Dry Mouth Linked to Dozens of Medications

By Jane Farrell

In an effort to combat dry mouth, a common side effect of medications, researchers are recommending that health care providers monitor that effect and adjust doses of medicine as needed.

Having dry mouth means you don’t have enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. The condition can lead to problems chewing, eating, swallowing, and even talking. What’s more, dry mouth puts you at higher risk for tooth decay and oral infections.

Recently, researchers examined 52 related studies to learn more. The researchers reported that there are a numberof medications that are linked to dry mouth. These include medications used to treat urinary incontinence, depression, insomnia, and anxiety, as well as diuretics used to treat high blood pressure. In fact, medications used to treat urinary incontinence were nearly six times more likely to cause dry mouth than a placebo.

The research was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.