Does anyone have any suggestions for alleviating the drooling associated with Parkinsons? My father has tried chewing gum for this, and even had botox shots in his salivary glands, and this didn't work. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Daily neck exercises and (thorough/lengthy) massage of neck,upper back, top of shoulders, jaw, teeth and gums. Often the tongue and swallow muscles are not coordinating because one or more muscle is pulling so tightly it locks up the others. When they thought my mother (with PD) had lost the ability to swallow, I massaged the sides of her neck, and suddenly the swallow muscles in the front of her neck could work again. Massage until warm and tingly. Do only one side of neck at a time. Use sesame oil or sunflower oil. Warmth helps too.
Find a local Feldenkrais practitioner who can help with building sensation in the tongue and mouth as well as the posture needed to keep your head up. As you learn to sit and stand in a more supported way, it's easier to swallow your saliva (and food too). feldenkrais website, and type in your zip code to find a provider.
I use double bubble gum for my husband with his drooling with the Parkinson's. It seem to help a lot. You can buy it at Dollar General, Wal-Mart, grocery store, etc. Just ask someone at the store and they can tell you if they have it or not. He has had other stuff done but has not helped. Good Luck.
• If you tend to drool, you probably don’t have more saliva than you used to have; you are just not swallowing it as automatically as before.
• Frequent sips of water or sucking on ice chips during the day can help you swallow more often.
• Always keep your head up, with your chin parallel to the floor, and your lips closed when you are not talking or eating.
• Reduce your sugar intake, as it tends to make more saliva in the mouth.
• You might also consider having Myobloc (Botulinum toxin B) injections into the parotid gland—the biggest saliva-producing gland. The parotid gland is right near your ear and the injections last 3-4 months.
• Anticholinergic medications can be used to help control drooling. However, because of the side effects the preferred method is the Myobloc injection.
SLP makes the most sense. I have put this in motion with my P. person. Tried having him suck on hard candy yesterday (1/2 day) and it did improve greatly. Don't Know for sure if it was coincidence or really worked since such a short time.
Is Botox approved for Parkinson's? It's expensive and takes injections in the face. A lot of older people have very thin skin, there can be allergic reactions too. Also infections. I have never checked on that one. With cash anything is possible. I wouldn't give it to a parent. An antihistamine could help, along with fluids. Good question.
Keep water with a straw all of the time. If you drink all of the time you are able to swallow all of the time; it hides the drooling too. Keep it by their bed at night too. Also, crushed ice partially melted tastes really good. Don't try anything that can cause chocking. Fluids are enough.
I recently attended a PD support group and the neurologist that runs it has had all of her drooling patients suck on lollipops. She said it worked for all of them.
I read somewhere about pineapple juice diminishing the drooling. We tried it and it works!!! Shake the juice if in can and have a cup in the morn and later afternoon. It has changed my husband's life for the better and cut drooling by at least half!!!
Generally speaking, if a person with Parkinson's disease is dealing with a drooling issuse it is because there is a loss in the sensation that tells one that they should swallow. In most cases there is no increase in the saliva production rather a decrease in the management of saliva. Medications to reduce saliva production will not help in this case because the body will continue to produce saliva (even if in smaller amounts) and the patient will continue to not be able to manage the saliva that he produces. I would suggest consulting a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) as we are the appropriate professionals to offer remediation in this case. The SLP will be able to evaluate the neuro oral motor function and determine the appropriate interventions. Good luck.
I do think that there are some medications, that will help with this... I think just some benadryl will help some. If it is not interfer with other medication.
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• Frequent sips of water or sucking on ice chips during the day can help you swallow more often.
• Always keep your head up, with your chin parallel to the floor, and your lips closed when you are not talking or eating.
• Reduce your sugar intake, as it tends to make more saliva in the mouth.
• You might also consider having Myobloc (Botulinum toxin B) injections into the parotid gland—the biggest saliva-producing gland. The parotid gland is right near your ear and the injections last 3-4 months.
• Anticholinergic medications can be used to help control drooling. However, because of the side effects the preferred method is the Myobloc injection.
A lot of older people have very thin skin, there can be allergic reactions too. Also infections.
I have never checked on that one. With cash anything is possible.
I wouldn't give it to a parent. An antihistamine could help, along with fluids.
Good question.
Keep it by their bed at night too. Also, crushed ice partially melted tastes really good.
Don't try anything that can cause chocking. Fluids are enough.