Do You Experience DRY MOUTH SYNDROME From Diabetes Meds?

I do and sometimes I think it is getting worse. It is NOT caused by not drinking enough liquids or water. It is a unwanted side effect of several medications on the market including diabetes medications.

LINK to Dry Mouth

Excerpt:

What is dry mouth?

Dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many medications. Infection or obstructions of the salivary glands are often associated with dry mouth, as these glands are responsible for the production of saliva in the mouth. Diseases, such as lupus and diabetes, may also result in a dry mouth. Emotional disorders, such as a panic attack caused by severe anxiety, may cause dry mouth due to the stress or “flight or fight” response, which reduces saliva production in the mouth.

Dry mouth is commonly associated with periodontal disease, as saliva helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, which causes gum disease, oral infections, and tooth decay. Dry mouth, if not treated, can make chewing, eating, swallowing, and even talking difficult.

In some cases, dry mouth may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious condition that should be evaluated immediately in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have dry mouth along with other serious symptoms, including difficulty breathing or swallowing.

 WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT / SEE FOLLOWING LINK

LINK to Dry Mouth Info

(EXCERPT) please read entire article by clicking on the link provided

Treating the cause(s) of the oral dryness
Since Dry Mouth is caused by many things, it should not be surprising that there are different ways to treat  it. If your physician or dentist can determine the cause of your oral dryness, he/she may be able to provide you with a specific cure. The trouble is, this is easier said than done.

If the dryness is due to drugs, it may be possible for your doctor to advise you to stop taking those drugs, reduce their intake or switch to another “less drying” medication. The drymouth.info drug search engine can be quite useful in this effort. Sometimes, especially, in life threatening diseases, it may not be possible to change a patient’s drug intake pattern.. If the dryness is due to a specific disease, e.g. diabetes, proper treatment of the disease will decrease the intensity of your oral symptoms. Occasionally, we do not know the causes of the diseases which produce dry mouth. This, for example,  is the case with Sjögren’s Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. In such cases, we try to relieve the symptoms of the disease  rather than treat the disease itself.

How to Treat Dry Mouth and its Associated Symptoms

            To Keep Your Mouth Moist

Sip water or other sugar-free juices frequently. It is particularly important to drink often while eating. This will aid chewing and swallowing and may enhance the taste of your food. You can carry a water bottle, like bicycle riders do, during the day and keep a glass of water at your bedside at night. Also, use a humidifier to increase the moisture content of the air in your room.
Stimulate the flow of your saliva
            By eating foods which require mastication
            By chewing sugarless gum
            By using, if possible, acid-tasting, sugarless (diabetic-type)  candies..
            By “sucking” a cherry or olive pit; or the  rind of a lemon or lime.
To Protect the Hard and Soft Tissues of your Mouth

Ask your dentist to teach you how to properly brush your teeth, and brush them after every meal.
Use dental floss daily.
Ask your dentist to teach you how to scrape or brush the surface of your tongue, and do this every day.
Use a fluoride toothpaste daily. In some cases, your dentist may prescribe the fabrication of a “mouth-guard”, like athletes wear. A fluoride gel is placed in these trays and they are worn for several minutes every night.
Decrease your intake of sugars and your snack frequency. Also, watch your intake of carbohydrates, like bread and pasta and cookies, etc. which tend to hang around in the mouth.
Avoid or decrease your intake of spicy, salty or very acidic foods.
Do not smoke
Avoid or decrease your intake of alcohol
Avoid or decrease your intake of caffeine-containing drinks and foods.
Chew your food slowly and thoroughly, and sip water with it before swallowing.
Salivary Substitutes (Artificial Saliva) or a mouth-gel can be used to lubricate your tissues. They sometimes make you feel less dry.
See your dentist at least 3 times a year and have him/her routinely check you for evidence of early decay.

(IN MY OWN CASE) It may be in part due to Lisinopril? See following Link:
LINK to Lisinopril side Effects

EXCERPT:

Dizziness; headache; light-headedness; nonproductive cough; tiredness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Lisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); blurred vision or other vision changes (eg, decreased vision clearness); change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain or discomfort; dark urine; difficult or painful urination; drowsiness; dry mouth; eye pain; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; joint pain, stiffness, or swelling; loss of appetite; mood or mental changes (egheadedness; shortness of breath; slurred speech; stomach pain (with or without nausea or vomiting); sudden, unusual weight loss or gain; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, fast breathing; flushing; fruit-like breath odor; increase in thirst, hunger, or urination); symptoms of low blood sodium (eg, confusion, mental or mood changes, seizures, sluggishness); trouble swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual thirst, weakness, or tiredness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

MY Input:

I have already voluntarily on my own, cut my Lisinopril dose age by 1/2 taking it only in the morning and NOT at night. It is prescribed primarily for my blood pressure which has been doing fantastic on the celery, apple, carrot, spinach, red grapes smoothies I drink every day. The dry mouth bothers me mostly at night which is why I cut the dose age. I have also cut my Glipizide tabs in 1/2 since they are scored by the pharmacy to do so.

Dry Mouth can be VERY serious and can cause digestive problems amongst others. IF you have it and suspect it may be due to one or more prescription drugs, check with your doctor.

COULD IT BE Felodipine? taken for blood pressure? / The real crux of the matter is that IF you are on more than one medication for your diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol etc. then there is the possibility that MULTIPLE DRUGS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO DRY MOUTH SYMPTOMS

LINK to Felodipine Side Effects Including Dry Mouth

EXCERPT:

Side Effects of Enalapril/Felodipine - for the Consumer

Enalapril/Felodipine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Enalapril/Felodipine:

Diarrhea; dizziness or lightheadedness when sitting up or standing; drowsiness; headache; nausea; persistent, dry cough; tiredness; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Enalapril/Felodipine:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast changes; changes in sexual function; chest pain; dry mouth; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hoarseness; infection (fever, sore throat); infrequent urination; lethargy; muscle pain or cramps; muscle weakness; restlessness; thirst; unusual stomach pain; unusual swelling; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.





IF ANYONE out there would like to comment about their own dry mouth scenario and perhaps the solution they found to be useful, please respond and i will post your comments. please keep it clean. Thanks for reading, Dan

 

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Psalm 46:1-3

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.