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Sublingual administration of atropine eyedrops in children with excessive drooling – a pilot study
Author(s) -
Norderyd Johanna,
Graf Jonas,
Marcusson Agneta,
Nilsson Karolina,
Sjöstrand Eva,
Steinwall Gunilla,
Ärleskog Elinor,
Bågesund Mats
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12219
Subject(s) - drooling , medicine , atropine , anesthesia , sialorrhea , surgery
Background Drooling can be a severe disability and have high impact on daily life. Reversible treatment is preferable. Aim To analyse whether sublingual administration of atropine eyedrops is a useful reversible treatment option for severe drooling in children with disabilities. Design The study had a prospective, single‐system research design. The participants served as their own controls. The study period was 3 weeks without treatment, 4 weeks with atropine eyedrop solution 10 mg/mL one drop a day followed by 4 weeks of one drop twice a day. Parents’ rating of their child's drooling was assessed on a 100‐mm VAS , and unstimulated salivary secretion rate measurement was performed together with notations about side effects and practicality. Results Parents’ VAS assessment of drooling decreased from a median (range) of 74 (40–98) at baseline to 48 (18–88) ( P = 0.05) and 32 (12–85) ( P = 0.004) after 4 weeks of atropine once a day and another 4 weeks of atropine twice a day, respectively ( n = 11). Unstimulated salivary secretion rates decreased from baseline to end of study ( P = 0.032). Several parents complained about difficult administration. No irreversible side effects were noted. Conclusions Sublingual atropine eyedrops may be an alternative for treatment of severe drooling in children with disabilities.