Ativan (lorazepam) Causes Xerostomia/Dry Mouth/Cotton Mouth

In the world as it exists today, there are thousands of medications that treat many different ailments. Some of the drugs that have the widest range of side effects are drugs that treat mental and anxiety issues. Ativan is one of these drugs, and one of its most annoying side effects is Xerostomia, more commonly known as dry mouth or cottonmouth.

Ativan, also sold in generic form as lorazepam, is a mild sedative that falls into the benzodiazepine category. Its primary use is to relieve anxiety, tension, to relieve sleeplessness, and can calm those with schizophrenia. As a drug that calms down those who take it, lorazepam, administered intravenously, reduces patient anxiety prior to surgical procedures. All of these are circumstances in which there is a great need for such a drug. However, with this drug the dry mouth side effect can be very annoying.

Under normal circumstances Xerostomia, dry mouth, or cottonmouth, is caused by a salivary glands hypo-function, which then causes a decrease in the amount of saliva the mouth produces. However, there are instances where the patient may endure the reduced flow of saliva and not realize that they are experiencing the disorder.

Some of the symptoms of Xerostomia that involve the mouth and oral area are a decrease in the amount of saliva, foamy mouth, a ropey feel of the tongue, hoarse voice, dry throat, persistent cough, burning or painful tongue and dry or cracked lips. The biggest of these symptoms is the constant need to drink that does not resolve thirst. Also affected are functions involving the mouth, such as difficulty in swallowing, speaking or even tasting. Though many of the symptoms of dry mouth or cottonmouth have to do with the mouth, there are several symptoms that are systemic, involving other areas of the body.

Some systemic symptoms of cotton mouth are dry nose or crusty formation about the nose; dry, burning, itchy or a gritty sensation in the eyes; blurred vision, dry skin, constipation and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD); in the vaginal area dryness, itching or constant yeast infections. There can also be instances of the body incurring general aches or weight loss. There are ways to reduce the occurrence of Xerostomia (cottonmouth).

The first thing is to get a detailed list of all medications taken, their dosages and the times they are taken. There are instances that a combination of certain medications may cause dry mouth. Sometimes changing the times at which certain medicines are taken may reduce dry mouth. The most common method is to discontinue the administration of the medication all together. However, when this is not possible, substitutions of one drug for another may alleviate the Xerostomia.

It is a normal occurrence for anti-anxiety drugs such as Ativan (lorazepam) to cause dry mouth in patients. In some instances, there may be no drugs suitable for substitution of the lorazepam. Nevertheless, it is possible for individuals prescribed Ativan to acclimate themselves to the condition. There are also many oral moisturizers or saliva substitutes that can provide relief for cottonmouth. The best thing to do is to consult your physician if you have a prescription for Ativan (lorazepam) and are suffering from dry mouth.