Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder where your body’s defences mistake your own immune system as a foreign invader and attack it. In people with Sjogren’s syndrome, this results in attacks on the membranes and glands that control mucous, tears, saliva, and other facial liquids and secretions.
Because of these attacks, people with Sjogren’s syndrome have excessively dry eyes, noses, and mouths. While this may not sound serious at first, people with Sjogren’s syndrome live uncomfortable, painful lives. They are also more prone to serious mouth, eye, and nose problems and conditions than other people, as well as complications affecting the liver, joints, lungs, and kidneys. As such, it is important to seek a diagnosis and treatment early in life.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. Therefore, most of the available treatments revolve around treating the symptoms that your condition causes and your treatment plan will be tailored as such.
Currently, medications are the primary treatment for people with Sjogren’s syndrome. These medications will vary from person to person depending on the severity of their condition and the symptoms they have. Here are some of the most common medication treatment options.
Many symptoms are treatable and controllable with NSAIDs that you can purchase at a local pharmacy or convenience store. These NSAIDs, including Advil and Ibuprofen, decrease pain and inflammation, which are common in people with Sjogren’s.
When NSAIDs are not enough to help with Sjogren’s, you may be prescribed corticosteroids, such as prednisone and budesonide. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can ease the symptoms of Sjogren’s.
As the name implies, immunosuppressants are medications that suppress the immune system. Because Sjogren’s is an autoimmune condition, immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, can calm the immune system enough to ease the symptoms of Sjogren’s.
Unfortunately, while medications are the primary treatment for Sjogren’s disease and its symptoms, they can cause unwanted side effects.
Surgery is also a viable option to address the symptoms of Sjogren’s. Certain operations, such as blocking tear ducts, can permanently resolve dry eye. If you choose this procedure, the doctor may start with temporary tear duct plugs that dissolve over several months before inserting permanent plugs.
Another unwanted side effect of Sjogren’s is that it can cause excessive vaginal dryness. To combat this problem, you may benefit from hormone therapy to increase the amount of oestrogen in your system.
If your condition is serious but not enough to warrant surgery or prescription medications, you may be able to get by with other remedies. This includes things like artificial tears or eye drops, special vaginal lubricants, prescription mouthwashes and toothpaste, and more. These are meant as long-term options and alternatives to surgery or medications.
If you have Sjogren’s syndrome, you will benefit from certain lifestyle changes and modifications, including the following.
While there is no permanent cure for Sjogren’s syndrome, proper treatment and diagnosis can improve your quality of life and mitigate symptoms. However, you will need to stick to a lifelong treatment plan because Sjogren’s does not go away on its own.