Drug Reference
Cevimeline
Other parasympathomimetics
Rx only
Fact box
- Therapeutic class
- Other parasympathomimetics
- Action class
- Cholinergic Receptor Agonist
- Mechanism
- Cholinergic Muscarinic Agonists
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Brand names
Evoxac
Available as
30 MG · Oral Capsule
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
Uses
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Cevimeline hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome.
How it works
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Pharmacodynamics Cevimeline is a cholinergic agonist which binds to muscarinic receptors. Muscarinic agonists in sufficient dosage can increase secretion of exocrine glands, such as salivary and sweat glands and increase tone of the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. Pharmacokinetics Absorption: After administration of a single 30 mg capsule, cevimeline was rapidly absorbed with a mean time to peak concentration of 1.5 hours to 2 hours. No accumulation of active drug or its metabolites was observed following multiple dose administration. When administered with food, there is a decrease in the rate of absorption, with a fasting T max of 1.53 hours and a T max of 2.86 hours after a meal; the peak concentration is reduced by 17.3%. Single oral doses across the clinical dose range are dose proportional. Distribution: Cevimeline has a volume of distribution of approximately 6L/kg and is < 20% bound to human plasma proteins. This suggests that cevimeline is extensively bound to tissues; however, the specific binding sites are unknown. Metabolism: Isozymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A3/4 are responsible for the metabolism of cevimeline. After 24 hours, 86.7% of the dose was recovered (16% unchanged, 44.5% as cis and trans-sulfoxide, 22.3% of the dose as glucuronic acid conjugate and 4% of the dose as N-oxide of cevimeline). Approximately 8% of the trans-sulfoxide metabolite is then converted into the corresponding glucuronic acid conjugate and eliminated. Cevimeline did not inhibit cytochrome P450 isozymes 1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4. Excretion: The mean half-life of cevimeline is 5+ /-1 hours. After 24 hours, 84% of a 30 mg dose of cevimeline was excreted in urine. After seven days, 97% of the dose was recovered in the urine and 0.5% was recovered in the feces. Special Populations: The effects of renal impairment, hepatic impairment, or ethnicity on the pharmacokinetics of cevimeline have not been investigated. Clinical Studies Cevimeline has been shown to improve the symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome. A 6-week, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 75 patients (10 men, 65 women) with a mean age of 53.6 years (range 33 to 75). The racial distribution was Caucasian 92%, Black 1% and other 7%. The effects of cevimeline at 30 mg tid (90 mg/day) and 60 mg tid (180 mg/day) were compared to those of placebo. Patients were evaluated by a measure called global improvement, which is defined as a response of "better" to the question, "Please rate the overall condition of your dry mouth now compared with how you felt before starting treatment in this study." Patients also had the option of selecting "worse" or "no change" as answers. Seventy-six percent of the patients in the 30 mg tid group reported a global improvement in their dry mouth symptoms compared to 35% of the patients in the placebo group. This difference was statistically significant at p = 0.0043. There
How to use / dosing
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dose of cevimeline hydrochloride capsules is 30 mg taken three times a day. There is insufficient safety information to support doses greater than 30 mg tid. There is also insufficient evidence for additional efficacy of cevimeline hydrochloride at doses greater than 30 mg tid.
Side effects
ADVERSE REACTIONS Cevimeline was administered to 1,777 patients during clinical trials worldwide, including Sjögren’s patients and patients with other conditions. In placebo-controlled Sjögren’s studies in the U.S., 320 patients received cevimeline doses ranging from 15 mg tid to 60 mg tid, of whom 93% were women and 7% were men. Demographic distribution was 90% Caucasian, 5% Hispanic, 3% Black and 2% of other origin. In these studies, 14.6% of patients discontinued treatment with cevimeline due to adverse events. The following adverse events associated with muscarinic agonism were observed in the clinical trials of cevimeline in Sjögren’s syndrome patients: Adverse Event Cevimeline 30 mg (tid) n n is the total number of patients exposed to the dose at any time during the study. = 533 Placebo (tid) n = 164 Excessive Sweating 18.7% 2.4% Nausea 13.8% 7.9% Rhinitis 11.2% 5.4% Diarrhea 10.3% 10.3% Excessive Salivation 2.2% 0.6% Urinary Frequency 0.9% 1.8% Asthenia 0.5% 0.0% Flushing 0.3% 0.6% Polyuria 0.1% 0.6% In addition, the following adverse events (≥ 3% incidence) were reported in the Sjögren’s clinical trials: Adverse Event Cevimeline 30 mg (tid) n n is the total number of patients exposed to the dose at any time during the study. = 533 Placebo (tid) n = 164 Headache 14.4% 20.1% Sinusitis 12.3% 10.9% Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 