Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

7 questions · 7 findings · 1 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 7 · 100%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Xerostomia (dry mouth relief) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction

1 finding from 1 review

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
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

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
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

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Only two studies measured salivary flow rates (Johnson 1993; LeVeque 1993); no usable summary/pooled data reported.
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Adverse effects (side effects; treatment withdrawals) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction

1 finding from 1 review

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
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

Other oral symptoms (dysgeusia, dysphagia) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction

1 finding from 1 review

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Davies 1994 assessed dysgeusia and dysphagia; pilocarpine reported more effective than mucin-based artificial saliva for dysgeusia. No pooled data.
1 study · 20 participants
GRADE not reported

Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction

1 finding from 1 review

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Davies 1994 (cross-over, 20 participants): mean improvement in VAS score 22.5 mm with pilocarpine vs 15.2 mm with artificial saliva (100 mm scale). The improvement was greater with pilocarpine but was not statistically…
1 study · 20 participants
GRADE not reported

Adverse effects (side effects; treatment withdrawals) · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction

1 finding from 1 review

Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
Davies 1994: main side effects with pilocarpine were nausea 20%, sweating 15%, lacrimation 10%. One participant definitely withdrew because of side effects; another may have.
1 study · 20 participants
GRADE not reported