NeutraSal to help stimulate saliva?

cadharose

Has anyone used this product? My doctor started me on this for the stated purpose of helping to stimulate my own natural saliva. I have been using it twice daily since my treatment ended, but so far I do not notice any improvement. If you have used it, have you benefited from it? How many times per day, and for how long, have you had to use it to get results?

phrannie51

Seems kinda early in the game

to try and stimulate the saliva....not that I know everything there is to know about this....LOL.  But you're barely 2 weeks out of treatment, and possibly aren't even done cooking yet.  I'd think that having expectations of saliva now might lead to disappointment at this stage. 

I don't know anything about NeutraSal....give it a couple of months....oh...and if it works, let us know!!  I'd be willing to give it a try, myself .

p

cadharose

phrannie51 said:

Seems kinda early in the game

to try and stimulate the saliva....not that I know everything there is to know about this....LOL.  But you're barely 2 weeks out of treatment, and possibly aren't even done cooking yet.  I'd think that having expectations of saliva now might lead to disappointment at this stage. 

I don't know anything about NeutraSal....give it a couple of months....oh...and if it works, let us know!!  I'd be willing to give it a try, myself .

p

Good thinking. These are the

Good thinking. These are the kind of reminders I need to hear. I forget it has only been 2-1/2 weeks instead of 2-1/2 months.

meaganb

My Dr tried me on Saligen.

My Dr tried me on Saligen. Sounds like the two are similar meds. It did not do much for me....except make me sweat. Not a good look, I assure you. I am a year & a month post treatment & I would say my saliva is about 85%. I keep water with me most of the time but only "need" to reach for it at night. I usually don't get dried out during the day. My ENT said that for max effect a med like you sre on really needs to be started before radiation even begins. Problem is that most RO don't think about it. For most people (from what I've read here) saliva returns to an *almost* normal level on its own. GL!

cadharose

meaganb said:

My Dr tried me on Saligen.

My Dr tried me on Saligen. Sounds like the two are similar meds. It did not do much for me....except make me sweat. Not a good look, I assure you. I am a year & a month post treatment & I would say my saliva is about 85%. I keep water with me most of the time but only "need" to reach for it at night. I usually don't get dried out during the day. My ENT said that for max effect a med like you sre on really needs to be started before radiation even begins. Problem is that most RO don't think about it. For most people (from what I've read here) saliva returns to an *almost* normal level on its own. GL!

I don't believe they are

I don't believe they are similar meds, if I am correct. NeutraSal is calcium phosphate. It is a swish and spit out mouth rinse. Salagan is a pill, I believe. I have heard of Salagan, though, and plan to ask my doctor about it, as well as Evocax. I hope you're right about returning to a normal level on its own. I really hate dry mouth!

Skiffin16

cadharose said:

I don't believe they are

I don't believe they are similar meds, if I am correct. NeutraSal is calcium phosphate. It is a swish and spit out mouth rinse. Salagan is a pill, I believe. I have heard of Salagan, though, and plan to ask my doctor about it, as well as Evocax. I hope you're right about returning to a normal level on its own. I really hate dry mouth!

Matt on Percentages...

I didn't use either, though both myself and P51, Linda also I believe and a few others had Amifostine everyday before rads. For me that was an injection in my stomach..., leaving a big dry itchy welt each of the 30+ times.

Anyways, many (high percentage) of all of us it seems have had the majority (80 - 90%) of our taste and saliva return... Usually starting a few months post Tx, all the way to two plus years after. But certainly not 2 - 3 weeks....

I am at 100% on taste and maybe 95% on saliva..., only drying out a little at night during sleep.

It doesn't seem to matter or have any logic on what you have been prescribed, tried or did nothing..., it still usually seems to return for the most part in a high percentage of us.

John

cadharose

Skiffin16 said:

Matt on Percentages...

