What Are the Treatments for a Dry Mouth When on Medication?

Dry mouth may also be referred to as xerostomia. Dry mouth is a common side effect for many prescription medications. It occurs most commonly in medications used to treat anxiety, depression, urinary incontinence, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease. Other medications that may cause dry mouth include anti-diarrheals, antihistamines and muscle relaxers.

Features

• Dry mouth is characterized by thick saliva that may appear stringy. Other symptoms that may accompany dry mouth include sores at the corner of the mouth, dried-out lips, bad breath, sore throat, trouble swallowing, speaking difficulty and impaired tasting ability.

Prevention/Solution

• Dry mouth may be improved by sucking on hard candy or chewing gum. Choose sugar-free versions to reduce the risk of cavities. Over-the-counter saliva preparations may help as well. Avoiding caffeine and tobacco may help as well. Breathing through the nose rather than the mouth and using a humidifier when sleeping may also be beneficial.

Medication Treatment

• Severe dry mouth may require medication treatment. A physician may prescribe Evoxac or Salagen to increase the production of saliva.

Considerations

• One way to improve dry mouth may be to reduce the dosage of certain medications or to change the medication to a different one with fewer side effects.

Warning

• Persistent dry mouth can damage teeth. Saliva is necessary to wash away plaque and food in the mouth. Saliva is also needed for proper tasting ability and digestion.