Don’t Stop Taking Your Bladder Control Medication If You Have Dry Mouth as a Side Effect
Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription overactive bladder medications like oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin, darifenacin, and others. While these medications can improve your quality of life in terms of bladder control, dry mouth creates a different set of challenges that must be addressed to maintain that high quality of life.
Dry mouth is more than just frequent thirst; it affects daily activities like eating and speaking, and can also cause nightly sleep disruptions. At Saliwell, we understand the difficulties caused by medication-induced dry mouth, which is why we offer two innovative oral health solutions: SaliPen and SaliVance.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss why oxybutynin and similar drugs cause dry mouth, why treating dry mouth is important for quality of life, and current treatment options on the market today.
Why Do Bladder Control Medications Cause Dry Mouth?
Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence medications such as oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin, and darifenacin belong to a class of medications called anticholinergics. These drugs block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps control bladder muscle contractions, thereby relaxing the muscle of the bladder and reducing urgency, frequency, and incontinence.
Oxybutynin is also used off-label to ease hot flashes caused by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a common treatment of prostate cancer. (Similarly, oxybutynin can reduce hot flashes in women treated for breast cancer.)
Blocking acetylcholine has its pros and cons; while it relaxes the bladder and enables better control, it also reduces saliva flow and causes dry mouth. The severity and prevalence of dry mouth differ by medication; for example, immediate-release oxybutynin causes dry mouth in the majority of people who take it, while slow-release oxybutynin has fewer side effects. Another example is tolterodine, which has a lower prevalence of dry mouth but isn’t as effective as oxybutynin.
The bottom line is, whenever you take a bladder control medication of any kind, the risk of dry mouth increases.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Dry Mouth
Dry mouth isn’t just uncomfortable; it can be painful and lead to a lower quality of life. Simple daily activities like eating and even talking can become daunting challenges when there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth. Nighttime waking becomes common due to extreme thirst or discomfort. And then there are the oral health issues caused by a lack of saliva.
Saliva is extremely important for oral health, protecting gums and tooth enamel, washing away bacteria, maintaining a balanced pH, and more. Without it, harmful germs proliferate, leading to tooth and gum disease, infections, bad breath, and more. The slow decay of oral health also takes a toll on the quality of life of those who live with it.
Some people taking overactive bladder medication feel like they must choose between bladder control and dry mouth, but no one should have to choose between one evil and another. Dry mouth shouldn’t be the price to pay for treating urinary incontinence. Which is why anyone who suffers from dry mouth as a result of medication should seek dry mouth treatment options.
The Best Dry Mouth Treatment Options For People Taking Bladder Control Medication
Before launching into a new dry mouth treatment regimen, talk with your prescribing physician to see whether changing the dosage or brand of urinary control medication can make a positive impact. Because some brands cause less severe symptoms than others, making a small change can sometimes make dry mouth symptoms much more manageable.
If you’ve tried different dosages and types of anticholinergics and still suffer from dry mouth, there are two clinically-tested dry mouth treatment options to consider:
- Medication: Cevimeline and pilocarpine pharmacologically stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva.
Keep in mind, if you’re taking urinary control medication, it’s important to consult with your doctor before adding another medication to your regimen. This is for two reasons:
- To make sure the medications are not contraindicated (with each other or with additional medications they might be taking)
- Polypharmacy itself causes dry mouth; therefore adding another medication to the mix, even as a treatment of dry mouth, may contradictorily worsen the severity of dry mouth symptoms
- SaliPen: This FDA-approved medical device delivers gentle electrical impulses to the oral cavity to stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva. The SaliPen is drug-free and has no adverse side effects. Perhaps more importantly, it doesn’t contribute to polypharmacy, which makes it ideal for people taking oxybutynin or other medications.
Lifestyle Adjustments to Enhance Dry Mouth Treatment
Lifestyle adjustments aren’t a cure for dry mouth, but can be used in conjunction with recognized dry mouth treatments to enhance their efficacy.
Common lifestyle adjustments to reduce the severity of dry mouth symptoms include:
- Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free lozenges (with xylitol) to stimulate saliva production
- Reducing sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine intake
- Using fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash to protect tooth enamel
- Brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular dentist checkups
- At night, using a humidifier to add moisture to the room and breathe through your nose (not mouth)
Additionally, using SaliVance several times a day can enhance oral comfort. The SaliVance isn’t a medical device but an oral health companion that works through simple touch; inserting the reusable device into your mouth several times a day can boost moistness and oral comfort.
It’s Not One or the Other
Treating dry mouth induced by bladder control medication doesn’t mean resigning yourself to a life of daily oral discomfort. With awareness, treatment options, and lifestyle adjustments, you can take medication for urinary incontinence and still eat, talk, and sleep comfortably.
If you are experiencing dry mouth, don’t ignore it; talk to your physician or dentist about treatment options that fit your lifestyle. If you have questions about the SaliPen or SaliVance, contact us here.
FAQS
Is dry mouth a common side effect of bladder control medications?
Yes, dry mouth is a common side effect of bladder control medications such as oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin, darifenacin, and others, although different medications have varied prevalence and severity. Incidence also depends on dose and individual factors such as concurrent medical conditions and medications.
Can I stop taking bladder control medication if my dry mouth is too bad?
You shouldn’t stop taking any medication without consulting your doctor. If your dry mouth is very severe, ask your healthcare provider about dosage adjustments or brand switches, add-on therapies like the SaliPen or SaliVance, and lifestyle adjustments you can implement while continuing treatment.
Is SaliPen safe to use alongside oxybutynin and other anticholinergics?
Yes, for most people. The SaliPen doesn’t interact with medications and is indicated for drug-induced xerostomia. Review the contraindications (i.e., epilepsy, pacemakers) with your healthcare provider before starting.
How quickly will my dry mouth improve with SaliPen?
Many SaliPen users report relief within days to weeks, with continued improvement of salivary over the course of months of consistent use.
Will my doctor know about electrostimulation devices?
Many specialists in urology, oncology, dentistry, and oral health are increasingly familiar with electrostimulation devices for dry mouth treatment. If you’re considering using the SaliPen or SaliVance, ask your healthcare provider about them directly.
Where can I learn more about SaliPen and SaliVance?
You can learn more about our products on our website and contact us here with any questions.
