surgery
Intraocular
Inject ≤0.5 mL of a 0.01% solution.
Prescribing Limits
Adults
Ocular Surgery
Intraocular
Maximum: 0.5 mL of a 0.01% injection.
Special Populations
No special population dosage recommendations at this time.
Cautions
Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to carbachol or any ingredient in the formulation.
Conditions in which pupillary constriction is undesirable (e.g. acute iritis, pupillary block).
Warnings/Precautions
Warnings
Systemic Toxicity
Systemic reactions (e.g., salivation, syncope, cardiac arrhythmia, epigastric distress, headache, vomiting, asthma, hypotension, diarrhea, urinary urgency, increased sweating) reported rarely after topical application or intraocular injection; usually occur only with very frequent administration.
Use topical solution cautiously in presence of corneal abrasion to avoid excessive penetration and systemic toxicity.
If systemic symptoms occur, discontinue drug, at least temporarily.
Ocular Toxicities
Retinal detachment reported rarely; use with extreme caution, if at all, in patients with a history or risk of retinal detachment, especially if young or aphakic. Carefully examine retinal periphery at least annually to detect an impending detachment.
Intraocular injection: Corneal clouding, persistent bullous keratopathy, retinal detachment, and postoperative iritis reported following cataract extraction in some patients.
Discontinue the drug if sensitivity develops or if original irritation persists or increases.
General Precautions
Ocular Effects (Topical Solution)
Possible spasm of accommodation and poor vision in dim light, particularly in geriatric patients and patients with lens opacities. (See Advice to Patients.)
Adverse effects often subside after first few days of therapy or if drug is temporarily discontinued. (See Administration under Dosage and Administration.)
Possible transient increase in IOP even when the angle is open. In some patients with angle-closure glaucoma receiving miotics, may increase IOP and precipitate acute attacks.
Possible lens opacities and cataracts; lens opacities may regress if therapy discontinued early in development; however, cataracts are often progressive.
Regular slit-lamp examinations recommended; discontinue therapy, at least temporarily, if iris cysts, iritis, synechiae, or lens opacities occur.
Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Category C.
Lactation
Not known whether carbachol is distributed into milk. Use with caution.
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy not established.
Geriatric Use
Reduced visual acuity in dim light is common in geriatric patients. (See Ocular Effects [Topical Solution] under Cautions.)
Common Adverse Effects
Topical solution: Ocular irritation (burning or discomfort), lacrimation, temporal or periorbital headache, painful ciliary or accommodative spasm, blurred vision or myopia, conjunctival vascular congestion, poor vision in dim light.
Topical carbachol penetrates intact corneal epithelium very poorly; penetration greatly improved in combination with wetting agent (e.g., benzalkonium chloride 0.003%).
May be absorbed through intact skin.
Onset
Topical solution: Miosis occurs within 10–20 minutes; maximal reduction in IOP occurs within 4 hours.
Intraocular injection: Maximal miosis occurs within 2–5 minutes.
Duration
Topical solution: Miosis persists for 4–8 hours; reduced IOP persists for approximately 8 hours (3% solution has a slightly longer duration of action than lower concentrations).
Intraocular injection: Miosis persists for about 24 hours.
Stability
Storage
Ophthalmic
Topical Solution
8–27°C.
Intraocular Injection
15–30°C; protect from freezing and excessive heat. Stable for 18 months after the date of manufacture.
Actions
Choline ester; structurally related to acetylcholine.
Directly stimulates cholinergic receptors, resulting in muscarinic and nicotinic effects.
Indirectly inhibits cholinesterase activity. Resistant to hydrolysis by cholinesterases.
May increase release of acetylcholine following nerve stimulation.
Contracts the iris sphincter and the ciliary muscle, which produces constriction of the pupil (miosis) and spasm of accommodation, respectively.
Reduces IOP in normal and glaucomatous eyes.
Exact mechanism for lowering IOP is not precisely known.
Facilitates aqueous humor outflow by contracting the ciliary muscle and widening the trabecular meshwork.
Decreases activity of extraocular muscles of convergence and causes vasodilation of blood vessels of the conjunctiva, iris, and ciliary body and increased permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier, which may lead to vascular congestion and ocular inflammation.
Systemically absorbed carbachol produces parasympathomimetic effects on various body systems. (See Systemic Toxicity under Cautions.)
Advice to Patients
Importance of removing contact lenses prior to administering topical solution.
Importance of not touching dropper tip to any surface in order to avoid contamination.
Advise patient to immediately contact clinician if signs or symptoms of an ocular infection occur.
Importance of using caution in night driving or other hazardous tasks in poor light.
Importance of instilling daily dose or one of daily doses at bedtime to minimize adverse ocular effects.
Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs.
Importance of women informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.
Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)
Preparations
Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.
† Use is not currently included in the labeling approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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