Let the sweating with Pilocarpine begin!

[brooks1teacher]

I just started taking my first dose of Pilocarpine and I am sweating buckets.  I am drinking lots of water but it definitely has heated me up in a short amount of time.  I am hoping that this will help me to not be as hoarse while I am at work.

I teach second grade so I do a lot of talking and I have been out from the end of September until the last two days in April when I returned to work.  My students have learned some really bad habits while I am gone and they talk all the time.  Argh!!

I am working so hard to try to get ahead but my throat is a constant concern for me.  I have daily soreness and a hoarse voice along with pain when I try to talk.  Fingers crossed that this will work!

Anyone have any tips for using Pilocarpine? 

How long did your sweating last?  Was it just until your body got used to the med?

Did you titrate up with your doses over a period of time or just start three times a day all at once?

I have also ordered some Zellies and I use sugar free cough drops and gum while at work.  I am having a big problem with cavities all of a sudden, too.

Thanks for your help,
Brooksie

[4Kids]

Hi, welcome!!

I use a xylitol melt or an Excel mint constantly to help with the dry throat. That is one area that is driest on me. 

I probably get the sweats with Salagen at night for some reason the worst. I get side effects, usually on an empty tummy, about 35 percent of the time. This includes blurred vision, fast heartbeat, clammy, chills and the sweats. It is so worth having saliva though!  And sometimes I forget and take a dose at 8 and then another at 10 when I go to bed, so really I should not be surprised as to why I get side effects the most before bed. I always, always need one before bed because my mouth is so dry at night. Sometimes I get up and take one again.

I have taken up to 6 doses in one day, and I just went to it when I started. I didn't get much saliva in the beginning, and still don't. I definitely need a pill plus something in my mouth to have saliva. Again, worth it. 

I think the biggest thing for me is whether anything is in my stomach or not.  Try eating with it.

hth

Jackie

PS my kids talk all the time, and it drives me crazy!!!

[wildforwater]

I found great relief with Salagen (Pilocarpine), both dry, sore hroat and horseness. Started 2 1/2 months ago. Sweated a log in the beginning, but it eased up a lot. Works best in the morning for me. The rest of the day not as good but much better than without.  I started at 4 dozes a day and have continued that way. Besides some minor dizziness, now no side effects at all. I believe, even though is has a short half life, the effects build up over time.

Hope it works for you!

Maria

[slccom]

Under the ADA, you can ask for a voice amplifier for the classroom to lessen the strain on your voice.

Sharon

[cccourt1942]

Brook...I had forgotten that extreme sweating...from the armpits up...maybe a little lower at times.  I could not tolerate my initial dosage..cut it by 1/3 after 8 days. Mucho gut probs.  It took me about 3 to 4 days to get through all side effects..but for the stomach.  THEN  4 1/2 months later..I was FINALLY up to 22.5 mg per day.  The doctor agrees this is a good dosage for me.  I do NOT take evoxac or anything else.  My eyes are better...still blocked sub lingual salivary glands and my left parotid.  But those glands are just too compromised by the disease itself.  I used xylimelts in addition to the pilo for the first 4 1/2 months.  Since I am on the full prescribed dosage for me, I have had maybe 2 or 3 xylimelts.  My only complaint is "night" eyes.  I must put the gel in at least 3 times a night.  Daytime is really maybe 3 to 4 times dosing with natural tears/Alcon or Thera Tears. 

I hope this does the trick for you.  So ...you will have to shower more often.  Big deal.   

[brooks1teacher]

Thanks everyone.
Brooksie