Hi,I am Dr. Shanthi.E (General & Family Physician). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
I have recently been given benztropine 0.5 mg to counteract the muscle pain and cramps that I had when I started taking Abilify. Now my mouth is so completly dry that my lips stick together when I speak. I am constantly drinking water to try to moisen my dry mouth, but that only lasts for 5 mins or so before I have desert mouth again. Is this a side effect and if so, what can I do to get rid of the dry mouth. KCF
Dry mouth is a very common side effect of the anticholinergic group of drugs, Benzatropine being the drug of that group. To caution you against other adverse effects, it may also cause blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, decreased appetite etc.
You can use drugs Pilocarpine (Salagen) or Cevimeline (Evoxac) to decrease the sensation of dry mouth. You can take them 3-4 times a day especially after meals and the effect usually lasts for 3-4 hours. Combine this medication with other methods of saliva stimulation like avoiding too spicy, salty or acidic food; chewing sugarless gums; avoiding smoking, alcohol, too much coffee; sipping water along with chewing food etc.
Make sure you see your dentist at least 3 times in a year as decreased salivary flow is directly related to increased decay of teeth. Try to brush 2 times a day without fail and floss regularly. Watch your carbohydrate and sticky food intake.
I hope this relieves your problem. Thank you for choosing HealthCareMagic. Take care.
Best, Dr. Viraj Shah
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What Causes Dry Mouth While On Abilify?
Hi, Dry mouth is a very common side effect of the anticholinergic group of drugs, Benzatropine being the drug of that group. To caution you against other adverse effects, it may also cause blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, decreased appetite etc. You can use drugs Pilocarpine (Salagen) or Cevimeline (Evoxac) to decrease the sensation of dry mouth. You can take them 3-4 times a day especially after meals and the effect usually lasts for 3-4 hours. Combine this medication with other methods of saliva stimulation like avoiding too spicy, salty or acidic food; chewing sugarless gums; avoiding smoking, alcohol, too much coffee; sipping water along with chewing food etc. Make sure you see your dentist at least 3 times in a year as decreased salivary flow is directly related to increased decay of teeth. Try to brush 2 times a day without fail and floss regularly. Watch your carbohydrate and sticky food intake. I hope this relieves your problem. Thank you for choosing HealthCareMagic. Take care. Best, Dr. Viraj Shah