11.4% 9.1% Dyspepsia 7.8% 8.5% Abdominal Pain 7.6% 6.7% Urinary Tract Infection 6.1% 3.0% Coughing 6.1% 3.0% Pharyngitis 5.2% 5.4% Vomiting 4.6% 2.4% Injury 4.5% 2.4% Back Pain 4.5% 4.2% Rash 4.3% 6.0% Conjunctivitis 4.3% 3.6% Dizziness 4.1% 7.3% Bronchitis 4.1% 1.2% Arthralgia 3.7% 1.8% Surgical Intervention 3.3% 3.0% Fatigue 3.3% 1.2% Pain 3.3% 3.0% Skeletal Pain 2.8% 1.8% Insomnia 2.4% 1.2% Hot Flushes 2.4% 0.0% Rigors 1.3% 1.2% Anxiety 1.3% 1.2% The following events were reported in Sjögren's patients at incidences of < 3% and ≥ 1%: constipation, tremor, abnormal vision, hypertonia, peripheral edema, chest pain, myalgia, fever, anorexia, eye pain, earache, dry mouth, vertigo, salivary gland pain, pruritus, influenza-like symptoms, eye infection, post-operative pain, vaginitis, skin disorder, depression, hiccup, hyporeflexia, infection, fungal infection, sialoadenitis, otitis media, erythematous rash, pneumonia, edema, salivary gland enlargement, allergy, gastroesophageal reflux, eye abnormality, migraine, tooth disorder, epistaxis, flatulence, toothache, ulcerative stomatitis, anemia, hypoesthesia, cystitis, leg cramps, abscess, eructation, moniliasis, palpitation, increased amylase, xerophthalmia, allergic reaction. The following events were reported rarely in treated Sjögren's patients (< 1%): Causal relation is unknown: Body as a Whole Disorders : aggravated allergy, precordial chest pain, abnormal crying, hematoma, leg pain, edema, periorbital edema, activated pain trauma, pallor, changed sensation temperature, weight decrease, weight increase, choking, mouth edema, syncope, malaise, face edema, substernal chest pain Cardiovascular Disorders : abnormal ECG, heart disorder, heart murmur, aggravated hypertension, hypotension, arrhythmia, extrasystoles, t wave inversion, tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, pulmonary embolism, peripheral ischemia, superficial phlebitis, purpura, deep thrombophlebitis, vascular disorder, vasculitis, hypertension Digestive Disorders : appendicitis, increased appetite, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, duodenitis, dysphagia, enterocolitis, gastric ulcer, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gingivitis, glossitis, rectum hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, ileus, irritable bowel syndrome, melena, mucositis, esophageal stricture, esophagitis, oral hemorrhage, peptic ulcer, periodontal destruction, rectal disorder, stomatitis, tenesmus, tongue discoloration, tongue disorder, geographic tongue, tongue ulceration, dental caries Endocrine Disorders : increased glucocorticoids, goiter, hypothyroid
Safety advice
Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.
PregnancyNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
BreastfeedingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label. Check LactMed →
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingCaution
…Caution should be advised while driving at night or performing hazardous activities in reduced lighting.…
KidneyNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
LiverNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
Warnings & precautions
WARNINGS Cardiovascular Disease Cevimeline can potentially alter cardiac conduction and/or heart rate. Patients with significant cardiovascular disease may potentially be unable to compensate for transient changes in hemodynamics or rhythm induced by cevimeline. Cevimeline should be used with caution and under close medical supervision in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease evidenced by angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Pulmonary Disease Cevimeline can potentially increase airway resistance, bronchial smooth muscle tone, and bronchial secretions. Cevimeline should be administered with caution and with close medical supervision to patients with controlled asthma, chronic bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ocular Ophthalmic formulations of muscarinic agonists have been reported to cause visual blurring which may result in decreased visual acuity, especially at night and in patients with central lens changes, and to cause impairment of depth perception. Caution should be advised while driving at night or performing hazardous activities in reduced lighting.
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Cevimeline is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled asthma, known hypersensitivity to cevimeline, and when miosis is undesirable, e.g., in acute iritis and in narrow-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma.
Overdose
MANAGEMENT OF OVERDOSE Management of the signs and symptoms of acute overdosage should be handled in a manner consistent with that indicated for other muscarinic agonists: general supportive measures should be instituted. If medically indicated, atropine, an anti-cholinergic agent, may be of value as an antidote for emergency use in patients who have had an overdose of cevimeline. If medically indicated, epinephrine may also be of value in the presence of severe cardiovascular depression or bronchoconstriction. It is not known if cevimeline is dialyzable.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)
Authoritative sources
Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.