Does anyone recognise a dry mouth as a side effect of sulfasalazine?

[Loz224]

I started sulfasalazine last year for my spondyloarthritis. Since starting I have developed a dry mouth.

I’m constantly sipping cold water to relive the dry mouth. I’m getting through about 4-5 litres of water a day (which is a lot as I’m 5ft1). I’m constantly needing to pee. I’m getting up through the night to drink water and to pee. Waking up every morning feeling parched. My blood tests show I am over hydrated.

Does anyone recognise this as a side effect of sulfasalazine please? My rheumatologist is adamant that it is not.

[Hidden]

I didn’t get that with sulfasalazine but I wasn’t on it long. A side effect of RA can be dry mouth. Gp can give you something to help but I use Biotine gel . If continues and you get dry eyes or nose as well mention to your Rheumatologist or team it could be secondary Sjögren’s syndrome . Many get this another present from RA . The disease that keeps on giving . Many of these drugs can cause dry mouth as well x

[BonnieG123 in reply to Hidden]

Biotin did nothing help me as much as lemon drops did.

[Boxerlady]

My dentist told me that RA can cause you to produce less saliva so that I need to be more careful about dental hygiene to prevent gum and tooth problems.I always have sugar-free Polos with me and find that they help.

I haven't noticed any difference since starting Sulfasalazine (after my dentist first spoke to me.)

[BonnieG123 in reply to Boxerlady]

Sorry. But what are Polos? Google said polo shirts or Polo cocktails. I’m sure neither of them are correct. 😁

[Boxerlady in reply to BonnieG123]

Mints....google.com/url?sa=t&source=...

I've loved them for years but changed over to the sugar-free version when they caused me to need a big filling!

I actually prefer the taste of the sugar-free ones now and find them good for nausia and indigestion as well as keeping my mouth wet 😊

[BonnieG123 in reply to Boxerlady]

Thank you for letting me know!

[springcross]

Hi Lozz. I definitely had dry mouth when I was on Sulfazalazine, not as bad as yours but I was only on them for ten weeks, it was one of the reasons I stopped. along with a bad taste too both of which went when I stopped taking the SSZ.

[medway-lady]

No but I used to get it on LEF and used a spray from the GP worked a treat. Called Glandosane its available without a prescription too.

[Red_robins]

Yes! Combined with a few other medicines I'm on, it's a nightmare! I drink constantly and take a big glass of water to bed which I wake to drink though the night. Toilet trips are frequent as you say and frustrating. I have a saliva replacement gel prescribed for overnight, which helps marginally but not much too be honest - think you can get it in spray form too x

[janmary]

Yes especially at night - and more frequent loo trips which is a nuisance

[Tatiana13]

I also drink a lot and have dry mouth it is one of the side effects I try to have bits of soft fruit which helps

[mjrminor]

I've been on sulfasalazine for over three years now and always have a dry mouth. But I've no idea if it's the sulfa causing it because I also take hydroxychloroquine, and a range of other meds for asthma, silent reflux, and cholesterol, and I've been taking most of them for longer than the sulfa. 🤷

[madme1]

Don't know whether it's just from sulphazaline though Loz as I'm on a lot of other medications that can do the same. But I do recognise the dry mouth and like you wake up parched every morning, thick white coating on tongue and in mouth, plus drinking and weeing more. I'm going to ask about something called syrogens syndrome don't know whether I've spelt name correctly, as feel as though it could be that. I also have lozenges or sweets that you can suck from the chemist to help alleviate it.

[Hidden]

I have never been on the drug you mention but have a very bad dry mouth, tongue and eyes. I am always drinking water and like you have to keep getting up in the night to drink yet another glass of water and then of course getting out to go to the loo and pass water over and over again. No matter how much water I drink I am just as parched again with in only a short time.

I was tested at my opticians quite a few years ago and she told me that I have a dry eye condition and I have to use both eye drops and eye gel several times a day. It often feels like my eyes are full of grit. I was also tested at a Maxillo facial unit at the hospital and they said I had something called "sicca syndrome". I had never heard of this but I found out recently that it is a rather old-fashioned name for Sjogrens Syndrome which is well known to be a side effect of RA.

It is a horrible thing as I never feel that I am speaking properly, the underneath of my lips stick to my gums and I also have a dry horse throat. Some doctors have become concerned when they hear me croaking and I have been checked by ENT doctors but it is all part of the dryness. I tend to always have some sweets with me that I can suck but I know that is not a good idea because of it causing tooth decay. I have found some non sugar sweets in small boxes in Aldi which are good and come in various flavours such as strawberry, butterscotch and rhubarb.

[LinaM]

Oh no🤦‍♀️I’m due to start sulphasalazine in a few weeks time but I already have a very dry mouth. I really hope it doesn’t get worse! My dentist did tell me that RA can cause it, like others have said I need to be extra vigilant with mouth hygiene to protect my gums. I also used to suck the sugar free sweets till I realised artificial sweeteners make my joint pain worse. This really is one long nightmare. If you find a solution that works please let us know xx

[Boxerlady in reply to LinaM]

I really don't think that Sulfasalazine has added to my dry mouth and it has really helped my joints 😉

[LinaM in reply to Boxerlady]

Oh that’s good to know .. thank you x

[Doughnut61]

I have been on Sulphasalazine for 2 years no dry mouth but helped my RA 👏🏻👏🏻

[BonnieG123]

I have that side effect from one of my nerve pain meds. My doc said try lemon drops. I did. I couldn’t believe the reaction. Almost immediately the saliva was running in overdrive.

[lucymead]

Definately great thirst and Dry mouth that some times turns to sores . I was on it too long and had bad side effects too.