Q. My mother has atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. She takes Lasix for heart failure and Detrol for an overactive bladder.
Her arthritis is troublesome, and her doctor prescribed Lyrica for the pain. She has had brain fog along with a terribly dry mouth, blurred vision, mild constipation and fatigue.
The “feeling of hair in her mouth” is driving her crazy. Aside from Biotene, her physician has nothing else to recommend for the dreadful dry mouth.
Do you have any suggestions for this common problem for older patients?
A. The medications your mother takes may be contributing to her difficulties. Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic and could aggravate the overactive bladder.
Anticholinergic Medicines
All three of her drugs have anticholinergic activity and can cause confusion, blurred vision and constipation in addition to severe dry mouth.
It would be best if her doctor could find substitutes for these medicines, although Lasix may be the drug of choice for heart failure. She must not stop any of her medicines without medical approval, as that could lead to disastrous consequences.
Older People Need Special Attention to Drugs
We are sending you our Guide to Drugs & Older People so you can discuss this with your mother’s doctor. It contains a list of anticholinergic medications that often contribute to dry mouth and cognitive impairment. It also lists drugs that people over 65 should generally avoid.
Easing Dry Mouth without Medication
Chewing sugarless gum might alleviate the sensation of dry mouth. She’ll need to be careful not to chew too much, however, since that could precipitate diarrhea and digestive distress. It would be awful to trade in one set of problems for another.
