Hi ,
Does anyone suffer from dry mouth and dry eyes? I need to use gel all the time as my saliva seems to have dried up. Anyone having the same problem? If so what do you do about it?
Regards,
Tish
Dry mouth and dry eyes?: Hi , Does anyone suffer... - NRAS
Dry mouth and dry eyes?
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TishG
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I do!, what meds are u on? I'm on mtx 17.5 mg, and Humira injections. My rheumy thinks maybe humira... It's v uncomfortable,especially in mornings!
I have no solution except drink water..
Gina.
Hi the Mtx makes you very dry mouthed and says to drink a lot more water thats what i do and it does help. I also get very dry eyes and i use eye drops like Blink that i just get from Boots. Your consultant should have mentioned this to you and can give you something for this or the nurse or GP can give you eye drops also. My optician mentioned it to me when i went for a check up and checked my drugs and said oh yes mtx so use eye drops it will help and it does I just use them twice a day when i feel my eyes need it. If you dont like drops you can get a spray that you do with your eyes closed! sounds strange but apparently it works. Good luck Sue x
Ask your rheumy to see if you have Sjorgen's syndrome. Often goes hand in hand with RA. If so they can prescribe artificial saliva and the stuff for dry eyes so get it from chemist, so cheaper. Polly.
The Sjogren syndrome test came up as negative.
I have RA and secondary Sjogrens. I had punctal plugs put in my eyes which help. And I use Lacrilube ointment every night as well as Celluvisc all day. It's all so annoying as I can't wear eye make up anymore.
I get help from my dentist with a special toothpaste for dry mouth. And I get Biotene mouthwash and gel on prescription, along with Glandosane Synthetic saliva, and Salivix pastilles. Try and avoid ordinary toothpastes and mouthwashes with alcohol in them. And see your dentist often as a dry mouth is a recipe for all sorts of tooth problems.
You can improve your moisture production with omega 3 capsules, or flax seed or eating oily fish too. Hope this helps.
TishG• in reply to
Hi Phoebe, thanks for the suggestions. I use Celluvisic and Lacrilube but don't know much about punctal plugs. Will ask the consultant when I see him next. I'll try Glandosane Synthetic saliva and the Salivix pastilles as well because this dry mouth is very driving me crazy. Have you been prescribed Salagen for Sjogrens? I learnt about it a few days ago and will ask my rheumatologist when I see him next week.
• in reply toTishG
No. I haven't had Salagen. I have Hydroxychloroquine, Sulfasalazine, and bouts of MTX as it keeps upsetting me. I am off MTX just now, and my Sjogrens has got worse!
• in reply toTishG
Hi TishG
I am suffering the same as you with the mouth. Did you get prescribed Salagen and if you did, has it helped?
Thanks
x
TishG• in reply to
Hi mrsrobbo75,
Just to let you know that I saw my rheumy on the 9th and she prescribed Salagen for the dry mouth. I have now been taking it for over a week and feel much better. Don't need Biotene so often. Ask your rheumy for it. Hopefully it should help you as well.
Regards,
Tish
i do as well, my rheummy nurse said it was the ra as well as the medications we are on. I use the au naturel tear drops and just keep mouthwashing with cordosol
My optician said that RA causes dry eyes, he suggested I use artificial tear drops, so I use HYLO Tear.
Dont have a problem with dry mouth at the mo, but again dentist said this could happen and she would prescribe something for me when/if needed.
Mary
TishG• in reply to
My dentist told me to use Corsodyl mouth wash regularly to prevent gum disease caused due to lack of saliva.
That's all very interesting to read - I will start using mouth wash as don't want to have dental problems too - and I know people who sleep with their mouth open tend to have worse teeth because of the dry mouth also. I do seem to have slightly dry eyes but not so it's a problem yet but I find that after taking MTX for 24 hours my mouth is terribly dry and I have to drink a ton of water. I also get a yiuk taste after taking my weekly dose that seems to have worsened since I went on the Hydroxy. So I think if you don't have Sjorgens then it must be the MTX. TTx
I don't think it was the MTX that caused the dry mouth and dry eyes. I got these before I was diagnosed for RA and started having MTX. Although the Sjogren Syndrome test was negative my GP says that I probably do have it. Drinking water makes it worse. I read on a medical site (link given below) that drinking water washes away the saliva making the dry symptom worse.
Victoria-NRASPartnerModeratorNRAS
Whether it's Sjogren's or not, I expect much of the advice would be the same if dry eyes and mouth are the symptoms. There is useful information on the BSSA (British Sjogren's Syndrome Association) website that might be of interest:
Kind regards
Victoria
(NRAS helpline)
I was always advised not to rely too heavily on commercial mouthwashes, particularly strong ones. The reason was that these knock out everything in your mouth good & bad so you're also knocking out things that protect you too. I was told that better to be really thorough about cleaning your teeth, especially after eating anything sugary, and using dental sticks or floss regularly. So I only use them for a few days at a time if I think I've got a bit of gum problem, but only a couple of times a year at most. Otherwise I use a few drops of tea tree oil in a glass of water - much cheaper too. Seems to have worked as i'm mid 50's and only have a couple of fillings. Pollyx
My dentist says never use mouthwash straight after brushing as it washes all the fluoride etc away. So I use it at other times, especially when my mouth is dry.
Just found my other mouth spray - A S Saliva Orthana. I don't like it as it tastes of ... spit! Well I know that makes sense, but it is still a bit revolting.
I am suffering the same, plus a sore nose.
Doc and optician said it's Sjogren's but not had a test for it.
I am ridiculously thirsty all the time.
I have a drink with me constantly, but nothing quenches my thirst.
I was told that sugar free gum will encourage saliva production.
Also glycerin pastilles.
My dentist told me the same about mouthwashes.
You should do it at a different time from brushing, and for at least 2 minutes, which is quite a long time when you time it.
He also told me that corsodyl used a lot can discolour your teeth.
Nic
I use corsodyl for my mouth ulcers but find it makes my dry mouth 100 times worse! I just keep drinking milky tea and coffee and mineral wate. Sugar free mints too.i used to use biotene toothpaste but cant bear the after taste but oddly corsodyl toothpaste isnt too drying. It tastes nasty at first but you do get used to it.
Be careful if you use Corsodyl a lot because it can discolour your teeth with prolonged use.
I do. I have to go to the dentists every six weeks. I tend to use sugar free sweets and drink sips of water. It had a real impact on my dental health.
I’m the same gel on gums sometimes spray , drop in eyes all day and eye gel in for bed, I’m on methotrexate 2.5 mg
I’m exactly the same use a mouth stray as well, i suck lozenges when out bit relief but my life has changed drastically it affects my food intake can’t eat nothing I used to
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