Carbamazepine and Dry Mouth

A dry mouth has been reported as a side effect of carbamazepine. If you are taking carbamazepine and dry mouth occurs, you can help it by sipping water often and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and caffeinated beverages, among other things. If a dry mouth continues to be a problem, your healthcare provider may adjust your carbamazepine dose or recommend another treatment (such as artificial saliva or a different medication for your condition).

Carbamazepine Medication Information

An Overview of Carbamazepine and Dry Mouth

A dry mouth is a possible side effect of carbamazepine (Carbatrol^®, Epitol^®, Equetro^®, Tegretol^®). In previous studies, up to 8 percent of people taking Equetro for bipolar disorder treatment reported having a dry mouth. The exact percentage of people who developed a dry mouth while taking other forms of carbamazepine has not been reported.

Suggestions for Carbamazepine and Dry Mouth

If you are taking carbamazepine and dry mouth occurs, there are some things that you can do. Some of these suggestions include:

Avoiding tobacco or alcohol, because they dry out the mouth.
Using a humidifier at night.
Sipping water or sugarless drinks often.
Sipping water or sugarless drinks during meals. This will make chewing and swallowing easier; it may also improve the taste of food.
Avoiding drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some sodas. Caffeine can dry out the mouth.
Being aware of spicy or salty foods, because they may cause pain in a dry mouth.
Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow; cinnamon- or mint-flavored candies are good choices.

(Carbamazepine and Dry Mouth Continued: Page 2)