How do I produce more saliva?

byzas · September 2009

Good Morning everyone,
I haven't been here for a while.
I had tonsil cancer, stage 3, in January 07 and I'm doing well. I had 39 treatments of radiation, one cisplatin and 7 erbitux.
I know the dryness in my mouth has improved very slowly since the end of my treatment. I know on this discussion board we are all at different stages so I would like to know if anyone has discovered a way to produce more saliva?
I have asked my doctors and I am aware of sprays, gels and mouthwashes, so I'm thinking of foods or vitamins or treatments out there that I may not know yet. Thanks.
Wishing the best for everyone, Linda

Bonj · September 2009

Medication
Linda,

My husband was given a medication to help produce more saliva. It worked well for him. He hasn't taken it in a while but I'll see if I can remember what it was.

HAWVET · September 2009

Bonj said:
Medication
Linda,

My husband was given a medication to help produce more saliva. It worked well for him. He hasn't taken it in a while but I'll see if I can remember what it was.

Salagen and Evoxac
At the caregiver's area, I noted that a nurse proposed the use of Salagen or Evoxac. I asked the below question, but there was no response. May be you can check with your doctor for your use.

"....I was very interested in Nurse Creager's response concerning Salagen and Evoxac. I have a question for her. I have serious saliva problems based on radiation treatment over eleven years ago. Since that much time has lapsed, will It still help my saliva problems?"

SASH · September 2009

Spit
You can try lozenges, mints, suckers, etc. Normally anything that is sitting in your mouth that needs saliva it might help stimulate your salivary glands.

Hondo · September 2009

Good Question
I have used both Salagen & Evoxac and did not find either one worked very well for me, but none of us are alike, what works on one may not work at all for someone else.

I have found that mouth sprayer’s work best for me, especially at night when trying to get a good nights sleep. I can go almost 6 to 8 hours with out waking up for the need of water.

The one that works best for me is Stoppers4 Dry Mouth Spray and I get it on line at http://www.drugstore.com/

Wish you all well in finding what works best for you.

MLC53 · October 2009

Hondo said:
Good Question
I have used both Salagen & Evoxac and did not find either one worked very well for me, but none of us are alike, what works on one may not work at all for someone else.

I have found that mouth sprayer’s work best for me, especially at night when trying to get a good nights sleep. I can go almost 6 to 8 hours with out waking up for the need of water.

The one that works best for me is Stoppers4 Dry Mouth Spray and I get it on line at http://www.drugstore.com/

Wish you all well in finding what works best for you.

I am 2 1/5 years out of treatments. I went for my follow up with my rad doc a few weeks ago and asked him if my salivary glands would eventually get better. I had left tonsil cancer. He showed me the graph where the radiation was targeted. The graph shows that my left salivary glands got direct hits and therefore would most likely never recover. He then showed me where the right salivary glands were not directly hit with the radiation and told me that the right ones should recover some. He doesn't think they will recover fully, but feels that they still might improve some more over time, even though it has been more than two years since treatments. I was told that your saliva has two parts to it....a viscous (thick) part and a watery part. My rad doc said that the radiation usually kills the production of the watery part, but they don't know why. That's why what little saliva we H/N cancer patients have left, if any, is very thick and ropey. I keep hoping things will get better but, realistically, they most likely will not so I will just have to adapt to my "new normal". The lack of saliva and limitations on eating has been one of the hardest things for me to accept and get used to. I have used both the Salagen and the Evoxac but noticed very little improvement. This is just my personal experience.

hisnibs · October 2009

Acupuncture
I started Acupuncture after reading the OCF's forum (Oral Cancer Foundation)I have only had three or 4 sessions. The doctor said we could try 6 sessions 2 times a week and 4-6 more weekly after that. I have minimal optimism for this but had to try it after 33 or 35 rad TXs.

