dry mouth caused by meds

I put the big ol grin smiley with this post because my teeth are going to hell and it's good to see even a cartoon keeping theirs. ;-)

Here's the current regimen:
Effexor XR, 450 mg
Klonopin, 2 mg
Lamictal, 250 mg
Desipramine (Norpramin), 250 mg
Risperdal, 2.5 mg

It's been this way for a year or so with no changes.

I was inpatient Feb. 2004 and got put on the Desipramine shortly before going in. Every time they upped the dose, my dry mouth got enormously worse. It is now to the point that I cannot be more than 1 minute away from a source of liquid at any given time (seriously). A water bottle is my constant companion. I know that some of the other meds, not just the desipramine, cause this.

Because I didn't have dental insurance for the longest time, and never made enough money to afford it on my own, I didn't see a dentist for, oh, ... 17 years or so? You'd think my teeth would have been more of a disaster after all that time, but I only had 3 cavities.

However, I have a fair amount of bone loss and have the possibility of having to have a whole pile o' teeth pulled so they can replace them cosmetically, with bridges or whatever. I also have had sores on the sides of my tongue forever. I got checked out by an oral surgeon and an ENT both, and they both said the sores were from the dry mouth. Every dental specialist I've seen has said the shape my teeth are in can be attributed in part to the dry mouth.

So...what's a girl to do?! I feel like I can't win. I can either be going to the bathroom every 3 minutes, or ruin my teeth more by sucking on Jolly Ranchers (my hard candy of choice :-). Does anyone out there deal with this, and what are your tips and tricks?

Thanks.

Candy

Hi,

I suffered with dry mouth for years and had to carry a water bottle with me everywhere I went. I sucked on hard candy, too. I know the whole situation hasn't been good for my dental health.

I have a tip to heal the sores on your tongue. At night, swish Milk of Magnesia in your mouth and coat the sores. Spit the MoM out and then go to sleep. The MoM nuetralized the acidity in your mouth and will allow the sores to heal. It works wherever the sores might be in your mouth.

Best of luck!

January

Sugar-free gum would be healthier for your teeth than candy, perhaps you could try that... or research sugar-free candy, I know that sugar-free mints can be bought...

Biotene mouthwash for dry mouth has helped me out a lot.

Sarah, the oral surgeon gave me a sample of Biotene stuff, but I can't find it in a store anywhere! Where do you find it? He told me Walgreens, but I haven't been able to find it at the one I go to.

Candy

I get it at my local Target, do you have one near?

I also see it on drugstore.com Biotene

More ideas: Dry Mouth Treatments/Web MD

Biotene, has a pricey chewing gum besides the oral rinse. I was told by my dentist to use it for dry mouth, which some of us get as we approach menopause, besides being on meds.
It helps cut back on tooth decay which occurs more readily if the saliva isn't as plentiful as normal, allows certain bacterias to flourish.
I have to check Wal-Mart's prices vs, our local A&P grocery store.
Just my 2 cents, I saw "Biotene" and it drew my attention to this thread.

Take care y'all,
DE

I carry a little tin of Mynts brand mints around. They don't have sugar or sucralose(which makes me ill), and they come in mint, green tea, vanilla mint, and I think there are sour kinds (squynts). They don't seem to have the bitter aftertaste that a lot of sugarless mints have.

Thanks, everyone! Walmart is not so nearby, but Target is -- I'll look there. I've never heard of Mynts, but they sound good :-) -- I'll have to scout around for those, too. I'll take anything that will help. Part of my problem too is that I'm a mouth breather, and it takes me a while to get to sleep because my mouth dries out so fast. With my luck, I'd probably end up choking on the candy as I fall asleep!, so I'll have to hunt down Biotene.

January, I have really bad memories of Milk of Magnesia. Does it taste less like liquid chalk now? :-)

Candy

I have never noticed "Mynts or Sqnts", but would be interested who carries them, local grocery stores or do you think Target or Wal-Mart? If anyone knows, please let us know.
Thanks so much,
DE

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I have never noticed "Mynts or Sqnts", but would be interested who carries them, local grocery stores or do you think Target or Wal-Mart? If anyone knows, please let us know.

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I got mine at Target and at Fred Meyer (a Kroger store) I think they are also at the grocery. I don't know if it could be a regional thing too... I am in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks, I have Target and Wal-Mart nearby, also have seen Kroegers, that maybe in NC where my brother lives.
I have to check it out. Thanks.

DE

I haven't read all the replies, but have you tried Biotene?

Ah.... found my tin... there is a website... www.myntz.com. It is a Seattle-based company, so it might be limited to region.

I checked out the website and it says they can be found at Speedway Superamerica and Target. One is right before the other, about a 5-minute drive from me, so I'm going to go check them out! Thanks for the tip!

Candy

PS: Why does all the cool stuff only happen in Seattle? :-)

I found Sqyntz at Speedway, not Myntz, though. Sqynts aren't bad! And there's plenty of them in the tin, which was like $1.50 or something. I'm going to recommend them to my diabetic friend who is always looking for decent-tasting sugar-free stuff.

Thanks for tipping me off to these!

Candy

I have a question - along with dry mouth, does anyone also have horrible bad breath that you cant seem to get rid of? I know it is from the Lamictal, Wellbutrin and Topamax I take because when I go on my "mini vacations" from my meds I dont have the problem and it has become tons worse with the increase of Lamictal.

Thanks

~Dawn

the best thing i did for dry mouth is suck on a sour candy... or surgarless gum.. it helps to get the saliva going.

Wow! I never heard of that, I've been on Lamictal for about 3yrs now, haven't noticed any change in breath, unless I do not floss and brush my teeth, flossing help get that stuff out between your teeth, if not done a couple of days and when you do it, man oh man, it wreaks! Imagine what it is doing to the teeth.
I think a sugar free gum or candy will help reduce this dry mouth and bad breath thing.
BTW
Your doc has you take mini vacations from your meds? Wow, mine never tells me to do that

Take care now,
DE

Yes, my doc is aware of my "mini vacations". I have never been dishonest about it. I am wondering if the bad breath could be caused from the combo of meds and/or that I have really bad acid reflux that causes me to vomit in my sleep. I brush my teeth/floss yet it is still there. I even got a metal pick (like the dentist has) to clean my teeth. I guess I was just wondering if anyone else has the same problem.

~Dawn