Assessment of the use of sialogogues in the clinical management of patients with xerostomia

Nita Chainani-Wu*, Meir Gorsky, Priscilla Mayer, Alan Bostrom, Joel B. Epstein, Sol Silverman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of pilocarpine, bethanechol and cevimeline in patients with xerostomia. In this open-label crossover assessment in 20 patients with xerostomia, a one- to two-week course of each medication with a one-week washout period was prescribed. Side effects, symptoms, whole stimulated and unstimulated saliva were measured. Each sialogogue was found to increase saliva and decrease symptoms. A mixed-effects analysis showed a greater increase in stimulated saliva on bethanechol compared to pilocarpine (0.106, p=0.0272). Increased sweating was the most common side effect, experienced more frequently with pilocarpine as compared to bethanechol (p=0.0588) or cevimeline (p= 0.0143). A carryover effect beyond the washout period was seen. Effects on saliva and side effects vary between sialogogues, suggesting a benefit of trials with different sialogogues to determine individual patient preference. The observed carryover effect suggests that intermittent treatment may be an alternative to continuous treatment with sialogogues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-170
Number of pages7
JournalSpecial Care in Dentistry
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchT32DE007204

    Keywords

    • Bethanechol
    • Cevimeline
    • Dry mouth
    • Pilocarpine
    • Sialogogue
    • Xerostomia

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