Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a common side effect of certain drugs. The condition is characterized by decrease in saliva with difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing dry foods. Some people with dry mouth may be sensitive to salty, spicy or acidic foods. Over 1,800 drugs in 80 classes of medicines can cause dry mouth, notes Drymouth.info, including painkillers, psychotropics, skin medications, antihistamines and Parkinsonism drugs.
Painkillers
Narcotic painkillers such as fentanyl and oxycodone can cause dry mouth, according to the product labels for the brand name drugs Duragesic and Oxycontin, respectively. Duragesic is a prescription drug with a transdermal delivery of fentanyl for the treatment of persistent, moderate to severe pain, in patients who are opioid tolerant. Oxycontin is a prescription drug that contains oxycodone and is orally delivered in extended release tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Both drugs are considered Schedule 2 narcotics and have a risk for dependence and abuse. Lyrica is also a painkiller that can cause dry mouth. Lyrica is a prescription drug that is indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post herpetic pain and management of fibromyalgia.
Psychotropics
Prescription medications that treat various mental health disorders can cause dry mouth. Xanax, a prescription drug that contains alprazolam, is indicated for the treatment of panic disorder. Over 10 percent of patients report dry mouth as a side effect of Xanax XR, an extended release formlation of Xanax, according to its product label. Prozac, a prescription drug that contains fluoxetine, is indicated for treatment of depression. According to the product label, dry mouth is a common reported side effect in over 5 percent of patients using Prozac. Seroquel, a prescription drug that contains quetiapine, is indicated for treatment of schizophrenia, and can also cause dry mouth.
Skin Medication
Some types of medication for skin conditions can cause dry mouth. Accutane is a prescription drug that contains isotretinoin and is indicated for the treatment of cystic acne, according to the product label. Patients taking Accutance can experience dry mouth.
Antihistamines
Many people who suffer from hay fever and other allergies take antihistamines to treat the symptoms. Clarinex is a popular prescription drug indicated for treatment of rhinitis, according to its product label. Rhinitis is a type of inflammation of the nasal passage associated with allergies. The product label says that 3 percent of patients taking Clarinex experience dry mouth when taking the medication.
Parkinsonism Medication
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that involves slowing or stopping of movement, impaired balance and tremors, that is treated with parkinosinism drugs such as pramipexole dihydrochloride. Mirapex ER is a brand name prescription drug that contains an extended release formulation of pramipexole dihydrochloride, and is indicated for treatment of Parkison's disease. According to the product label, more than 5 percent of individuals who take Miapex report dry mouth as a side effect.
