Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Alleviating Dry Mouth
Johns Hopkins experts provide eight practical tips to help you reduce medication-related dry mouth.Dry mouth is a common side effect of many psychiatric medications. Dry mouth occurs when a drug blocks the receptor sites of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which controls saliva production. There are several simple, helpful remedies to help you relieve dry mouth:
- Take frequent sips of water or sugar-free drinks throughout the day.
- Avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol, as they are diuretics leading to dehydration.
- Have water available at your bedside to avoid dry mouth during the night.
- Drink frequently during all meals.
- Carry sugar-free hard candies, mints or chewing gum (sugar-containing remedies increase the risk for dental cavities).
- Try to avoid spicy, salty and acidic foods, as well as tobacco.
- Some patients find it soothing to use a humidifier, particularly through the night.
- Under your physician’s guidance, a minimal decrease in medication dosage, or dividing the dose into a twice-daily regimen, may help diminish many side effects, including dry mouth.
If these remedies do not help relieve dry mouth, your doctor may prescribe the medication Salagen (pilocarpine in 1% solution) as a mouthwash to use three times daily. Salagen is a cholinergic agonist, which means it has a strong affinity for the acetylcholine receptor sites that many psychiatric medications block. Cholinergic agonists increase the flow of saliva, thereby helping to counteract dry mouth.
Another medication often prescribed for dry mouth is bethanechol tablets, 10–30 mg once or twice daily. Bethanechol is sold under the brand names Duvoid, Urabeth and Urecholine. Like Salagen, it is a cholinergic agonist, so it stimulates saliva production.
Because dry mouth increases the risk for dental cavities, it is important to be particularly vigilant about dental hygiene if you are troubled by this medication side effect. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day (and immediately after eating sticky, sugary foods), using dental floss after every meal and using toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Posted in Depression and Anxiety on July 4, 2007
Reviewed June 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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This is an article related to antidepressant.
Evoxac, (Cevimeline) is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome (an arthritis-related condition, and therefore not related to antidepressants).
Cevimeline is not without risk of side effects, and is not indicated for people with certain medical conditions. In addition, the more medications a person takes, the more likely they are to interact. This article is indicating the many ways one can alleviate dry mouth without resorting to prescriptions.
Posted by: Jo | July 13, 2007 11:05 AM
i used cymbalta which worked for my depression however i had to go off it because of the side effect. i would break out in profuse sweats which soaked my hair. no physical activity was involved. two monyhs after stopping i relapsed into depression. started a new medication prestiq however after 10 dys usage profuse sweating returned. called the company and they said drug was similr to cymbalta and thus sweating was a listed side effect. any advice.
Posted by: mrriz1ootball1 | October 14, 2008 8:07 PM
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RE; Alleviating dry mouth report. You did not llist the medication Evoxac. Was it overlooked?
Posted by: jmpeeks | July 9, 2007 9:48 AM