Define drug effects on food intake - cause dry mouth?
cause dry mouth (xerostomia) : Lack of saliva makes it difficult to masticate and swallow foods, especially those of a dry or fibrous consistency. Dry mouth immediately causes loss of taste sensation. If dry mouth condition prevails for a long-term it can cause dental carries and loss of teeth, gum diseases and nutritional imbalance and undesired weight loss. The drugs to watch out in this case are anticholinergics, which include tricyclic antidepressants such as diphenhydramine, antihistamines (e.g. benadryl), and antispasmodic bladder control drugs such as oxybutyanin (ditropan). These anticholillergic drugs compete with the neurotransmitters acetylcholine for its receptor sites, thereby inhibiting transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses. This results in decreased secretions, including salivary secretion causing dry mouth.