| Abstract: | Xerostomia (dry mouth) is an uncomfortable and potentially harmful oral symptom which is usually caused by a decrease in the secretion rate of saliva (salivary gland hypofunction, or SGH). It is more prevalent in the elderly population, primarily due to their increased use of drugs and their susceptibility to disease. Many drugs and drug classes have been linked to xerostomia; the xerogenic effect increases when many drugs are taken concurrently. This Reference Guide to Drugs and Dry Mouth is designed to allow the reader to rapidly identify those pharmacologic agents which have the capacity to induce xerostomia and SGH. Xerogenic drugs can be found in 42 drug categories and 56 sub-categories. A guide to the management of drug-induced SGH and xerostomia is also provided. |
