Still have a dry mouth...is it the Enbrel?: Hi all... - NRAS

NRAS

36,566 members ā€¢ 45,171 posts

Still have a dry mouth...is it the Enbrel?

Deminem profile image
Deminem
ā€¢15 Replies

Hi all,

Hope your all doing as well as can be expected.

So the cotton mouth šŸÆ I posted before about how after falling asleep sometimes(once a week ish)I have woken up with an extremely dry throat. It's so dry it can tickle and cause me to sneeze or I have to keep swallowing until it comes back to normal. Keeps me from sleeping straight through...boohoo!

Then conversely in the day I have an excess of saliva and find I have to keep swallowing to get rid of that. I went to the GP(can't ever get to see my own one, he's the best in the surgery and everyone wants to see him)The doc I saw was useless I'm afraid. Just shrugged her shoulders and said...Hm I don't know, try antihistamines. She didn't even get off her chair to examine me after I said I have congestion in my chest until I asked her to take a listen. Didn't look at my throat. I could have had a massive Christmas treešŸŒ²stuck in there and she wouldn't have known.

Anyway wondering if it's an Ebrel related thing. Do any Enbrel buddy's here have anything similar? Be great to know. Or menopause-related...anyone? I'm KInda worried until I know what is causing it. I have chews on the bedside table and water, but still, once I'm awake it's tough getting back off again.

Thanks guys, your the best!

D

Written by
Deminem profile image
Deminem
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
15 Replies
ā€¢
medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

I have a very dry mouth it can be a sympton of Sjorens or a side effect of RA med or a symptom of RA mine is easy sorted out with Glandosane spray so I'd suggest you ring RA nurse or talk to another GP.

Deminem profile image
Deminem in reply to medway-lady

Ah, i see. Thanks, babe, will look into Glandosane as I have no idea!

Can it be menopause related, just brainstorming now.

D

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady in reply to Deminem

Glandosane can be bought OTC but My GP prescribes it. Lemon flavour is best. lol

Deminem profile image
Deminem in reply to medway-lady

Thanks for tip, love me some lemon anything!

So do you find the Glandosane has a lasting effect or is it temporary relief? How long roughly?

D

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady in reply to Deminem

Temporary but thats fine.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65

I do agree with you about some doctors, it just seems like they don't want to know and it makes us wonder why they are in the profession if they are not interested in people generally. Times we live in maybe ....

Deminem profile image
Deminem

Yes it is a mystery, it's such noble and hard job/profession, as is nursing. Seems you do really need to love doing it and helping ppl all day long. But some just don't appear suited to it even though they chose that path and work hard at it.

It's a crying shame how the NHS is so stretched, but imo still do a fantastic job. My GP's surgery has gone downhill with the rest though. My appointment was 30 overdue, and I can never see the same doctor for any continuation or relationship with any one GP.

D

Mhairi54 profile image
Mhairi54

I get a really dry throat at night, it drives me insane! This is a new thing recently for me. I'm on Benepali so not sure if it's that, but often wondered if I'm premenopausal too. Blood tests for menopause are all normal though. I sleep with a leak free sports bottle next to me so I don't have to sit up to take a drink! Wakes me up less and makes it a bit easier to fall back to sleep.

Peejay64 profile image
Peejay64

Iā€™ve been plagued with this for the last 6 months or so - and dry eyes ... but all symptoms only at night. Iā€™m on Humira for just over a year and MTX / Hydroxychloroquine for about 2 years since RA diagnosis. No idea why it started ... I use various products made by BiotĆØne...toothpaste, mouthwash, mouth spray, mouth gel. Also found Salivix pastilles useful......all can be purchased over the counter - GP can prescribe some of the products. I buy my supply on Amazon!! Hope you find something that gives you a bit of relief soon .

dbestdeb profile image
dbestdeb

Itā€™s Sjorens. I have it too though itā€™s worse in my eyes than my mouth right now. Dr recommended Biotene OTC for the dry mouth it helps though it is only temporary relief.

Deminem profile image
Deminem

Thanks for all your replies and helpful suggestions.

Don't think mine is sjorens as it's only at night, plus no issue with dry eyes. in the day I have a ton of saliva, more than I feel I can shift at times. It feels like it settles on my chest. So either hormonal or to do with laying down position I feel.

Seems that my dry mouth is getting worse though, as it's happened 3 nights in a row. Last night I decided to count how many times it woke me up and was a total of 4 times spread throughout the night. But my menopause insomnia took care of the rest of the night and woke me up another 7 times at least. Feeling a little delicate after 3 night in a row of broken and deprived sleep.

D

Deminem profile image
Deminem

Doing a lot of research since I'm not able to sleep it's a good use of my waking time.

So I have read about a few good products, yet to try obv.

See here on NHS site about Xylitol

nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pa...

First product:

Xylimelts: These are made from Xylitol which is apparently good for your teeth and for reducing Plaque, as the link above covers.

Also importantly stimulate saliva production. So these work by sticking to the inside of your mouth and can be used in the day or during sleep apparently without risk of choking. They slowly release Xylitol so give you several hours relief. Reviews are good mostly.

Boots Expert dry mouth spray: A cheaper minty version of the branded ones with good reviews. Ā£2.50 for 50mls

Peppersmith mints: Again non-tooth rotting Xylitol mints, in mint or lemon flavours, that are good for saliva production.

Smint: Xylitol mints, check the ingredients as some Smints flavours do not contain Xylitol.

I will say overdoing any Xylitol product can result in diarrhoea, so buyer beware!

I'm going to try a couple of these and then can update here.

D

KiwiGirl78 profile image
KiwiGirl78 in reply to Deminem

Xylimelts work incredibly well for this!

Neonkittie17 profile image
Neonkittie17

I have had an incredibly dry mouth and nose since meno two years ago and also the Fentanyl patches I use make you quite parched. The nose and throat dryness are worse once the temperature drops outside and the CH rises inside. I think a blocked nose leading to some mouth breathing during the night can also make the mouth very dry.

I was advised recently by my GP to put some original pure Vaseline (no Aloe or coco butter versions!) up onto my nose lining to lightly coat it, with a cotton bud and it would stop the nose drying out so would aid breathing through the nose. I'm not known to snore a lot but it has helped me from waking up parched with a dry throat. I also put essential oils on a tissue next to my pillow to help better sleep and less waking with dry mouth and of course sipping water if you do wake up parched.

Deminem has given great advice re the mouth moisturising products.

Jules13 profile image
Jules13

My dry mouth irritates me more than other symptoms. I was told itā€™s from the RA itself and when you are on the right drug it should ease up. I still have it but it wasnā€™t as bad as before (had it for 3 months) but I still drink more water and constantly suck sweets or chew gum. Try lowering salt and sugar intake and cut down on dairy. Dairy can irritate throat more. X

You may also like...

Mouth as dry as Ghandi's flip flop!

break to init, wink! Anyway, I get this at night, it wakes me. I have opposite in day. Don't think...

Dry mouth and dry eyes?

suffer from dry mouth and dry eyes? I need to use gel all the time as my saliva seems to have dried...

Please help - very sore dry mouth and eyes

can anyone help me I have Sjogren's syndrome - with rheumatoid arthritis, very dry mouth and eyes...

Anyone suffer dry/burning mouth particularly interested if you take Xeljanz.

all my mouth including tongue, gums and throat. I'm also getting ulcers on both sides of my......

methotrexate and a dry mouth

I have been taking 7.5mg methotrexate weekly plus folic acid x 6 days a week for mild R.A. I have...