A 75-year-old woman has been prescribed amitriptyline hydrochloride to manage neuropathic pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. She reports to the nurse that her pain level has decreased from a 7 to a 3 on a scale of 1–10. However, she is experiencing severe xerostomia. Which of the following strategies should the nurse choose to help relieve this symptom?
ExplanationStrategies to reduce xerostomia (dry mouth) include increasing fluid intake and chewing sugar-free gum.