I hope to report back with positive news, but survivors in the OCF forum thought acupuncture yeilded best results over medication. How meesed up are the saliva glands? Different for everyone I suspect.

seenanN · October 2009

hisnibs said:
Acupuncture
I started Acupuncture after reading the OCF's forum (Oral Cancer Foundation)I have only had three or 4 sessions. The doctor said we could try 6 sessions 2 times a week and 4-6 more weekly after that. I have minimal optimism for this but had to try it after 33 or 35 rad TXs.

I hope to report back with positive news, but survivors in the OCF forum thought acupuncture yeilded best results over medication. How meesed up are the saliva glands? Different for everyone I suspect.

How do I produce more saliva?
I used Salagen for more than 2 years and Onc told me to stop since it did not help. I have tried other moisturizers such as Oasis, Oral balance, OralMoist, Salivart, 6 sessions (12 times) of acupuncture and they did not work for me either. I am stage 4 NPC so all my saliva glands I guess are already gone. In the last 3 years I just cope with the dryness without using these med. Like Hondo said above these were not working for me but it might work for you. You need to try them.

Best wishes,

CajunEagle · October 2009

MLC53 said:
I am 2 1/5 years out of treatments. I went for my follow up with my rad doc a few weeks ago and asked him if my salivary glands would eventually get better. I had left tonsil cancer. He showed me the graph where the radiation was targeted. The graph shows that my left salivary glands got direct hits and therefore would most likely never recover. He then showed me where the right salivary glands were not directly hit with the radiation and told me that the right ones should recover some. He doesn't think they will recover fully, but feels that they still might improve some more over time, even though it has been more than two years since treatments. I was told that your saliva has two parts to it....a viscous (thick) part and a watery part. My rad doc said that the radiation usually kills the production of the watery part, but they don't know why. That's why what little saliva we H/N cancer patients have left, if any, is very thick and ropey. I keep hoping things will get better but, realistically, they most likely will not so I will just have to adapt to my "new normal". The lack of saliva and limitations on eating has been one of the hardest things for me to accept and get used to. I have used both the Salagen and the Evoxac but noticed very little improvement. This is just my personal experience.

I too had left tonsil cancer. Diagnosed 1st week of February, 2009. Completed 7 rounds of Chemo (Cisplatnin...taxatera....and 5fu) and 35 STRAIGHT days of radiation therapy. They pretty much messed me up, but thank goodness for the peg tube. Finished treatment June 8th of this year. Just now learning to swallow (soups..soft foods...liquids). Have lots of "tingling" in my fingers and mostly my feet which was caused by Chemo and will evidentually go away (THEY SAY...I hope). Guess my saliva glands on the left side are gone too. I've been using to some success, Caphosol. It's two plastic vials of a clear, tasteless liquid that you mix together and swish in your mouth for one minute. Like I say, it works okay for me, but I'm always willing to try something else. My tumor is totally gone (for now)according to my pet-scan of last week. Still lots of ringing in my left ear and some balance problems, but by golly I made it.

Hondo · October 2009

CajunEagle said:
I too had left tonsil cancer. Diagnosed 1st week of February, 2009. Completed 7 rounds of Chemo (Cisplatnin...taxatera....and 5fu) and 35 STRAIGHT days of radiation therapy. They pretty much messed me up, but thank goodness for the peg tube. Finished treatment June 8th of this year. Just now learning to swallow (soups..soft foods...liquids). Have lots of "tingling" in my fingers and mostly my feet which was caused by Chemo and will evidentually go away (THEY SAY...I hope). Guess my saliva glands on the left side are gone too. I've been using to some success, Caphosol. It's two plastic vials of a clear, tasteless liquid that you mix together and swish in your mouth for one minute. Like I say, it works okay for me, but I'm always willing to try something else. My tumor is totally gone (for now)according to my pet-scan of last week. Still lots of ringing in my left ear and some balance problems, but by golly I made it.

CajunEagle

Glad to hear you are hanging in there, when I finish Radiation & Chemo I too could not walk straight, I would hit the side of the doors trying to walk through it, needless to say how much it hurt. I starting using a product called Ambrotose and with in a few days was walking better and not running into the walls.

After Radiation and Chemo everyone’s body reacts differently so this might or might not work for you, but it was a blessing to me, I am back at work again as I work for a large Diving company doing maintenance.

