Ditropan (Oxybutynin) Causes Xerostomia/Dry Mouth/Cotton Mouth

Ditropan is the trade name for the very useful, anti-spasmodic bladder control medication, oxybutynin. Advancing age, disease and other medications may affect bladder control. Ditropan is an anti-cholinergic medication. That means that it blocks the chemical acetylcholine, which conducts nerve impulses between nerve endings. Ditropan helps by decreasing the effect of nerve impulses that contract bladder muscles. This same chemical trickery that aids in bladder control causes Xerostomia, which is commonly known as dry mouth or cotton mouth. Please note that other anti-spasmodic bladder control medications such as Enablex, Sanctura and Vesicare, will have similar effects.

There are over 400 medications that cause Xerostomia, a.k.a. dry mouth or cotton mouth. Some are very common, over-the-counter medications (available without a prescription) such as antihistamines and decongestants. Some are medications that treat serious ailments. Prescribing professionals must weigh side effects against the benefit of taking a medication. Oxybutynin improves the quality of life most of the people who use it. If Xerostomia becomes noticeable, the patient and the prescriber will need to decide whether it is better to stop the medication or treat the side effect.

Xerostomia is more than a comfort issue. Saliva protects the teeth by cleaning away debris, decreasing oral acidity and lowering bacteria populations. Lack of saliva increases the rate of tooth decay. Dentists prevent decay by recommending prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste, regular office applications of fluoride varnish and more frequent dental checkups.

Saliva aids digestion and conducts flavor of food to the taste buds. Saliva lubricates food as it slides down the esophagus on its way to the stomach. Lack of saliva may cause problems with digestion and swallowing. Artificial saliva products are more effective than water alone for lubricating the mouth and esophagus.

Treatments for dry mouth range from simple to complex. First, the patient should drink more water. Commonly, Xerostomia patients will carry a bottle of water with them at all times. Of course, this can be a problem at bedtime. Some patients, especially those with bladder control issues, may prefer to frequently rinse their mouth with water and spit it out in order to prevent the need for frequent walks out of the bedroom at night. Another common home remedy is to suck on sugar-free hard candy or ice chips.

Many effective mouth rinses and formulations of artificial saliva are available over the counter and by prescription. Biotene rinse, gum and toothpaste by Laclede and Oasis spray and rinse are very popular and effective over-the-counter products. The chemical effects of medications that increase the output of salivary glands (Salagen and Evoxac) decrease the effectiveness of Ditropan. They should not be prescribed together.

Patients who suspect that their medications are causing dry mouth should discuss the issue with both their medical doctor and their dentist. Patients who take Ditropan for bladder control successfully will not wish to stop taking it if they develop Xerostomia. These people should look to their dentist for the most effective treatment of this common side effect.