Dry Mouth: Causes, Medications, and What You Can Do
When your mouth feels like cotton, you’re not just thirsty—you’re experiencing dry mouth, a condition where your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Also known as xerostomia, it’s not a disease itself but a symptom that shows up for many reasons, from everyday meds to serious health shifts. If you’ve noticed your lips sticking to your teeth, trouble swallowing food, or even a sudden increase in cavities, dry mouth is likely the hidden culprit.
Many common medications can trigger this. antihistamines, drugs used for allergies like azelastine or cetirizine are big offenders—they reduce saliva flow as a side effect. So are blood pressure medications, including those for hypertension and heart conditions, some antidepressants like sertraline or trazodone, and even pain relievers taken long-term. If you’re on more than one prescription, the effects can add up. It’s not always the drug itself—it’s how they interact with your body’s ability to make saliva.
It’s not just meds. Dehydration, breathing through your mouth at night, aging, and conditions like diabetes or Sjögren’s syndrome can all lower saliva production. Even stress and anxiety can make your mouth feel dry, even if you’re drinking enough water. The problem? Saliva isn’t just for comfort. It protects your teeth, helps you digest food, and fights off infections. Without it, you’re at higher risk for gum disease, mouth sores, and bad breath.
Some people think drinking more water is enough. It helps—but it doesn’t fix the root cause. If your dry mouth comes from a medication you can’t stop taking, you need smarter strategies: sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva, special mouth rinses designed for dry mouth, or humidifiers at night. And if it’s sudden, severe, or paired with other symptoms like joint pain or eye dryness, it could point to something deeper.
In the posts below, you’ll find real, practical advice on how dry mouth connects to the drugs you’re taking—from antihistamines and antidepressants to blood pressure meds and beyond. You’ll learn which ones are most likely to cause it, how to tell if it’s harmless or a warning sign, and what steps actually work to get relief without quitting your treatment. No fluff. Just what you need to feel better, day by day.
- 7/Nov/2025
- by William Womack
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anticholinergic effects
antihistamines
dry mouth
constipation
urinary retention
Anticholinergic Effects of Antihistamines: Dry Mouth, Constipation, Urinary Issues
First-generation antihistamines like Benadryl can cause dry mouth, constipation, and urinary issues due to anticholinergic effects. Learn why second-generation options are safer and how to avoid serious long-term risks.
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