Yes, RA can cause dry mouth and eyes. It can be because of the RA alone, or becuase of Sjogrens Syndrome, which often accompanies RA (it's another autoimmune disease).

I do have Sjogrens as well as RA and have a nasty dry mouth---it's caused me to have many cavities. Of course, I'm sure the vast amount of chocolate I'm consuming isn't exactly helping the situation!

There is a support group for Sjogrens here on DS too...

Hi Luckyks, I have terrible dry mouth too from all of the medications. I found a toothpaste called BreathRX and it works really well. It is a little expensive, $10, but is worth it. Even still, I am always chomping on ice or freeze pops to soothe the dryness. The only time the toothpaste doesn't help as well is when I am on Prednisone. I don't know why. Good luck!

I've just developed full-time dry mouth. I've had it occasionally, but recently, my eyes have gone from very dry to super dry, so I bought a diagnosis od Sjgren's ($25 US insurance copay).

However, you mentioned long-standing sore throat, and I also have that. I have had full-time post nasal drip and runny nose ever since I developed RA, as well. I'm having a heck of a time getting anyone to give me a conclusive answer, but I'm associating the sore throat with RA. Just last night (maybe the night before), I drank some lemonade around 11:30 pm. and I immediately felt it irritate my throat. Moments later, I started developing a throatload of mucus. My nose was running non-stop, and my PND was going crazy. I had just awakened, after being asleep for about an hour, and it's common for me to get a sore throat from my PND, which is related to my runny nose (rhinitis), which started with my RA, in the house that Jack built.

So, YES, in answer to your question.

Good luck. You seem terribly young to have RA, but my hunch is that you will beat it. Do you have a good rheumatologist? At 20 mg, you're getting close to the usual upper limit of methotrexate, so if you're feeling it's not doing the job, you're probably right. I hope you can have good conversations with him/her.

Thankyou all for your replies. I will ask my rheumy about the Sjogrens. I will also see if I can get that toothpaste as I live in UK so not sure if it is available over here.

I am questioning if the 20mg mtx is working for me as I have alot of doubts. I have been on it for 11 months so that is plenty of time for it to take affect but it must not be the right thing for me.

Hi, I live in the UK too. There is a mouthwash
you can get, its called Boots Dry Mouth Mouthwash/Mouth Rinse (or something very similar) Its Boots's own make and you will find it amongst all the other regular mouthwashes. Its in a clear bottle and looks like water. but its really good. Its not that expensive. I bought it a couple of months back, before my RA was diagnosed as I was getting a dry mouth, but put it down to the fact I have to talk a lot to customers at work, but maybe it has something to do with RA. I didnt think it would work as being a mouthwash you have to spit it out! but it did work. Hope this helps

lizzie 7