Sjögren’s Syndrome

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Sjögren’s syndrome, pronounced (SHOW-grins), is an autoimmune disease that features inflammation of the glands that produce tears, which leads to dryness in the eyes, and inflammation of the glands that produce the saliva in the mouth, which leads to dryness in the mouth and lips. It is one of the more common autoimmune disorders and is thought to affect over four million individuals in the United States alone.

You can learn more about Sjögren’s syndrome by visiting The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, which was founded in 1983 and “provides patients practical information and coping strategies that minimize the effects of Sjögren’s syndrome.” The foundation’s website has a great deal of information, even though it doesn’t appear to have been updated recently. I’m not sure if it is even still an active organization, but I will send them an email and see if anyone is still home. Nonetheless, the site has a good amount of information.

I would recommend that you first visit the Sjögren’s information page at the Lupus Foundation of America for more information.

My wife has just recently started taking Evoxac, which is a medication for Sjogrens. It’s pretty early to tell if it’s making any difference, but we have had an odd episode where she woke up coughing from too much saliva, which was a little scary.

The current poll is set to end on March 3, so if you haven’t participated, there is still time.

1,584 thoughts on “Sjögren’s Syndrome”

  1. Hi there Jeff …

    I am hoping you can help me rally all the “lupus troops.”

    March 3, 2009 is the Lupus Foundation of America’s 11th Annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. Even if you cannot physically join us on Tuesday, there are still several things you – and your family and friends – can do to help raise awareness about the seriousness of lupus.

    To learn all the easy things you can do from the comfort of your home, please go to http://lfa-inc.blogspot.com/2009/02/even-if-you-cannot-be-in-dc-for-lfas.html

    To take it a step further, if you’re willing to do so, I’d really appreciate it you would consider posting this information (what you find at the link to my blog) on your blog, and letting all your friends and family know how important this is to the lupus community.

    If you have any questions, feel free to email me at davis@lupus.org.

    Thanks for your help.

    All the best, Wick

  2. For accurate current information on Sjogren’s Syndrome may I recommend a site that does not require paid membership to access a huge amount of information on a wide variety of things relative to this autoimmune disorder which effects approximately 4 million Americans.
    Evoxac is a medication for the dry eyes and dry mouth symptoms of this condition. It is however not a a treatment for the disease itself.
    Sjogren’s takes on average eight years after complaint of symptoms to a health care professional until a diagnosis is received.
    Older recommendations were to take an occasional NSAID, over the counter drugs like Tylenol, etc.
    Many not current websites, that appear otherwise professional and competent have not kept pace with current recommendations for early treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs to preserve and enhance quality of life.

    It is an inconsistent disease. Showing a variety of symptoms that can change from day to day in the same person and have vastly different presentations in another.
    Please visit http://www.sjogrens.netfirms.com for further information.

  3. There’s also a wonderful blog on Sjogren’s at
    reasonablywell-julia.blogspot.com/
    Julia is a retired RN with Sjogren’s and a terrific writer too. She’s really done her homework and provides a wealth of info via links to top-notch sources, along with her brilliant synopses of pertinent facts, all organized in a handy index so it’s easy to find past posts on your topic of interest.