I didn't use either, though both myself and P51, Linda also I believe and a few others had Amifostine everyday before rads. For me that was an injection in my stomach..., leaving a big dry itchy welt each of the 30+ times.

Anyways, many (high percentage) of all of us it seems have had the majority (80 - 90%) of our taste and saliva return... Usually starting a few months post Tx, all the way to two plus years after. But certainly not 2 - 3 weeks....

I am at 100% on taste and maybe 95% on saliva..., only drying out a little at night during sleep.

It doesn't seem to matter or have any logic on what you have been prescribed, tried or did nothing..., it still usually seems to return for the most part in a high percentage of us.

John

Glad to hear that - thanks!

Glad to hear that - thanks!

meaganb

cadharose said:

I don't believe they are

I don't believe they are similar meds, if I am correct. NeutraSal is calcium phosphate. It is a swish and spit out mouth rinse. Salagan is a pill, I believe. I have heard of Salagan, though, and plan to ask my doctor about it, as well as Evocax. I hope you're right about returning to a normal level on its own. I really hate dry mouth!

Ok, gotcha. But regardless,

Ok, gotcha. But regardless, seems like it doesn't matter what you take, the body recovers in its own time with just about everything.

cadharose

meaganb said:

Ok, gotcha. But regardless,

Ok, gotcha. But regardless, seems like it doesn't matter what you take, the body recovers in its own time with just about everything.

(No subject)

peggylulu

I hate to whine , but I am so

I hate to whine , but I am so tried of dry mouth and it's been over 8 months since my last rad tx and I am ready to try anything that might help even a little .It is so dry at times that it causes my throat to hurt . I just got off the phone with my PCP asking him about this very question  !  He is going to reserch it Salagen , Evoxac and the one you mention and get back to me . I will let y'all know what he says. I am asuming the loss of salvia is the reason that I still don't have any (much) taste or appitite !

Thanks for listening ,

Peggy

 

cadharose

peggylulu said:

I hate to whine , but I am so

I hate to whine , but I am so tried of dry mouth and it's been over 8 months since my last rad tx and I am ready to try anything that might help even a little .It is so dry at times that it causes my throat to hurt . I just got off the phone with my PCP asking him about this very question  !  He is going to reserch it Salagen , Evoxac and the one you mention and get back to me . I will let y'all know what he says. I am asuming the loss of salvia is the reason that I still don't have any (much) taste or appitite !

Thanks for listening ,

Peggy

 

Don't forget acupuncture,

Don't forget acupuncture, too. That may seem a little out there, but some people claim it really worked to get their saliva back.

peggylulu

cadharose said:

Don't forget acupuncture,

Don't forget acupuncture, too. That may seem a little out there, but some people claim it really worked to get their saliva back.

Cadharose

Thank's for the reminder , I got a phone number last night and was going to call this morning to see if my Medicare Ins. will cover Acupuncture ! I will make that call now ! Thanks again for the reminder !

Peggy

CivilMatt

Eat, Drink And Be Merry

Cadharose,

I myself did nothing before, during or after radiation to protect, prevent or to preserve anything other than my teeth.  I am 1 year and 4 months post and as Skiffin mentioned my percentages and/or statuses are:

SALIVA – 40% (I’LL BE FIRST ONE TO YELL 100%)

ENERGY – 70% (NEED TO WORK ON THAT)

SLEEP – VERY GOOD (AT THE DROP OF A HAT)

TASTE – 20 TO 70% (FOOD DEPENDANT)

FOOD FEEL – 95% (ALMOST NORMAL)

LIQUIDS - 60 TO 90% NORMAL FEEL, TASTE IS UP IN THE AIR (HAVEN’T DRANK ANY ALCOHOL, YET)

DRY MOUTH – BETTER EVERY DAY, FAN OF XYLEMELTS

PAIN – NONE FOR ME, SOME FOR OTHERS

WORRY INDEX – 4 (ONCE BITTEN)

Try not to get to down on your (slow) progress, according to most of information on the H&N forum, on average, things do get better.  My big cross to bear was the awful feel and texture of food, but right on cue, at 7 months it simply vanished (poof).

