Elderly Xerostomia Cause — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: B — Use of multiple xerogenic medicines
The correct answer is B. Medication use is the most common cause of xerostomia in older adults, particularly when several xerogenic medicines are taken. Risk relates to the cumulative xerogenic or anticholinergic burden rather than to medication count alone. Physiological ageing may alter salivary gland structure or saliva composition, but ageing alone does not usually account for clinically significant xerostomia. Dehydration can produce transient oral dryness, while Sjögren disease and previous head and neck radiotherapy are important causes in affected individuals but are much less prevalent in the general older population. Medicines associated with dry mouth include antimuscarinics, antidepressants and antihistamines, although xerogenic medicines do not all act through an anticholinergic mechanism.
Reference: Hayslett RL, Marshall LL. Management of Dry Mouth. Senior Care Pharmacist. 2025;40(2):55-63. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39891324/