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Effectiveness of pilocarpine in postradiation xerostomia
Author(s) -
Greenspan Deborah,
Daniels Troy E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19870315)59:6<1123::aid-cncr2820590614>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - medicine , pilocarpine , general surgery , dentistry , psychiatry , epilepsy
Pilocarpine and placebo tablets were administered for 90 day periods in a double‐blind, sequential crossover trial to 12 patients with postradiation xerostomia. Salivary flow was measured by two techniques, symptomatic change and adverse side effects were also recorded. Nine of the 12 patients showed marked improvement by two or more criteria while taking pilocarpine. None of the 12 patients showed meaningful improvement while on placebo. Side effects were minimal and easily controlled. These results show that pilocarpine is effective in relieving the signs and symptoms of postradiation xerostomia. Cancer 59:1123‐1125, 1987.