ETHYOL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION | SAFETY INFORMATION

Xerostomia (zee-roh-STOH-mee-ah) is a term for a complication that occurs when radiation has damaged, sometimes permanently, the function of the salivary glands.¹ Your salivary glands produce saliva that helps maintain the moisture and overall health and functioning of your mouth. Xerostomia commonly occurs when radiation therapy is used to treat patients with head and neck cancer, where a substantial portion of the parotid gland is within the radiation field. A study showed that 95% of patients who received radiation to treat head and neck cancer experienced symptoms of xerostomia 6 months after therapy.²

Saliva production may drop within 1 week after the start of radiation therapy and can continue to drop with further treatment.¹ Some patients may get back some salivary function within the first year, but others could have a permanent salivary loss.

Ethyol has been approved by the FDA to help reduce the severity of xerostomia caused by radiation therapy, after surgery for the treatment of head and neck cancer, where a substantial portion of the salivary glands (located below and in front of the ear) are in the radiation field. If you are being treated for head and neck cancer, only your physician can tell you if Ethyol is right for you.

References: 1. National Cancer Institute. Management of oral complications during and after chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/Patient/. Accessed February 23, 2005. 2. Epstein JB, Robertson M, Emerton S, Phillips N, Stevenson-Moore P. Quality of life and oral function in patients treated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2001;23:389-398.