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Dry mouth and Sjögren's syndrome

Tips for coping with dry mouth

The more you know about what’s causing your dry-mouth symptoms associated with Sjögren’s syndrome, the easier it will be for you and your doctor to develop your best possible treatment plan.

Saliva makes the difference

Saliva is essential for so many reasons. But saliva is much more than just water. In fact, saliva normally contains more than 60 important and protective elements, including electrolytes, buffers, antimicrobial enzymes and digestive enzymes, as well as other chemicals and minerals. Saliva provides:

Lubrication so you can swallow food more easily
Enzymes to help with digestion
A way for food flavors to reach the taste buds

Getting relief from dry-mouth symptoms

Getting relief can be a joint effort between you and your team of doctors. EVOXAC is a prescription option that stimulates your body’s natural flow of saliva. So you may want to ask your doctor if EVOXAC is right for you.

Talking honestly with your doctor about your condition may be the most important step towards developing an effective treatment plan that works best for you. But you can also play a vital role in managing your symptoms.

Taking an active role in coping with dry mouth

While it’s true that only your doctor can prescribe medication for dry-mouth symptoms, there are some things you can do:

Keep your mouth moist by sipping small amounts of water or sucking on ice chips
Avoid acidic drinks (such as citrus juices) and spicy or acidic food. They may irritate the lining of the mouth
Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free candy. This may help increase the flow of saliva
Use a room humidifier to help increase the humidity in your home
Avoid alcohol and coffee, tea, and other drinks and food that contain caffeine. They are dehydrating and may increase dryness of the mouth
Use a damp sponge when sealing envelopes and other packaging. Consider using self-adhesive postage stamps

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.

Practicing good oral health

How EVOXAC works

Studies show EVOXAC helps your body increase the flow of saliva.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is EVOXAC?

EVOXAC (cevimeline HCl) is a prescription medicine used to treat symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Who Should Not Take EVOXAC?

You should not take EVOXAC if you have uncontrolled asthma, allergies to EVOXAC or a condition affecting the contraction of your pupil such as narrow-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma or inflammation of the iris.

What should I tell my Healthcare Provider?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following conditions:
- History of heart disease;
- Controlled asthma;
- Chronic bronchitis;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
- History of kidney stones;
- History of gallbladder stones
Tell your healthcare provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Tell your healthcare provider about all medications that you are taking, including those you take without a prescription. It is particularly important to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any heart medications especially "beta-blockers".
If you are older than 65, your healthcare provider may want to monitor you more closely.

General Precautions with EVOXAC

When taking EVOXAC use caution when driving at night or performing other hazardous activities in reduced lighting because EVOXAC may cause blurred vision or changes in depth perception.
If you sweat excessively while taking EVOXAC drink extra water and tell your health care provider, as dehydration may develop.
The safety and effectiveness of EVOXAC in patients under 18 years of age have not been established.

What are some possible side effects of EVOXAC?

In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects were excessive sweating, headache, nausea, sinus infection, upper respiratory infections, runny nose, and diarrhea.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For patients having difficulty affording their Daiichi Sankyo medication, please call the Daiichi Sankyo Patient Assistance Program at 1-866-268-7327 for more information or visit www.dsi.com/news/patientassistance.html

Please click here for full Product Information for EVOXAC.

The content provided herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to your doctor for more information about your specific condition.

Some photos in this site depict models, not actual patients or healthcare professionals.

This information is intended for U.S. residents only.