What is Cevimeline medication uses, side effects?

What is Cevimeline medication uses, side effects?

Why did doctors prescribe Cevimeline medicine?

Cevimeline is used in the treatment of the symptoms of dry mouth in patients because of Sjogren’s syndrome (an immune disease). In this condition, you’ll feel the dryness of certain parts of the body such as the eyes and mouth. Cevimeline comes under the class of medications or drugs known as cholinergic agonists. The working of this medication is to increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, in the process of speaking and swallowing, it makes it easier and more comfortable.

How should this medicine be used?

Cevimeline is available in the form of a capsule to take by mouth. Usually, your healthcare professionals will prescribe you to take it 3 times a day with or without the food. Always take a cevimeline at around the same time each and every day. Ensure to follow the directions exactly on your prescription label carefully. Don’t ever try to take less or more of this medication than prescribed by your doctor or pharmacists. The dosage of this medication depends on your medical condition or your response to treatment.

If you’ll use it regularly for up to six weeks then you can benefit the most from this medication. And if you feel your condition doesn’t improve then you may contact your healthcare professionals. Without talking to your doctor, do not stop using cevimeline even if you feel well within the 6 weeks. Your doctor will tell you when you have stopped using this medication. If you don’t understand any of the parts then ask your healthcare provider to explain all the things again.

What are cevimeline side effects?

When you are using cevimeline medication and if you have seen any of these side effects or symptoms mentioned below then contact your healthcare professionals immediately.

Some common cevimeline side effects:

  • You’ll feel sweating.
  • You’ll feel nausea.
  • You’ll feel a runny nose.
  • You’ll feel flush. 
  • You’ll feel a frequent urge to urinate.
  • You’ll feel dizzy.
  • You’ll feel weakness.
  • You’ll feel diarrhea.
  • You’ll feel faint. 
  • You’ll feel lung problems such as increased wheezing, cough, or phlegm.
  • You’ll feel severe stomach or abdominal pain.

Some serious cevimeline side effects:

  • You’ll feel difficulty breathing.
  • You’ll feel abdominal cramping.
  • You’ll feel a severe headache.
  • You’ll feel confused.
  • You’ll feel shaking hands that you cannot control.
  • You’ll feel changes in vision.
  • You’ll feel tears in your eyes.
  • You’ll feel excessive sweating.
  • You’ll feel changes in your heartbeat.
  • You’ll feel changes in blood pressure.

Cevimeline is a medication that can be used only by people who have some serious side effects. Without your healthcare professionals don’t try to use this medication and they will suggest this medication by judging the most benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Don’t try to use it for a longer time period than prescribed. 

In case, if you are facing any problems and do not go away or are getting worse then immediately contact your health care professionals because this is not the complete list of all symptoms and side effects of this medication. 

If you are in the United States and you are facing these serious side effects or someone near you then you can contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or call at 1-888-463-6332 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

What are other uses of cevimeline?

And if you want to know some other uses of this medication in detail then contact your healthcare professional and you can ask them for more information or other uses of cevimeline.

What special precautions could I take?

You should have followed this special precaution before using the cevimeline:

  • Before having this medication, you should know that at night the cevimeline can cause changes in vision or when there is not enough light. 
  • If you are allergic to cevimeline, or any other drugs then tell your doctor and pharmacist and ask them for all ingredients of cevimeline medication by which you are allergic.
  • Your healthcare professionals will suggest you not take this medication if you have asthma, acute iritis, or glaucoma. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about your diseases.
  •  If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while you are using cevimeline medication then tell your doctor and pharmacist immediately. 
  • If you are having surgery, including dental surgery while you are taking this medication then tell your doctor and dentist.
  • Before having this medication, you should know that cevimeline can cause dehydration because it can cause you to sweat a great deal. So, while taking this medication be sure to use plenty of water and talk to your doctor about ways to prevent dehydration.
  • If you have or have ever had the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney stones, chest pain or a heart attack, chronic bronchitis, gallstones or heart disease then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
  • If you are taking some vitamins, nutritional supplements, prescription, and non-prescription medication or drugs and any other drug or medicine, and herbal products especially St. John’s wort, or planning to take them while using this medication then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
  • This can be very harmful to your infant. So, if you are breastfeeding then tell your doctor and pharmacist because it can pass into breast milk.
  • If you are taking any of these products mentioned in the list then contact your doctor and pharmacist. 
    • Amiodarone such as Pacerone, Cordarone
    • Antifungal medications such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (Sporanox)
    • Beta blockers such as acebutolol
    • Atenolol such as Tenormin
    • Betaxolol such as Kerlone, bisoprolol (Zebeta, in Ziac)
    • Carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL),
    • Nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal),
    • Certain medications for HIV such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir)
    • Medications for Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness
    • Myastenia Gravis
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Ulcers, or urinary problems
    • Methadone (Dolophine)

If you have experienced or faced any of the problems mentioned above then contact your health care professionals immediately. Follow all the mentioned precautions carefully, these are all precautions that you can take while using this product.

What special dietary plans should I follow?

Always follow your dietary recommendations and exercise plan made by your healthcare professional because cevimeline medicine can cause an upset stomach. So, always take this medication with food or milk. If your doctor didn’t give you any instructions, you can continue your normal diet by just avoiding fast food. 

What are the Interactions of cevimeline medication?

Your healthcare professionals can already be aware of any drug interactions. Don’t try to change, stop, or start the dosage of any medicine before checking or talking to your doctor for his/her approval. 

If you are using vitamins, nutritional supplements, some prescription and nonprescription medications or drugs, other herbal products, or planning to take them, then tell your healthcare professionals before starting the treatment with this product. 

Some products that can interact with cevimeline: 

  • Beta-blockers (such as metoprolol, atenolol).
  • Cimetidine
  • Amiodarone
  • Ritonavir
  • Fluoxetine
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Atropine
  • Belladonna
  • Alkaloids
  • Ipratropium
  • Tolterodine

This documentation doesn’t contain all the possible interactions. So, before using the cevimeline, tell your healthcare professionals of all the products you use.

What do I do if I forget a dose?

If you forgot to take this medication and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double.

What can I know about the storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put that medicine in a tightly closed container in which they came because there are as many containers like eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers that are not child-resistant and young children or pets can easily open them.

You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.

What other information should I know?

If you are taking any prescription and non-prescription medication or drugs, while you are using this medication, it is very important to tell your healthcare professionals about this. To make it easy and unforgettable, you can create a list of all prescription and non-prescription medications or drugs and any other drug or medicine you are taking. You can show that list to your healthcare professionals or pharmacists at the time of visit or meeting them. It would help you in case of emergencies. It would help you in case of emergencies.

At the time of meeting your healthcare professionals, don’t forget to carry the laboratory report. And the most important thing is to never miss your doctor and laboratory appointments because your healthcare professionals will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information. So, keep all your appointments with your doctor, pharmacist, and the laboratory. And before having any laboratory test, if you are already taking this product then tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you feel your health condition is getting worse or your dose may need to be adjusted.


Hope you find this article very useful. Please tell us your experience with this article in the comment section and keep visiting for further pieces of information.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *