Dryness of the Mouth

Besides causing loss of appetite and quality of life, longstanding and severe constipation can lead to diverticulosis, diverticulitis and in worst cases perforation of the large intestine with life threatening peritonitis (McConnell et al. 2003). Diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome and haemorrhoids are caused by chronic constipation and can lead to bleeding and anaemia. 

When prescribing strong opioids as analgesics for severe pain, it is even recommended to combine the treatment with prophylactic use of laxatives to avoid constipation. The effect of opioids on the bowel is to cause almost no movement at all in the bowels and therefore it is unavoidable to use stimulating laxatives sometimes combined with bulk forming preparations. 

It is important to bear in mind that constipation is common in old age and often has negative effects on both health and quality of life. Constipation is often caused by chronic diseases and by many different drugs. It is best treated by life style changes and drugs that can cause constipation should be avoided or discontinued if possible. 

More than four hundred drugs are known to cause dryness of the mouth as an unwanted side-effect. Ten of the fifteen most used drugs among people over 65 can cause uncomfortable dryness of the mouth which the patients don t always associate with their medication (Thomson et al. 2000). According to Ship et al. 2002, as many as 30% of the population 65 years and older experience xerostomia. 

Low secretion of saliva and less mucin in the produced saliva are not unusual in older individuals. Saliva has a number of protective functions of which the most important is protection against irritation by both chemical and mechanical trauma to 

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If dryness of the mouth occurs, relieve it by taking frequent sips of water, sucking on hard candy, or chewing gum (preferably sugarless). 

Drowsiness and sedation are common adverse reactions seen with the use of many of the antihistamines. Some antihistamines appear to cause more drowsiness and sedation than others. These dm may also have varying degrees of anticholinergic (cholinergic blocking) effects, which may result in dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat and a thickening of bronchial secretions. Several newer preparations (eg, loratadine) cause little, if any, drowsiness and fewer anticholinergic effects than some of the other antihistamines. Hiotosensitivity may occur with the use of the antihistamines. 

Monitoring and Managing Adverse Reactions Dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat may occur. The nurse offers the patient frequent sips of water to relieve these symptoms. 

Dryness of the mouth and throat caused by die cholinergic blocking action of this drug also may occur. The nurse provides an adequate amount of fluid and instructs die patient to take frequent sips of water to relieve diis problem. In addition, postural hypotension may occur during die first few weeks of disopyramide therapy. The patient is advised to make position changes slowly. In some instances, the patient may require assistance in getting out of the bed or chair. 

Local adverse reactions associated with administration of tiie cycloplegic mydriatics include increased IOP, transient stinging or burning, and irritation with prolonged use (eg, conjunctivitis, edema, exudates). Systemic adverse reactions include dryness of the mouth and skin, blurred vision, photophobia, corneal staining, tachycardia, headache, parasympathetic stimulation, and somnolence. 

Xerostomia Dryness of the mouth resulting from diminished or arrested salivary secretion. 

The answer is c. (Hardman, pp 156-158.) A wide variety of clinical conditions are treated with antimuscarinic drugs. Dicyclomine hydrochloride and methscopolamine bromide are used to reduce Gl motility, although side effects—dryness of the mouth, loss of visual accommodation, and difficulty in urination—may limit their acceptance by patients. Cyclopentolate hydrochloride is used in ophthalmology for its mydriatic and cycloplegic properties during refraction of the eye. Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride is one of the important antimuscarinic compounds used in the treatment of parkinsonism. For bronchodilation in patients with bronchial asthma and other bronchospastic diseases, ipratropium bromide is used by inhalation. Systemic adverse reactions are low because the actions are largely confined to the mouth and airways. 

Keywords Constipation Peptic ulcers Dryness of the mouth Renal failure Urinary incontinence Osteoporosis Sarcopenia Orthostatic hypotension Vertigo... 

There are different ways of treating dryness of the mouth. Drinking frequently and taking small sips can help but also chewing on ice cubes or small bits of fruit stimulates the production of saliva. Lubricant oral spray, chewing gum or oral gel, containing for example malic acid, can stimulate saliva secretion as long as there is still... 

HR 72, BP 110/70, PS 7/5 BP and pulse taken without awakening subject, and turned him on his side due to oral breathing and dryness of the mouth. Body movements have decreased. Remains asleep on floor. 

My own practice was to refer to agents such as BZ or other related glycolates as similar to belladonna or atropine - belladonnoids if you will. Since the terms atropine and belladonna were also unfamiliar to many volunteers, I said that the effects would vary from person to person, but generally, they would include dryness of the mouth, sleepiness, difficulty in solving problems, and altered perceptions. I assured them that both the nursing staff and I would monitor them closely. I explained that extensive pre-clinical studies in several animal species had revealed no permanent ill effects. I told them we believed the drug to be safe, and would discuss the effects in detail after the test was over. Very few volunteers chose to withdraw after this orientation. 

Under normal conditions of exposure borates are primarily irritants of the skin and respiratory system. Workers exposed to anhydrous sodium tetraborate complained of nasal irritation, nose bleeds, cough, shortness of breath, and dermatitis. Exposure levels were not measured, but total dust levels were described as high enough to obscure visibility in production areas. In another study of borax workers, symptoms of acute respiratory irritation including dryness of the mouth, nose, or throat, cough, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath were related to exposures of 4mg/m or more. ... 

In 113 workers exposed to boron oxide and boric acid dusts, there were statistically signiflcant increases in symptoms of eye irritation dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat sore throat and productive cough compared with controls. The mean exposure level was 4.1mg/m with a range of 1.2-8.5mg/mk Exposures may occasionally have exceeded 10 mg/mh Because of mixed exposures, the study does not indicate whether boron oxide or boric acid dust is more important in causing symptoms, nor does it indicate the minimum duration of exposure necessary to produce symptoms. 

Serious cases of tellurium intoxication have not been reported from industrial exposure. Iron foundry workers exposed to concentrations between 0.01 and O.lmg/m complained of garlic odor of the breath and sweat, dryness of the mouth and metallic taste, somnolence, anorexia, and occasional nausea urinary concentrations ranged from 0 to 0.06 mg/1. Somnolence and metallic taste in the mouth did not appear with regularity until the level of tellurium in the urine was at least 0.01 mg/l. Skin lesions in the form of scaly itching patches and loss of sweat function occurred in workers exposed to tellurium dioxide in an electrolytic lead refinery. ... 

Most of the agents have similar actions, and therefore, the same adverse reactions are seen. These consist most commonly of drowsiness, dizziness, and light-headedness. One agent, cyclobenzaprine Flexeril), has a prominent anticholinergic component and frequently causes dryness of the mouth along with sedation and dizziness. 

Overdose may produce severe anticholinergic effects, such as unsteadiness, somnolence, tachycardia, dyspnea, skin flushing, and severe dryness of the mouth, nose, or throat,... 

DMHP and a series of optical isomers of DMHP acetate, studied at Edgewood in humans, produce similar symptoms, but vary greatly in potency. The more potent Isomers appear to produce postural hypotension and fewer psychologic effects than equivalent doses of THC. However, they all evoke redness of the eyes, dryness of the mouth, a... 

As Is often observed with cannabis, conjunctival blood vessel Injection was common. Body temperatures decreased, sometimes by 3-4°F. These changes were generally dose-dependent. Dryness of the mouth and throat, nasal stuffiness, apathy, and nausea were common, and their Intensity was dose-related. 

Dryness of the mouth, visual disturbances, sweating and similar peripheral effects were also experienced by the subjects after single doses of 50 mg or more of chlorpromazine and contributed to a subjectively quite disagreeable state. Lower doses (12.5 and 25 mg) lead to milder sedation and fewer peripheral... 

Mumps or infective parotitis is an acute infectious disease usually marked by a painful enlargement of one or both salivary glands around the jaw. In addition, dryness of the mouth may often occur. 

Antimuscarinic drugs have a number of undesirable central nervous system and peripheral effects (see Chapter 8) and are poorly tolerated by the elderly. Dyskinesias occur in rare cases. Acute suppurative parotitis sometimes occurs as a complication of dryness of the mouth. 

Pedicularis resupinata L. P. resupinata L. f. pubescens Kom. P. resupinata L. f. ramosa Kom. Ma Xian Gao (Lousewort) (whole plant) Alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, betulinic acid, cholesterol, kaempferol.50-218 Used in fever, leucorrhea, rheumatism, sterility, urinary difficulties, anti-inflammation, dryness of the mouth, tongue, and tinnitus. 

Anticholinergics are associated with many side effects including mood change, confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, and cardiac irregularity.13,39 In addition, blurred vision, dryness of the mouth, nausea/ vomiting, constipation, and urinary retention are fairly common. Antihistamine drugs with anticholinergic properties are also used occasionally (Table 10-2). 

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