Imipramine and Dry Mouth

Side effects can occur during treatment with imipramine, and dry mouth is one of the medicine's most common side effects. If you are taking imipramine and dry mouth occurs, you can try avoiding tobacco or alcohol, sipping water or sugarless drinks more often, and using a humidifier at night, among other things. If dry mouth still remains bothersome, talk with your healthcare provider.

Imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil PM)

Imipramine and Dry Mouth: An Overview

Dry mouth is one of the common side effects of imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil^®) and imipramine pamoate (Tofranil PM^®), though the exact percentage has not been reported. In fact, dry mouth is a common symptom of all tricyclic antidepressants.

Imipramine and Dry Mouth: Recommendations

If you are taking imipramine and dry mouth becomes a problem, there are a number of things that you can do. Some of these suggestions include:

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.
Avoiding tobacco or alcohol. They dry out the mouth.
Using a humidifier at night.
Being aware of spicy or salty foods. These 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.

Imipramine and Dry Mouth: Summary

If you develop a dry mouth while taking imipramine and the suggestions above do not help, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend, such as artificial saliva. Also, depending on how severe your imipramine dry mouth side effects are, he or she may also recommend that you adjust your imipramine dosage or try another depression medicine.