Pilocarpine treatment of xerostomia in head and neck patients.

We studied the effect of pilocarpine hydrochloride, a parasympathicomimetic agent, on major salivary gland output and subjective responses in 40 patients with salivary hypofunction. Pilocarpine increased salivary output or gave significant symptomatic relief in 21 of the 40 patients. The women fared better than the men. Side effects were uncommon, were generally mild, and caused no treatment interruption. These results indicate that pilocarpine is effective in relieving the signs and symptoms of postradiation xerostomia.