You will be a foodie again, just work with what you have.

Matt

peggylulu

CivilMatt said:

Eat, Drink And Be Merry

Cadharose,

I myself did nothing before, during or after radiation to protect, prevent or to preserve anything other than my teeth.  I am 1 year and 4 months post and as Skiffin mentioned my percentages and/or statuses are:

SALIVA – 40% (I’LL BE FIRST ONE TO YELL 100%)

ENERGY – 70% (NEED TO WORK ON THAT)

SLEEP – VERY GOOD (AT THE DROP OF A HAT)

TASTE – 20 TO 70% (FOOD DEPENDANT)

FOOD FEEL – 95% (ALMOST NORMAL)

LIQUIDS - 60 TO 90% NORMAL FEEL, TASTE IS UP IN THE AIR (HAVEN’T DRANK ANY ALCOHOL, YET)

DRY MOUTH – BETTER EVERY DAY, FAN OF XYLEMELTS

PAIN – NONE FOR ME, SOME FOR OTHERS

WORRY INDEX – 4 (ONCE BITTEN)

Try not to get to down on your (slow) progress, according to most of information on the H&N forum, on average, things do get better.  My big cross to bear was the awful feel and texture of food, but right on cue, at 7 months it simply vanished (poof).

You will be a foodie again, just work with what you have.

Matt

Matt

I even tried Xylemelts to no avail . I do worry that my salvia may never come back .

Peggy

TracyLynn72

I had about 2 days

of no saliva.  The doctor told me to get some sour sugar free hard candy and keep a piece in my mouth.  I did that for a few hours and have drooled the rest of the time!!  This was at the very beginning of my treatment, and I'm now 3 weeks out and haven't had any dry mouth since.  Strange, but it worked!

cadharose

TracyLynn72 said:

I had about 2 days

of no saliva.  The doctor told me to get some sour sugar free hard candy and keep a piece in my mouth.  I did that for a few hours and have drooled the rest of the time!!  This was at the very beginning of my treatment, and I'm now 3 weeks out and haven't had any dry mouth since.  Strange, but it worked!

Do you think that would work

Do you think that would work if you started it 3 weeks after treatment ended?

TracyLynn72

cadharose said:

Do you think that would work

Do you think that would work if you started it 3 weeks after treatment ended?

They told me

if I felt like I was drying out to keep some candy on hand.  I always carry some in my purse but haven't needed it.  He said it was a cheap, easy way to stimulate the salivary glands.  I had one "clog up" and that did the trick for me.  Now, I have too much saliva most of the time, but I can deal with that! I hope it helps you!!

peggylulu

TracyLynn72 said:

I had about 2 days

of no saliva.  The doctor told me to get some sour sugar free hard candy and keep a piece in my mouth.  I did that for a few hours and have drooled the rest of the time!!  This was at the very beginning of my treatment, and I'm now 3 weeks out and haven't had any dry mouth since.  Strange, but it worked!

Tracy Lynn

When I was just out of treatments my Doctor told me to try Lemon drops but they were to sour and made me cough so I stopped trying them . They also had sugar !!!! He didn't tell me sugar free ! I still have a very dry mouth at 8 1/2 months out . I am going to get some sour sugar free hard candy now and try it ! Thanks for sharing this tip !

Peggy

TracyLynn72

peggylulu said:

Tracy Lynn

When I was just out of treatments my Doctor told me to try Lemon drops but they were to sour and made me cough so I stopped trying them . They also had sugar !!!! He didn't tell me sugar free ! I still have a very dry mouth at 8 1/2 months out . I am going to get some sour sugar free hard candy now and try it ! Thanks for sharing this tip !

Peggy

I hope it helps!

I've never had so much saliva as when I used the candy!  The sugar free is better for your teeth and I did a lemon/lime one.