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Dry mouth and Sjögren's syndrome

Autoimmune diseases and Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease. All of us depend on the white blood cells of our immune system to attack infections in our body. But in a person with an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the healthy cells in our body instead. The dry-mouth symptoms related to Sjögren’s syndrome occur when these white blood cells attack your moisture-producing salivary glands.

The difference between primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome

About half of all people diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome already have another type of autoimmune disease. Having Sjögren's syndrome along with another autoimmune disease is referred to as secondary Sjögren's syndrome. Some of these include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Scleroderma
  • Mixed connective tissue disease
  • Chronic active hepatitis
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Vasculitis

When you are diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome alone this is referred to as primary Sjögren's syndrome. However, your symptoms may be the same whether you have primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

EVOXAC® is indicated to treat symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. EVOXAC is not indicated to treat or prevent Sjögren’s syndrome or other symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome.

Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms

Tips for coping with dry mouth

Tips for Coping with Dry Mouth

These helpful tips may help relieve some of your symptoms associated with dry mouth.