title: Efficacy of cevimeline vs. pilocarpine in the secretion of saliva: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and compare the side-effects of cevimeline and pilocarpine in the secretion of saliva in patients with xerostomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, cross-over, double blind study was designed. Fifteen patients with diagnosis of xerostomia were assigned to take either 5 mg of pilocarpine or 30 mg of cevimeline three times a day for four weeks. Salivary flow rates were measured during the initial baseline, first and second month appointments. Statistical analysis was carried out with ANOVA and post hoc t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients completed both medication treatments. Although both medications proved to increase salivary secretion, there was no significant difference between pilocarpine and cevimeline. Also, the perceived side-effects between the two medications were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both medications increased the secretion of saliva at the end of four weeks. However, there was a slightly higher increment in saliva with pilocarpine. However, the difference was not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontics Resident, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brimhall
authors.forename: Malhar A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jhaveri
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yepes
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013546:Sweating; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D011812:Quinuclidines; D013876:Thiophenes; D010862:Pilocarpine; C059240:cevimeline