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
Cellulose-based and pH neutral
Oralieve
- Moisturising mouth gel (£3.16 = 50ml)
Indications
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Biotene
- Oralbalance dry mouth saliva replacement gel (£5.30 = 50g)
- Moisturising mouthwash (£5.67 = 500ml)
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Mucin-based (porcine) and pH neutral
AS Saliva Orthana
- Oral spray (£4.92 = 50ml)
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Other preparations
Salivix
- Pastilles (£3.77 = 50 pastilles)
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Glandosane
- Synthetic saliva spray (£5.68 = 50ml)
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Xerotin
- Oral spray (£6.86 = 100ml)
Notes
- Prescribe by brand (to aid identification where products contain multiple ingredients, or to prevent confusion where multiple brands contain similar ingredients)
Parasympathomimetics
Pilocarpine
- Tablets 5mg (£41.14 = 84 tablets)
Indications
- Xerostomia following irradiation for head and neck cancer
Dose
- 5mg three times daily with or immediately after meals (last dose always with evening meal)