Drinking fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids, 8–10 glasses a day, is beneficial in many ways (remember, coffee and tea are dehydrating, so they don’t provide as much fluid as other drinks). It is an essential part of a healthy diet and helps to relieve constipation.

Dry mouth is another problem associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) that can be eased by drinking more fluids, taking frequent sips of water, sucking ice chips or using a mouth spray or oral rinse (pharmacists sell these specifically for dry mouth). Sucking a sweet, or chewing gum, can also help to produce more saliva and relieve a dry mouth.

Unless the doctor advises otherwise, the drinking of moderate amounts of alcohol is allowed in people receiving PD medication.