Medication-Induced Dry Mouth: Causes, Complications, and Effective Treatment Strategies

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a common, yet often overlooked, side effect of many medications. Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands malfunction, producing insufficient and/or low-quality saliva. While a lack of saliva might seem like a minor inconvenience, medication-induced dry mouth can significantly impact daily life, making it difficult to chew, swallow, and talk, and increasing the risk of dental problems. 

 

Studies show that medication is the most common risk factor for dry mouth, especially in older adults. Polypharmacy, taking more than one medication at a time, also more common in older adults, further compounds the risk of xerostomia. While more common in older adults, medication-induced xerostomia can occur in anyone taking medications that list dry mouth as a side effect. 

 

In this article, we’ll explore which medications are most likely to cause dry mouth, potential complications, and a range of practical dry mouth treatment options to help you regain comfort and oral health.

 

Medications Most Commonly Associated with Dry Mouth

Saliva is a vital fluid that aids digestion, cleanses the mouth of food particles, and protects against infections. When medications disrupt the signals from the brain to the salivary glands or directly affect gland function, xerostomia ensues.

 

Hundreds of drugs can trigger xerostomia, most of which typically belong to certain classes. Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent offenders:

 

1. Antihistamines and decongestants: Common over-the-counter remedies for allergies and colds, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and loratadine (Claritin), dry out mucous membranes to reduce congestion, but the dryness may extend to the salivary glands and cause them to stop producing normal amounts of saliva.
2. Antidepressants and antipsychotics: These medications lead to a high prevalence of dry mouth, with a recent study showing xerotomia presenting in 80% of participants on antipsychotics, in 44.4% of those on antidepressants, and in 11.1% of those on SSRIs. 
3. Antihypertensives: Various types of blood pressure medication, including beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics can reduce saliva flow by altering fluid balance or nerve signals. Diuretics, in particular, promote dehydration, compounding the severity of dry mouth symptoms.
4. Pain relievers and muscle relaxants: Opioids, and some non-opioid pain meds like ibuprofen in high doses, can cause dry mouth. Muscle relaxants can also interfere with salivary function.
5. Other common culprits:
   • Anticholinergics for overactive bladder 
   • Parkinson’s disease drugs 
   • ADHD medications 
   • Weight loss drugs, particularly Ozempic  

 

If you’re experiencing dry mouth, consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to understand if there is any way to reduce your symptoms. Sometimes, changing the dosage or particular brand of medication is enough to eliminate dry mouth as a side effect or, at the very least, reduce the symptoms. 

 

The Impact of Medication-Induced Dry Mouth on Daily Life and Health

Beyond the immediate discomfort of a continual thirst, medication-induced xerostomia can lead to a variety of health issues, including:

• Oral health complications: Tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, oral infections, dental erosion, difficulty wearing dentures, and hoarseness
• General health complications: Nutritional challenges due to difficulty chewing and swallowing, and anxiety and depression due to persistent symptoms
• Lifestyle challenges: Sleep disturbances, difficulty talking, persistent bad breath

 

For anyone taking dry mouth-inducing medications long-term, these issues can exacerbate frailty or lead to higher healthcare costs. Recognizing symptoms early is key to preventing escalation.

 

Strategies to Manage and Treat Medication-Induced Dry Mouth

Many people taking medication that causes dry mouth are not able to forego them — they need them to live. Fortunately, there are numerous dry mouth treatment options that can be used in conjunction with different medications. 

 

There are three pillars of dry mouth treatment: Treating the source, symptom relief, and lifestyle habits. 

 

1. Treating the source:

There are two main treatment methods for treating dry mouth at its source: malfunctioning salivary glands.

• The SaliPen: This small, handheld device uses gentle intraoral electrostimulation to activate salivary glands directly. It encourages natural saliva production without drugs and is particularly useful for medication-induced cases, as there is no issue of contraindication or pharmacological side effects. 
• Medications: Some medications specifically treat dry mouth by stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. These medications are effective, but sometimes come with unpleasant side effects. As polypharmacy also increases the risk of dry mouth, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider whether it’s best to take medication for dry mouth, or opt for a drug-free treatment like the SaliPen. 

 

1. Symptom relief

Artificial saliva, also known as a saliva substitute, treats dry mouth symptoms, but not the root cause. These substitutes come in the form of sprays, gels, rinses, sugar-free gum, and lozenges. They’re designed to mimic saliva’s moisturizing effects and provide temporary relief for painful symptoms. 

 

1. Lifestyle habits

 

Several simple, accessible changes can help mitigate the severity of dry mouth symptoms. These include:

• Staying hydrated: Water is the foundation of saliva production, so drinking enough water every day ensures that your salivary glands, whether stimulated by the SaliPen or medication, will have the raw material with which to produce saliva. 
• Using a humidifier at night: Dry mouth often worsens at night. Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air, providing natural dry mouth relief at night.
• Avoiding certain substances: Alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine are diuretics and can exacerbate dry mouth symptoms. Avoid them as much as possible. 
• Nose breathing: Mouth breathing can further dry out the mouth at night, while breathing through the nose maintains moisture in the mouth. 

 

These habits, along with treatment at the source and symptom relief, form the basis of a comprehensive dry mouth treatment plan.  

 

The Bottom Line: You Don’t Need to Give Up Your Medication to Get Dry Mouth Relief

Dry mouth is a common side effect of medication, and therefore, treatment starts with awareness. When starting a new medication:

• Discuss dry mouth risks with your prescribing healthcare professional
• Schedule regular dental check-ups. Dentists are often the first healthcare professionals to notice the dry mouth symptoms
• Track symptoms to identify patterns, including ups and downs of symptoms

 

With a combination of awareness, lifestyle tweaks, and targeted treatments, medication-induced dry mouth is a manageable condition. By understanding common culprits like antihistamines, antidepressants, and antihypertensives, you can proactively speak with your healthcare providers about finding the right dosage and brands of medication that work best for you. 

 

FAQs

Which medications most commonly cause dry mouth? 

Hundreds of medications cause dry mouth, but the most common classes include antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure meds, and pain relievers.

 

What are common symptoms of dry mouth?

Persistent thirst, increased dental cavities and other oral health complications, and difficulty chewing, swallowing, and talking are all common dry mouth symptoms.

 

How can I treat dry mouth at night?

Dry mouth often gets worse at night. To reduce symptoms, use a humidifier, avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, and take a saliva substitute before bed to mitigate dry mouth symptoms at night. Keep a bottle of water next to your bed in case you wake up thirsty. 

 

Are there any dry mouth miracle cures? 

There are no miracle cures for dry mouth, but there are plenty of treatment options that offer a chance of real relief. These options include electrostimulation via the SaliPen, medication, saliva substitutes, and lifestyle changes. 

 

How does the SaliPen help with medication-induced dry mouth? 

The SaliPen uses electrostimulation to naturally boost saliva production, making it an effective xerostomia treatment for ongoing management.

 

Where can I buy the SaliPen?

You can buy the SaliPen here.