Quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary flow rate (unstimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes salivary flow rate (unstimulated) compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Pilocarpine led to lower xerostomia (objective, LENT-SOMA scale) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
3 findings from 1 review
MD -0.40 [-0.69, -0.11]
1 study · 39 participants
GRADE not reported
RR 1.00 [0.92, 1.08]
2 studies · 48 participants
GRADE not reported
SMD -0.35 [-1.04, 0.33]
2 studies · 126 participants
Very low
Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes overall survival compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Other oral related symptoms (oral discomfort, eating difficulty, mucosal pain, oral complications) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects (other reported events) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
1 finding from 1 review
No evidence of a difference for any other adverse event (nausea, vomiting, chilling, headache, lacrimation, dysphasia, weakness, nervousness, rhinitis, blurred vision, urinary frequency, dizziness, palpitation, skin…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Speech difficulties (VAS 0-100 mm) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Pilocarpine led to higher speech difficulties (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects ‐ Sweating · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Pilocarpine may leads to higher sweating (adverse effect) compared with no treatment/placebo (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies
Pilocarpine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's syndrome, radiotherapy,…
1 finding from 1 review
Taweechaisupapong 2006 (crossover): participants reported a statistically significant improvement in oral dryness after both 3 mg and 5 mg pilocarpine lozenges vs placebo (P <= 0.05); no usable data presented. No…
1 study · 33 participants
GRADE not reported
Salivary flow rate · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's syndrome, radiotherapy,…
1 finding from 1 review
Xerostomia (dry mouth relief) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction
1 finding from 1 review
Johnson 1993: positive response (>25 mm change in VAS score) in 25% of participants on placebo, 51% on pilocarpine 5 mg tds, 47% on pilocarpine 10 mg tds. LeVeque 1993: positive response in 7% on placebo vs 42% on…
2 studies · 278 participants
GRADE not reported
Other oral symptoms (oral discomfort, dysphonia) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction
1 finding from 1 review
Both studies assessed oral discomfort and dysphonia (Johnson 1993; LeVeque 1993); pilocarpine reported to improve associated symptoms of salivary gland dysfunction (oral discomfort, dysphonia). No pooled data.
2 studies · 278 participants
GRADE not reported
Salivary flow rate · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects (side effects; treatment withdrawals) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction
1 finding from 1 review
Johnson 1993 (5 mg tds): sweating 37%, headache 15%, urinary frequency 14%, vasodilatation 12%, dizziness 10%, dyspepsia 10%, nausea 8%, asthenia 8%, diarrhoea 5%; 6% withdrew at 5 mg tds and 29% at 10 mg tds. LeVeque…
2 studies · 278 participants
GRADE not reported