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Dry Mouth

Posted , 6 users are following.

madgewildfire
madgewildfire

For some time before I was diagnosed with PMR I suffered from a very dry mouth during the night. After being put on 15mg prednisolone that wenr away. However, now I am reduced to 10mg the dry mouth has returned. Is dry mouth related to PMR?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH

    Posted

    Hi Madgewildfire!

    Don't know offhand about dry mouth being associated with PMR and I can't remember if I had any bother like you - however, I did have awful problems with my eyes and had to change from monthly contacts to daily ones to be able to continue at all and even then I kept them for \"special\". After I got the steroids I realised I could see better than I had for ages and my eyes hurt less. When I saw my optician (who is rather more than just a glasses dispenser, he did a PhD and loads post-doc research before giving in to the concept of a decent salary at the end of the month!) he said he'd really thought I would have to give up lenses altogether and was amazed at the difference - and I think the main problem was \"dry eyes\". Having got the dose down to under the equivalent of 7 mg a day I feel as if my eyes are not quite as good as they were but still no real problems. Maybe a parallel?

    EileenH

  • BettyE
    BettyE

    Posted

    Hallo Madgewildfire and Eileen and All

    I've had dry mouth at night off and on.Cannot associate it with steroid dose particularly. Might just have slept with my mouth open. Will add it to my PMR diary and report if appropriate.

    Eyes.. I just wear specs. reading, computer ( which are \"reading \" from two prescriptions ago ) and \"looking around \" . Cannot get on with either bifocals or varis. Have never tried contacts as my eyes always have been a bit watery; I'd be afraid of losing them. 3 lots are very inconvenient esp. when I have my share of CRAFTS but there we are. I can read, drive and see to get around so will settle for that. Happy weekend to all BettyE

  • BettyE
    BettyE

    Posted

    What am I saying?. It's only Tuesday!! CRAFTS plus.
  • freesia
    freesia

    Posted

    I have had the same experience as you, waking at night with a very dry mouth and I also thought I must have been sleeping with my mouth open...I think it has something to do with the prednisone, though.
  • freesia
    freesia

    Posted

    madgewildfire, I mean to mention that I drink lots of water, juice, etc, so it shouldn't be a matter of dehydration--I think the pred may have something to do with it. I take 10 mg prednisone currently for pmr.

    freesia

  • freesia
    freesia

    Posted

    madgewildfire, I mean to mention that I drink lots of water, juice, etc, so it shouldn't be a matter of dehydration--I think the pred may have something to do with it. I take 10 mg prednisone currently for pmr.

    freesia

  • Wallis
    Wallis

    Posted

    My diagnosis has always been a bit iffy, and symptons of other similar connective tissue diseases often cause dry mouth and eyes. Do talk to your doctor as you can get a dry mouth saliva replacement gel. The one he prescribed me was 'biotene oralbalance dry mouth saliva'. I also bought over the counter eye drops (am lucky to have a really helpful pharmacist too).

    Just reading the bumf with the gel and it says: If a dry mouth is left untreated, the mouth's bio system can deteriorate, leading to extensive and rapid decay of the teeth, particularly close to the gums. With proper treatment, the health of the mouth can be restored and maintained.

    Of course they would say that!

    But it would be best I think not to ignore it.

    Have a look on this site at Sjögren's Syndrome; this is often secondary to other autoimmune disorders and is basically dry eyes and dry mouth. I don't think you need to live with it.

    Best wishes x

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