Medications for Sjögren’s Disease

When self-care is not enough, your doctor may add prescription drugs to your plan. There is an important point to know first: There are currently no medicines that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved specifically to treat Sjögren’s disease as a whole. Instead, doctors use drugs approved for dry eyes, dry mouth, or for other inflammatory conditions to manage your symptoms.^1,3

How medications fit in

Drugs are matched to the part of the body affected. Some target eye dryness, some boost saliva, and some calm the immune system throughout the body. There is no cure, but there are several ways to treat and manage the symptoms. Because treatments work differently for each person, finding the right mix can take time, and your doctor will adjust your plan as needed.^1-4

Drugs for dry eyes

When over-the-counter drops are not enough, several prescription options can help control eye inflammation or boost tear production. They work in different ways, and your eye doctor will help you find the one that fits you.³

Dry eye medicines can include:³

• Cyclosporine (Restasis®, Cequa®, Vevye®) – FDA-approved drops that help control inflammation and increase tear production.
• Lifitegrast (Xiidra®) – FDA-approved drops that target eye inflammation in a different way than cyclosporine.
• Acoltremon (Tryptyr®) – FDA-approved drops that prompt nerves in the eye to make more tears.
• Varenicline (Tyrvaya®) – An FDA-approved nasal spray that helps increase tear production.
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose (Lacrisert®) – A small insert placed under the lower eyelid that slowly dissolves to lubricate the eye.
• Corticosteroid drops – Short courses can calm dry-eye flare-ups. They are used only briefly to avoid other eye problems.

Cholinergic agonist pills can also increase tears. Eye drops made from your own blood, called autologous serum drops, are another option some people use.³

Drugs for dry mouth

A group of drugs called cholinergic agonists can increase saliva and sometimes tears. These are FDA-approved to treat dry mouth.¹

Drugs for whole-body symptoms

When Sjögren’s affects more than the eyes and mouth, doctors may use drugs that calm the immune system or reduce inflammation throughout the body. These fall into several drug classes:^1,3

• Antimalarials – such as hydroxychloroquine, often used for joint pain, rashes, and fatigue.
• DMARDs and immunosuppressants – such as methotrexate, for more serious disease.
• Biologics – such as rituximab, for select cases with high disease activity or organ involvement.
• Corticosteroids – such as prednisone, to control flares and severe symptoms, usually for short periods.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some available over the counter, may also help with joint pain and inflammation. Ask your doctor before using them, especially if you have kidney or liver problems.^2,3

Emerging treatments

Because no drug is yet approved to treat Sjögren’s itself, researchers are working hard to change that. New treatments are being studied in clinical trials, a required step toward FDA approval.^3,5

Two investigational drugs have drawn attention. Ianalumab received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for Sjögren’s in January 2026, based on phase 3 trial results, and the maker planned to seek approval starting in early 2026.⁶

Nipocalimab received Breakthrough Therapy designation for moderate-to-severe Sjögren’s in November 2024, based on a phase 2 study.⁷

Neither drug is FDA-approved for Sjögren’s yet. If you are interested in trials, talk to your doctor or search a trial finder.^5,7

Other things to know

Some treatments listed here are not approved by the FDA to treat Sjögren’s disease. They may be approved for other conditions. A doctor may prescribe them “off-label” when evidence suggests they help. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.

Talk to your doctor

Before starting any treatment, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take. This includes over-the-counter drugs. Your doctor can help you weigh the benefits and risks and find what fits you.