Summary of treatment options
| Type of therapy | Benefits of this approach | Side effects | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative measures | Largely cheap Simple Minimal side effects | Few | Consider these in all patients |
| Anticholinergics | Easy to prescribe Cheap | Urinary retention, blurred vision, confusion | Caution in myasthenia gravis-related drooling |
| Botulinum toxin | Targeted therapy | Excessively dry mouth | Concerns over effects on bulbar function |
| Radiotherapy | Targeted therapy | Excessively dry mouth Risk of malignancy | Effects (including adverse effects) last from months to years |
| Surgery | Long-term symptom relief if effective | Generic surgical and anaesthetic risks Retention cysts | Irreversible Patients may be too frail to tolerate |