Pilocarpine treatment of xerostomia in head and neck patients

We studied the effect of pilocarpine hydrochloride, a parasympathicomimewti c agent, on major salivary gland output and subjective responses in 40 pati ents with salivary hypofunction. Pilocarpine increased salivary output or g ave significant symptomatic relief in 21 of the 40 patients. The women fare d better than the men. Side effects were uncommon, were generally mild, and caused no treatment interruption. These results indicate that pilocarpine is effective in relieving the signs and symptoms of postradiation xerostomi a. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.