Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that cause dryness in the eyes and the mouth. It can also cause dryness in other places which need moisture such as throat, nose and skin. There is no proper cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. Treatment can help to control your symptoms. This article gives information about Sjogren’s syndrome treatment.
Sjogren’s Syndrome Treatment
Home treatment
- Provide moisture to the mouth and eyes by using artificial saliva and artificial teardrops.
- Protect your eyes from smoke, wind and other irritants in order to prevent eye damage.
- Prevent your dental problems by flossing and brushing the teeth.
- Humidify your office and home and use moisturizing creams in order to relieve skin and respiratory problems.
- Balance exercise and rest to prevent fatigue.
- Take antacids such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac) or omeprazole (Prilosec) to relieve acid reflux.
- Control pain with drugs and with gentle exercise.
If your symptoms do not improve or get even more worse with home treatment, you need to consult your doctor.
For dry eyes:
- If you develop swelling, pain and redness of the eyelids, then doctor may prescribe topical antibiotics.
- An eye doctor may prescribe Pilocarpine tablets or cevimeline capsules for stimulatings tear production. Usually these medicines are used to treat dry mouth. Recent studies show that these medicines can also relieve dry eyes.
For dry mouth:
The doctor may:
- Recommend you to use a saliva stimulant such as cevimeline capsules or pilocarpine tablets.
- Prescribe anti fungal medicines in case of thrush (yeast infection) development in your mouth.
- Recommend Prevident Prophylaxis Paste or Colgate Duraphat, called as a fluoride rinse to prevent cavities.
- Recommend you to avoid antihistamine medicines that worsen the dry mouth.
- Recommend you to use artificial saliva products to moisture your mouth.
For vaginal dryness:
- In order to relieve painful intercourse or dryness, the doctor may prescribe you estrogen hormone.
Above are the Sjogren’s syndrome treatment tips which helps to reduce your symptoms.
