When treating dry mouth it may be worthwhile to first consider non-pharmaceutical measures e.g. frequent sips of cool drinks or sucking pieces of ice or sugar free fruit pastilles. Sugar-free chewing gum stimulates salivation in patients with residual salivary function.

Artificial saliva products

Glandosane

• Synthetic saliva spray (£5.68 = 50ml)

Biotene

• Oralbalance dry mouth saliva replacement gel (£5.30 = 50g)
• Moisturising mouthwash (£5.67 = 500ml)

Salivix

• Pastilles (£3.77 = 50 pastilles)

Parasympathomimetics

Pilocarpine

• Tablets 5mg (£41.14 = 84 tablets)

Indications

• Xerostomia following irradiation for head and neck cancer

Dose

• 5mg three times day with or directly after meals (last dose always with evening meal)