Overview
Salagen is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating symptoms of dry mouth in people with Sjögren’s syndrome. Salagen is typically prescribed for adults who are experiencing persistent dry mouth symptoms due to this condition. Salagen is also known by its drug name, pilocarpine hydrochloride.

Salagen belongs to a class of drugs known as cholinergic agonists. It works by stimulating certain nerves to increase secretion by the salivary glands, which helps relieve dry mouth symptoms associated with Sjögren’s syndrome.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Salagen is taken orally as a tablet. For Sjögren’s syndrome, the recommended dose is typically taken four times a day. The medication should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Salagen include sweating, urinary frequency, nausea, flushing (widening of blood vessels), rhinitis (nasal inflammation), diarrhea, chills, increased salivation, asthenia (weakness), headache, flu-like symptoms, dyspepsia (indigestion), dizziness, pain, sinusitis (sinus inflammation), abdominal pain, vomiting, rash, infection, and pharyngitis (sore throat). In clinical trials, the most common reason for stopping treatment was excessive sweating.

Rare but serious side effects may include cardiovascular problems such as hypotension (low blood pressure), hypertension (high blood pressure), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), tachycardia (fast heartbeat), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), angina (chest pain), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). Other rare effects may involve confusion, depression, abnormal dreams, tremors, visual disturbances such as glaucoma, eye hemorrhage, or blurred vision, and gastrointestinal issues such as pancreatitis, colitis, hepatitis, and abnormal liver function. Rare cases also included allergic reactions, hallucinations, and conditions affecting the skin, muscles, lungs, blood, and urinary or reproductive organs.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Label: Salagen (Pilocarpine Hydrochloride Tablet), Film Coated — DailyMed