If you are interested I think the web site is www.mannatech.com

Take care God bless.

Hondo · October 2009

hisnibs said:
Acupuncture
I started Acupuncture after reading the OCF's forum (Oral Cancer Foundation)I have only had three or 4 sessions. The doctor said we could try 6 sessions 2 times a week and 4-6 more weekly after that. I have minimal optimism for this but had to try it after 33 or 35 rad TXs.

I hope to report back with positive news, but survivors in the OCF forum thought acupuncture yeilded best results over medication. How meesed up are the saliva glands? Different for everyone I suspect.

Hisnibs

Let me know how you do with the Acupuncture, I have been looking at this for opening the Jaw bone but can’t find anyone in Louisiana that can do it.

mermaid52 · October 2009

homeopathics to help create saliva
My husband is a survivor of H&N stage IV. we are ready to celebrate 7 years in remission. He has dry mouth and excessive post nasal drip.
I found several homeopathics that have helped with making saliva.
You can order them from www. affordable Natural Supplements.com

for increasing saliva we use Nux Moschata 200c

for post nasal drip we use Hydrastis Canadensis 30c

My husband could not speak after Radiation treatment so I took him to an accupuncturist from Korea who got his voice back after 40 min
of treatment. It was a much more aggressive treatment than Chinese accupuncture. He also treated him a 2nd and 3rd time to help stimulate saliva ... this worked...it was amazing. I could actually really kiss my husband again.

It is a journey of discoveries....I do recommend that ALL cancer patients stay off sugar. Cancer feeds on sugar. If you do not believe me see how the PET scans work.

Take fish oil and flax oil every day. Four medical doctors my husband went to advised this course of action to limit the spread of cancer.
Take 200mcg of Selenium every day ...20mg zinc ...and a GOOD multi vitamin&mineral...along with green tea extract.
God bless everyone ...remember there are guardian angels to guide you through this difficult time ...do not give up.

mermaid52 · October 2009

homeopathics to help create saliva
My husband is a survivor of H&N stage IV. we are ready to celebrate 7 years in remission. He has dry mouth and excessive post nasal drip.
I found several homeopathics that have helped with making saliva.
You can order them from www. affordable Natural Supplements.com

for increasing saliva we use Nux Moschata 200c

for post nasal drip we use Hydrastis Canadensis 30c

My husband could not speak after Radiation treatment so I took him to an accupuncturist from Korea who got his voice back after 40 min
of treatment. It was a much more aggressive treatment than Chinese accupuncture. He also treated him a 2nd and 3rd time to help stimulate saliva ... this worked...it was amazing. I could actually really kiss my husband again.

It is a journey of discoveries....I do recommend that ALL cancer patients stay off sugar. Cancer feeds on sugar. If you do not believe me see how the PET scans work.

Take fish oil and flax oil every day. Four medical doctors my husband went to advised this course of action to limit the spread of cancer.
Take 200mcg of Selenium every day ...20mg zinc ...and a GOOD multi vitamin&mineral...along with green tea extract.
God bless everyone ...remember there are guardian angels to guide you through this difficult time ...do not give up.

mermaid52 · October 2009

homeopathics to help create saliva
My husband is a survivor of H&N stage IV. we are ready to celebrate 7 years in remission. He has dry mouth and excessive post nasal drip.
I found several homeopathics that have helped with making saliva.
You can order them from www. affordable Natural Supplements.com

for increasing saliva we use Nux Moschata 200c

for post nasal drip we use Hydrastis Canadensis 30c

My husband could not speak after Radiation treatment so I took him to an accupuncturist from Korea who got his voice back after 40 min
of treatment. It was a much more aggressive treatment than Chinese accupuncture. He also treated him a 2nd and 3rd time to help stimulate saliva ... this worked...it was amazing. I could actually really kiss my husband again.

It is a journey of discoveries....I do recommend that ALL cancer patients stay off sugar. Cancer feeds on sugar. If you do not believe me see how the PET scans work.

