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. 2008 Spring;10(2):92–98.

Table 2.

Recommendations to Help Minimize Bothersome Side Effects Secondary to Antimuscarinic Agents

Dry mouth

  1.  Sugar-free or regular candy/lozenges

  2.  Sugar-free or regular gum

  3.  Artificial saliva or mouthwash

  4.  Modest increase in fluid intake. Patients with overactive bladder should drink approximately 6 8-oz glasses of fluid daily. Attempts to control dry mouth by excessive fluid intake may worsen urinary frequency and incontinence

Constipation

  1.  Increase fluid intake to 6 8-oz glasses of fluid daily

  2.  Increase fluids that stimulate bowel movements, including prune/apple juice

  3.  Increase fiber in diet (eg, bran, bananas, oatmeal)

  4.  Metamucil® (Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH), 1 teaspoon in the morning and evening before breakfast and dinner

  5.  Colace® (Roberts Pharmaceutical, Eatontown, NJ), 1 tablet 1 to 3 times daily