A group of glands in the mouth and throat produce saliva, which moisturizes the mouth and contains amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates to simpler sugars. Drugs commonly prescribed for heart patients, including alpha blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics may cause malfunctioning of these glands. Xerostomia or dry mouth is a condition caused by the side effects of some commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of high pressure situation. This is most common complain of the hypertensive people, using such medicines.

High Blood Pressure Pills May Cause A Dry Mouth

Although the mechanism is somewhat, unknown, yet, but diuretics are believed to affect the salivary glands the most. Body loses water, mainly from the plasma of the blood, due to reduction in the sodium level by the kidneys. This inevitably causes the salivary glands to lessen production of saliva, causing Xerostomia.

Activity of these glands is further reduced, when cardiac output and the blood pressure is reduced, as a result of reduction in the volume of blood plasma by the diuretics. Not only this, the level of saliva production also drops because of the behavior of the smooth-cell muscles. The behavior of the smooth-cell muscles is affected by the concentrations of cystosolic calcium, sodium and hydrogen.

Other drugs and Xerostomia:

The alpha, beta and the calcium channel blockers don’t give a strong evidence of being certainly involved in causing the Xerostomia, although there is a little indication of it. The mechanism is believed to be similar, but yet to be understood fully.

Effects of Xerostomia:

Effects of saliva reduction are not the pleasant ones. Apart from its effects on the ability of a person to talk, taste and swallow food, which are not amusing ones, it also causes tooth decay and gum disease because of lack of saliva. Take doctor’s assistance for the treatment and guidelines to prevent these effects from advancing.

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