Take fish oil and flax oil every day. Four medical doctors my husband went to advised this course of action to limit the spread of cancer.
Take 200mcg of Selenium every day ...20mg zinc ...and a GOOD multi vitamin&mineral...along with green tea extract.
God bless everyone ...remember there are guardian angels to guide you through this difficult time ...do not give up.

Hondo · October 2009

mermaid52 said:
homeopathics to help create saliva
My husband is a survivor of H&N stage IV. we are ready to celebrate 7 years in remission. He has dry mouth and excessive post nasal drip.
I found several homeopathics that have helped with making saliva.
You can order them from www. affordable Natural Supplements.com

for increasing saliva we use Nux Moschata 200c

for post nasal drip we use Hydrastis Canadensis 30c

My husband could not speak after Radiation treatment so I took him to an accupuncturist from Korea who got his voice back after 40 min
of treatment. It was a much more aggressive treatment than Chinese accupuncture. He also treated him a 2nd and 3rd time to help stimulate saliva ... this worked...it was amazing. I could actually really kiss my husband again.

It is a journey of discoveries....I do recommend that ALL cancer patients stay off sugar. Cancer feeds on sugar. If you do not believe me see how the PET scans work.

Take fish oil and flax oil every day. Four medical doctors my husband went to advised this course of action to limit the spread of cancer.
Take 200mcg of Selenium every day ...20mg zinc ...and a GOOD multi vitamin&mineral...along with green tea extract.
God bless everyone ...remember there are guardian angels to guide you through this difficult time ...do not give up.

Hi mermaid52

Glad to see someone agrees with me about the process sugar thing, I had the same question doing a PET scan, I could not believe it what he told me they use radiated sugar water to help them see where the cancer is, because the Cancer fees on the sugar.

Also John Hopkins just did a report on how process sugar and cancer work together. Normal sugar we get in the things God has made is good for the body, but the process stuff is a killer.

I would like to know where you did your acupuncture, I live in Louisiana and there is no one here that I trust to do that.

Thanks

naturenaw · October 2009

Saliva
I am 4 years post-treatment. I get saliva with Orbit sweet-mint chewing gum or mositen the mouth with water. I have tried Saligen and Evoxac (prescriptions) and didn't get much improvement from them although I know a gentleman that has had a great improvement with them. I also tried all the rinses and gels and like the Biotene products the best. Water truly is the main lubricant for my throat. I have found great improvement and soothing relief to my throat with liquid fish oil. It was quite by accident that I discovered this would help me.... I got it for my young son to take so got Carlson's lemon (or orange) flavored liquid fish oil (a recommendation from his pediatrician) and he absolutely hated it and said it tastes horrible. I don't taste a lot of things with my taste buds having been ruined from the radiation, so I tried it and found it to be very soothing. It works great for me - just a teaspoon. It doesn't promote saliva, just soothes the dryness. One thing my doctor also had me try was a very tart orange vitamin C pill (thinking the citrus would stimulate the salivary glands). But this didn't work for me. Worth a try though. Good luck!

Hondo · October 2009

naturenaw said:
Saliva
I am 4 years post-treatment. I get saliva with Orbit sweet-mint chewing gum or mositen the mouth with water. I have tried Saligen and Evoxac (prescriptions) and didn't get much improvement from them although I know a gentleman that has had a great improvement with them. I also tried all the rinses and gels and like the Biotene products the best. Water truly is the main lubricant for my throat. I have found great improvement and soothing relief to my throat with liquid fish oil. It was quite by accident that I discovered this would help me.... I got it for my young son to take so got Carlson's lemon (or orange) flavored liquid fish oil (a recommendation from his pediatrician) and he absolutely hated it and said it tastes horrible. I don't taste a lot of things with my taste buds having been ruined from the radiation, so I tried it and found it to be very soothing. It works great for me - just a teaspoon. It doesn't promote saliva, just soothes the dryness. One thing my doctor also had me try was a very tart orange vitamin C pill (thinking the citrus would stimulate the salivary glands). But this didn't work for me. Worth a try though. Good luck!

