Drooling (Sialorrhea)

Drooling can be common in people with PD due to the inability to manage the flow of saliva in and around the mouth that is being produced by the salivary glands. This is due to disease progression and the slowing of the automatic swallowing reflex that normally clears saliva. There are some treatment options, which include medications that decrease the production of saliva: trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and hyoscyamine. The medication can also come in a patch format, or as a liquid drop to be placed under the tongue. Botulinum toxin injections may also assist the salivary glands by decreasing production of saliva and decreasing drooling.