Hi, my Rheumy started me on Salagen this week. I'm starting super slow at only 5mg a day for a week, then up to 10 mg a day, etc.
My mouth watered already!! I couldn't believe it! I was scared to go to sleep because I thought I'd choke (not used to having moisture in my mouth!!).
I know it worked for my mouth, but does it do anything for eyes? What is the difference between salagen and evoxac?
Side effects besides sweating where you don't want to?
That is great that you have relief for your dry mouth.
I have used both and honestly preferred Salagen (used generic, pilocarpine) with little to no side effects. Evoxac also worked for dry mouth but it made me cough deep and hard and it made me feel weird in that it I had an odd hyper feeling inside me when on it. But everyone is different and I think many have good results with little side effects on Evoxac. Currently I do not use either on a regular basis and am not sure if oral Salagen helps dry eyes though I think I have read here that there are pilocarpine eye drops.
With regard to dry mouth, what I also found helps stimulate saliva is sucking on the sour sugar free candy with Xylitol.
Difference for me is Evoxac is not available in Canada :P
Salagen has made my eyes and other things ;) moister. To the point between that and restasis the opthamologist specialist thought I could go without Restasis. Nope but the combo is really great.
Must have Salagen. Oh yes I do use Saliva Sure with it at night, can't sleep without both. I am ok during the day for the most part or use Excel mints.
Salagen makes me sweat, occasionally. Don't care! It took me 4-5 months to really have "normalish" moisture from Salagen but even in the first month or two when there wasn't much to notice, I could eat a lot more normally.
I love natural methods but I find the quality of my life improves so drastically with Plaquinel, Salagen and Restasis that it is worth it.
I was prescribed Evoxac. It works great for me. The worst side effect I have noticed, sometimes I drool at night. When I wake up the next morning with a wet pillow. I just smile. :) I am so thrilled at having that much saliva.
I've never tried Salagen, my doctor said her patients have better luck with the Evoxac. I've tried the generic of Evoxac. It didn't work. When I would wake in the morning, my mouth was so dry, I would have to put my finger in my mouth and pry my checks away from my teeth and gums.
I don't know if it helps our eyes. I also use Restasis, which makes a big difference for me. I do know the quality of my tears is getting worse, so I'm not sure how much difference Evoxac makes.
I've tried both Salagen and Evoxac (both generic). Both helped make enough saliva that I'm not miserable but not enough to feel normal. I did notice I sweat more on Salegen and had to take pills more often to keep the saliva flowing then when on Evoxac. Did not notice any reaction on my eyes.
Thanks everyone! 4Kids you seem a lot like me in terms of symptoms. I'm in Canada, too. What is Saliva Sure?
It is a Xylitol melt that they sell at Shopper's Drug Mart. The Xylitol helps protect your teeth, so they say, and it stimulates saliva. I hold it back near my parotids because they need the most help. If I am bad, I hold one on each side. I can be dry enough to take 3-4 hours at night to melt them but with them I can actually sleep and not wake up with desert mouth.
I am mostly ok :) Some good days, some not so good days. A lot of fatigue and my mouth bothers me a lot. I am stiff and sometimes sore but not too bad. Sjs is very hormonally influenced for me. The closer I am to post-ovulating and PMS the worse I am. I get 2 good weeks a month, anyway! Well, a good 10 days.
are you still working 4Kids?
I've been home w the kids since 08 except for a short stint in 09. I am very active though. We have a farm, I cook, bake, make the bread, have a dairy cow and take care of the 6 cows and 4 goats, our chickens, a garden, the yard... I am up at 6 and generally not done until 10 or so. My youngest is a tornado and the work of the other 3 kids together. I push myself to keep exercising through the chores etc--I am not one to walk on a treadmill or go to the gym. I just have bad days when my hormones are funny and then I might have to have a nap and rest or become overwhelmed or crusty and are not able to do as much.
Cleaning a barn is an excellent way to get rid of your pot belly let me tell you :P