Dry mouth is my worst side affect!

[DaniMSC]

Well, I realize there is not much chance of getting help on this board since I'm the second thread! :-P Maybe the others were deleted due to spam?

Anyway, I have had ridiculous dry mouth (and eyes, skin, everything) since starting meds for IC. I take much less than most people in every med, and I still have terrible dry mouth. I am currently taking 12.5 elavil a night, 10mg citalopran (SSRI), 4 elmiron per day, the pill, and 150mg bupropion. Then sometimes I take tramadol for the pain. I think each and every one of these meds can cause dry mouth, but I don't feel I can cut out any of the other meds. I tried taking several other drugs instead of Elavil but they also caused equally bad dry mouth (imipramine, hydroxyzine, lyrica).

Has anyone had any profound experiences involving dry mouth, where one single drug made the difference? Or how about any products for dry mouth? I tried biotene spray and it didn't help me at all. This is a huge issue for me because I am/was a professional classical singer and I haven't been able to work/sing because there is nothing worse for the vocal chords than singing on dry chords. When I try to sing, it feels like I'm giving my throat an indian burn because of how dry it is. Just talking for an hour gets me hoarse. I've looked on classical singer forums and everything is just geared towards normal dry mouth, not medically induced dry mouth. If anyone has tips on how to get over dry mouth I'd really really love to hear them. Thanks!

[pattiem]

Sorry about your problem and having no response, I just kind of run accross this thread.
Anyway, I was on amitriptyline in the spring for vv and had somewhat of a dry mouth my chief complaint was constipation and it wasn't working. Dr took me off that and put me on desiprimine, I didn't have dry mouth anymore but the constipation was worse.
Desiprimine is in the same drug class as amitriptine but is supposed to be less sedating. Hope this helps and you get some releif.
Pattie

[NancyB]

Evoxac and Salagen

Dear Dani -

I have dry mouth because of other medical issues involving medications. I have taken Evoxac for two years. I have had no side effects, and it cleared up my dry mouth. Salagen is another dry mouth medication; however, I haven't tried it. They are both prescription medications.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

NancyB

[ICNDonna]

Right now I'm on a muscle relaxant for severe back pain (not related to IC) and my mouth is horribly dry --- the problem is that the muscle spasms are horrible without the medication. This morning when I woke up, my tongue wanted to stick to the roof of my mouth. My dry eyes are easier to deal with --- I just put tears in them several times a day. I will be sooooo glad when my back is better so I can stop some of the meds.

Donna

[Mothergoose]

Donna

Sorry to hear you are haveing such back problem, here hoping for quick healing.

MG

[ICNDonna]

MG, I've had what seems like a multitude of tests in the past six weeks and this Wednesday I will see a neurosurgeon to discuss alternatives.

Cross your fingers for me.

Donna

[MaryS]

I to get dry mouth from all my ic meds. I tend to take sips of water and swish it around my mouth befor swallowing. I also suck on candy,chew gum and eat candy corn. I keep water by my bed if I wake up with a parched mouth and take a few sips. I hat mornings because my mouth feels like i walked in a desert for days with no water .

[Mothergoose]

Donna

I will cross my fingers for you and add in a prayer, a sore back is no fun, you just can't get away from it, no position you can get into to relieve it.

I hope the neuro has something he can do for you.

Not long ago it was your neck?

Sounds like you get you IC pain undercontrol only to get other pains.

Hugs MG

[ICNDonna]

MG: Yes --- I had a cervical fusion in January of last year. My neuro told me then that there was an additional potential problem, but it "might" never give me a problem and that if it did, it could be fixed. I know that what was a fairly major surgery would have been much worse if he had done two separate areas in my spine at the same time. I'm just hoping this won't be any worse than the neck surgery.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Donna

[Mothergoose]

I have heard that back surgery is a little easier than neck surgery so here hoping it will be for you too and that if you need surgey you won't have to wait too long to get it done.

Hugs MG

[Ang0023]

Dry Mouth

try biotene mouth wash. Use it for awhile. I was suffering with dry mouth (not sure why) Probably my medications as well. However, I saw a commercial for it tried it and used until symtoms went away.
My mouth was so dry it would actually burn. Try brushing under your tongue and on your tongue and don't forget the gums.
Dry mouth can cause gingervities & other problems so I've been told (NOT a DR.of anykind) give it & try & good luck.

[olmphoto2]

I thought for many years that dry mouth was a side effect of my meds. But then I had a time period that I wasn't using the bigger offenders my eye and mouth problems were worse than ever. Diagnosis? Sjogren's Syndrome...and yes, it is another autoimmune disease. It can cause mild to severe problems in many areas of the body. Please hang in there for your solutions or opportunities for improvement.

[Katrina]

my eye doc...since everything is dry recommended omega 3 fish oil....I tried the biotene that you hear about in commertials for dry mouth mouthwash....it made my mouth stink and tasted bad so was never used long enough to give a thorough try. Good luck!!

[sedavisoes]

I have been on Elavil for 9 years and didn't experience dry mouth. I started taking Zoloft last year and have horrible dry mouth. It really interferes with sleep. I have tried everything with no results. The Biotine gel does give some minor releif for a short time. Chewing sugar free gum during the day works pretty well. I stopped Zoloft, with docs approval, about 10 days ago with no change. My dentist was very concerned because dry mouth causes my decay, we tried a flouride tary but I had an allergic reaction. I sure dont want to destroy my teeth. I dont know what the answer is.

[Dakota]

I have Sjogren's Syndrome too and don't have any saliva to begin with. About a week ago I stopped taking Atarax and Oxybutin because I needed a break. Not a good thing to do. I am now in a very severe flare up and back on the meds. I too fear for my teeth. I'm going to try having Elavil compounded into a vaginal suppository to see if I can get some relief from the dryness.