Of Sjogren’s Syndrome (NAPSA)—A new telephone survey reveals that the majority of women ages 35 to 65 are unaware of Sjgren’s (pronounced SHOWgrins) syndrome—a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the body’s moisture-producing glands and primarily causes severe dry mouth and dry eyes. Although Sjgren’s syndrome may be one of the most common autoimmunediseases (affecting up to four million people in the United States, mainly women), only 16 percent of the 505 women surveyed had heard about the condition. Survey respondents were presented a list of common complaints associated with Sjgren’s syndrome. These included dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin, vaginal dryness, fatigue, frequent headaches, joint pain and increased tooth decay. Whenasked to identify the conditions associated with these complaints, 61 percent of women surveyed indicated menopause and 6 percent, Sjgren’s syndrome. Even though there is no cure for Sjgren’s syndrome, patients may find temporary relief of dry mouth by drinking water, chewing sugar-free gum and using artificial saliva. In addition, an FDAapproved product called Evoxac (cevimeline HCl) has been proven effective in relieving the symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjgren’s syndrome. Evoxac is not approved for the treatment of dry eyes or other dryness associated with Sjgren’s syndrome. Evoxac is available by prescription only. Important Safety Information The most commonside effects are: excessive sweating, headache, nausea, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, rhinitis and diarrhea. You should not take Evoxac if you have uncontrolled asthma, eye inflammation, narrow angle (angle closure) glaucomaor allergies to Evoxac. Before taking Evoxac, tell your doctor if you have a heart condition, controlled asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, a history of kidney disease or gallstones, or if you are taking any heart medications, especially “beta-blockers.” If you have any of these conditions your doctor will monitor you under close medical supervision while you are taking Evoxac. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications to avoid any possible drug interactions. The safety and effectiveness of Evoxac in patients under 18 years of age have not been established. Special care should be taken if you are elderly. You should be careful when driving at night or performing hazardousactivities in reduced lighting while taking Evoxac. If you sweat excessively while taking Evoxac, you may become dehydrated. To prevent this, drink extra water and talk to your doctor. See full prescribing information at www.evoxac.com or call 1866-338-6922. Note to Editors: This article was funded and reviewed by Daiichi Pharmaceutical Corporation. Evoxac is a registered trademark of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Lid.
