Dry Mouth

007dallas sally83545 margery03727 112 Users are discussing this topic







The causes can include:

  • Medicines. Various medicines can cause a dry mouth as a side-effect. For example, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, antimuscarinic medicines, some anti-epileptic medicines, some antipsychotics, beta-blockers and 'water tablets' (diuretics). Many of these medicines cause a dry mouth by affecting the salivary glands which reduce the amount of spit (saliva) that these glands make.
  • Anxiety.
  • Low body fluid (dehydration). This may occur for many reasons but you will usually be quite ill with fever or other symptoms if you are dehydrated.
  • Sjögren's syndrome. This is a condition which can affect various parts of the body, including the joints (which can cause arthritis), the salivary glands (which can cause a dry mouth) and the tear glands (which can cause dry eyes).

If possible, treat any underlying cause


  • Low body fluid (dehydration), a blocked nose and anxiety can often be treated.

Practical measures

Whatever the cause, the following will often help:

  • Suck ice cubes.
  • Sugar-free chewing gum is often helpful.

Artificial saliva


Saliva stimulants


    • Pilocarpine can cause side-effects in some people, such as sweating, dizziness, runny nose, blurred vision and frequent trips to pass urine. Side-effects tend to become less troublesome in time as your body becomes used to them. So, a doctor may suggest a low dose at first and that you take this for a while until any side-effects have eased. The dose may then be gradually increased with the aim of getting maximum benefit but with minimum side-effects.
    • Pilocarpine should not normally be used if you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bradycardia (slow heart rate), bowel obstruction, or angle-closure glaucoma.

Further help & information

Original Author:
Dr Tim Kenny
Current Version:
Peer Reviewer:
Prof Cathy Jackson
Document ID:
4818 (v39)
Last Checked:
Next Review:
The Information Standard - certified member