Sjögren’s Treatment: What Works, What to Avoid, and How to Manage Symptoms

When you have Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks moisture-producing glands. Also known as Sjögren’s disease, it mostly causes severe dry eyes and dry mouth—but it can also affect joints, lungs, kidneys, and nerves. There’s no cure, but Sjögren’s treatment can turn unbearable symptoms into something manageable. It’s not just about reaching for artificial tears or sugar-free gum. Real relief comes from understanding how your immune system is behaving and what tools actually work.

Sjögren’s treatment often starts with symptom control. For dry eyes, prescription drops like cyclosporine or lifitegrast aren’t just lubricants—they reduce inflammation that’s making your eyes worse. For dry mouth, pilocarpine or cevimeline can trick your body into making more saliva. But these aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some people get stomach cramps or sweating from these drugs. Others find that simple hydration and avoiding alcohol-based mouthwashes help more than any pill. And if your Sjögren’s is also causing joint pain or fatigue, you might need something stronger—like hydroxychloroquine, which slows down immune attacks without fully suppressing your system. In more serious cases, doctors turn to immunosuppressive therapy, medications that quiet overactive immune responses. Also known as immune modulators, these include drugs like methotrexate or azathioprine, often used for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, which overlap with Sjögren’s. These aren’t taken lightly. They need regular blood tests to watch for liver or bone marrow side effects.

What most people don’t realize is that Sjögren’s treatment isn’t just about drugs. It’s about daily habits. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, using a humidifier at night, and avoiding antihistamines that dry you out even more can make a bigger difference than you think. And if you’re on other meds—like antidepressants or blood pressure pills—that worsen dryness, talking to your doctor about alternatives matters. Sjögren’s often hides behind other conditions. Many people are misdiagnosed for years before realizing their constant fatigue and burning eyes aren’t just aging. That’s why tracking symptoms and sharing your full history with your doctor is part of the treatment too.

There’s no magic bullet, but the right mix of targeted meds, smart lifestyle tweaks, and regular monitoring can get you back to living—not just surviving. Below, you’ll find real-world advice from people who’ve been there: how to handle flare-ups, what over-the-counter products actually help, and when to push back on a doctor’s advice. These aren’t generic tips. They’re the details that make a difference when you’re dealing with this day after day.