Does Mellaril Cause a Dry Mouth?
Mellaril® (
thioridazine) is a prescription medicine used to treat
schizophrenia. Like other medicines, it can cause side effects. One of these possible side effects of Mellaril is a dry mouth.
Recommendations for Mellaril and Dry Mouth
If you are taking Mellaril 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 that spicy or salty foods 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.
If you have a dry mouth while taking Mellaril 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. Depending on how severe your Mellaril dry mouth side effects are, he or she may also recommend that you adjust your
Mellaril dosage or try another schizophrenia medication.
