Suggest Treatment For Sjögren's Syndrome

Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 7 Oct 2015 Answered on

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Due to sjogren's sleep is next to impossible, drinking water doesen't help. What can be done to overcome the dryness so I can breath and swallow as well as sleep.? I'm asking this question for my daughter, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Sjogrens Syndrome

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, sjogrens syndrome does cause a big nuisance as it dries up all the salivary and lacrimal glands( eyes) along with dryness of your trachea, food pipe and other parts.

To approach this, there are 2 ways :

1. I would like to know if the lip gland biopsy has been done for your daughter? If there is active inflammation going on in it, she can benefit from a short course of steroids along with hydroxychloroquine which can reduce the inflammation and produce some saliva

2. I understand she did not tolerate Cevimeline. That does usually help in increasing the secretions. The other alternative is to try Pilocarpine. Start it at a low dose( 5 mg half tablet twice daily) and then we can increase it full dose.

3. She can even try putting pilocarpine drops or cevimeline drops in the mouth( more like a topical application).

But yes, first and foremost is to check for inflammation and if we can reduce it, results can be good

Hope the information was useful

Do let me know for more queries

REgards
Dr NAval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj