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A 94 y/o friend has, over 3 years, lost her taste and appetite for solids. Will only eat soup, when we are there to serve her. I'm looking at causes for loss of saliva. She has had UTIs and suffers from mild dementia. I would like to get her saliva going again. She started taking a concoction of CBD/THC in coconut oil to help her sleep, about 3 years ago. Anybody have a similar experience?

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CBD, especially with THC, can BE the cause of this friend's dry mouth, 100%!!! Anyone who's ever used marijuana in any form, knows this to be a fact. Per Google:

"Dry Mouth. Also known as “cotton mouth,” CBD can potentially cause your mouth and eyes to feel very dry. Though this side effect is more likely to occur with THC, it can happen with CBD as well."

Furthermore, "CBD use also carries some risks. Though it's often well-tolerated, CBD can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue."

Not only can the CBD/THC be causing your friend the dry mouth, but ALSO the loss of appetite. If it were my family member, I'd get her OFF the CBD/THC immediately to see if her appetite and dry mouth situation improved.

The 'something obvious you're missing' here is the CBD/THC she's been taking for 3 years...........THAT is potentially the source of her issues right there.

There are lots of other ways to help with sleep problems OTHER than this concoction she's taking!
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there are products in the drug store to provide moisture in the mouth to imitate saliva. sour lemon or cherry candy sometimes stimulates some saliva.
at her age, a dry mouth and loss of appetite/interest in eating are very common. Brain deterioration in the areas related to appetite and smell/taste of foods is the cause. Dementia is an umbrella terms for various symptoms of brain disease that becomes more likely as a person reaches their 90s.
Eating is a social activity, if you do not experience hunger. Eating soup when someone is there to visit with her - and cuing her to eat - is routine. Part of it is a desire to please, often.
I wonder what her hopes/goals are for the next year or two of her life. She may just be less engaged in the world around her, now.
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I think the first step is to have her examined by a doctor who can determine if dysphagia is involved; that would explain why she's not eating solids.

Have you asked any medical person about causes for lessening of saliva? Is she eating prepared soups with high salt content?

It's kind of you to be concerned, but medical evaluation is more appropriate, especially given the disinterest in solids.
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hiker108 Mar 2022
Yes, her family, in town, has had her to a doctor a few times. But, family is not the best set of caretakers.
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You are correct. She will eat when we stop by to prepare soup. She is frustrated her lack of taste and the ability got masticate and get stuff down. I'm going to get a list of her meds. I just want to make sure we're not missing something obvious. She could eat like a horse within 2 years ago.

Thanks,
Ed
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