Hi naturenaw

I too did not have much luck with the Saligan or Evoxac, of course I had radiation twice to the same area and what the first time did not destroy the second time did. I do find help using Stoppers4 mouth spray, it cost about 5.95 so you can’t go wrong trying it once, I get it at www.drugstore.com, works great for me at night so I can sleep. Also I have been experimenting using Hydrogen Peroxide 3% as a mouth wash; I cut to about 25% Peroxide to 75% water; what ever you do don’t swallow it. I am not sure if it is helping or not but I sure feel like my saliva if better now then before, only been doing it for a week.

Take care

drevman · October 2009

Saliva
Hi Dr. Drevyanko (A head and neck cancer victim)

Hopefully you had IMRT or similar treatments so that some of your salivary galnds were spared. Gum will make your remaining salivary glands work harder, not too hard, they don't burn out that easily. Choose a gum that is pleasant to you. This is the hard part. Now that you have been irradiated if you choose the wrong gum, those that are advertised as intense, you will be drooling all of the time!! Pick something that would be considered a classic. Not intense but flavored. PS I gave this advice to one of the internists who happened to get tonsilar cancer after I did and it worked for him.

Dr. Drevyanko

naturenaw · October 2009

drevman said:
Saliva
Hi Dr. Drevyanko (A head and neck cancer victim)

Hopefully you had IMRT or similar treatments so that some of your salivary galnds were spared. Gum will make your remaining salivary glands work harder, not too hard, they don't burn out that easily. Choose a gum that is pleasant to you. This is the hard part. Now that you have been irradiated if you choose the wrong gum, those that are advertised as intense, you will be drooling all of the time!! Pick something that would be considered a classic. Not intense but flavored. PS I gave this advice to one of the internists who happened to get tonsilar cancer after I did and it worked for him.

Dr. Drevyanko

Gum for Saliva
Husband is a dentist and recommends biotene gum or Orbit.
I like Orbit Sweet mint flavor the best. (Sweet mint doesn't burn like some of the other mints can.)
It can get some moisture going too.

hisnibs · November 2009

hisnibs said:
Acupuncture
I started Acupuncture after reading the OCF's forum (Oral Cancer Foundation)I have only had three or 4 sessions. The doctor said we could try 6 sessions 2 times a week and 4-6 more weekly after that. I have minimal optimism for this but had to try it after 33 or 35 rad TXs.

I hope to report back with positive news, but survivors in the OCF forum thought acupuncture yeilded best results over medication. How meesed up are the saliva glands? Different for everyone I suspect.

Accupuncture did not have major success. My saliva is better but just noticeably and I am not sure Accupuncture is responsible for it. My last treament was on the 7th of Nov 2011.

What was interesting about accupuncture was how the thick saliva glands stopped overproducing during my treatments. I expected the high production to stop but it was like over a couple of days that it became what I consider for normal. Can't say it was accupuncture but it seemed to be and gone quicker than I would expect from normal healing.

My mouth does have saliva as long as I do not breath through my mouth or talk too long. It is not enough to help eating... not much anyway.

It is not enough to keep me from waking up 2-3 times a night since my mouth tends to open when I sleep.

hisnibs · November 2009

Hondo said:
Hi mermaid52

Glad to see someone agrees with me about the process sugar thing, I had the same question doing a PET scan, I could not believe it what he told me they use radiated sugar water to help them see where the cancer is, because the Cancer fees on the sugar.

Also John Hopkins just did a report on how process sugar and cancer work together. Normal sugar we get in the things God has made is good for the body, but the process stuff is a killer.

I would like to know where you did your acupuncture, I live in Louisiana and there is no one here that I trust to do that.

Thanks

Korean Accupuncture
Never new it was available. As reported above, I got minimal results from chinese accupuncture. My doctor was confident that it would get better but at the same time didn't fkinch when I said there was little to no improvement. I still have some faith in Accupucture working for some. So if I can locate a korean practice I may have to try it.

How do I produce more saliva?

Comments

Discussion Boards