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Published on: January 25, 2018
Major salivary gland output differs between users and non-users of specific medication categories
Andy Wolff1, Limor Zuk-Paz, Ilana Kaplan
1Saliwell Ltd, Harutzim, Israel. awolff@saliwell.com
Background:
The intake of medications is a major aetiologic factor of xerostomia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the selective influence of medication categories on flow rates of individual major salivary glands.
Methods:
The effect of each medication category on salivary flow rates was determined by dichotomy comparisons between users and non-users. A total of 246 patients were included, 79 males and 167 females aged 13-92 years (mean 63 years). Of these, 200 used medications, which were grouped according to their category. A comprehensive medical and oral examination was performed. Both unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected separately from the parotid and submandibular/sublingual glands.
Results:
Parotid flow rate was decreased among users of tranquillisers and sedatives (unstimulated flow), cardiovascular drugs and gastrointestinal drugs (stimulated flow). Submandibular/sublingual unstimulated output was lower in patients taking cardiovascular drugs, antihistamines, tranquillisers/sedatives and antidepressants, while the stimulated flow, in those taking cardiovascular drugs, antihistamines, tranquillisers/sedatives and gastrointestinal drugs.
Conclusions:
Users of many common medication categories display significantly reduced unstimulated and/or stimulated salivary flow rate from the major salivary glands compared with non-users. A larger number of medication categories are associated with reductions in salivary flow rate from submandibular/sublingual glands than parotid glands.
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