How your doctor can help
Drugs to stimulate saliva
It is important to tell your doctor if you have a dry mouth, as they may be able to prescribe medicines to help. Pilocarpine (Salagen®) is usually used. Sometimes a drug called bethanechol may be used instead of pilocarpine, although it's not licensed to treat dry mouth.
These drugs stimulate the salivary glands to produce saliva and will only work if the damage to the glands is temporary or partial. Two or three months of continuous treatment with pilocarpine may be needed before it is effective in stimulating temporarily damaged salivary glands to work again.
Unfortunately, pilocarpine does not work if the damage to the glands is permanent.
Like many drugs, pilocarpine has side effects. It can cause sweats, nausea and vomiting.
Artificial saliva
Artificial saliva products can also be helpful for moistening the mouth. As their effect may last only for a short time, it is best to use them just before meals and at night to prevent the dryness from disturbing your sleep. Several brands are available and they come in the form of a gel, spray, pastille or tablet. Your doctor can prescribe a product for if you inform them that you are having problems with reduced saliva. You may find it helpful to try more than one form of artificial saliva brand to find out which one suits you best.