Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment could also be due to the underlying illness, previously unrecognized psychopathology, or psychosocial factors. The withdrawal of some drugs can cause symptoms such as anxiety, psychosis, delirium, agitation or depression.

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Cevimeline hydrochloride, an acetylcholine derivative, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of dry mouth symptoms caused by Sjogren's syndrome. Presumably it could also be used to treat radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Pilocarpine hydrochloride is FDA-approved for both indications

Pilocarpine hydrochloride (Salagen- MGI Pharma), a cholinergic agonist long available in an ophthalmic formulation for treatment of glaucoma (Pilocar, and others), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth) in patients with head and neck cancer.