[Oral effects of systemic medication in elderly]

Though less common than those affecting the skin, adverse drug reactions involving the mouth are quite ferquent. Often there's a high index of suspicion in the diagnosis of these reactions, as they can mimic other disease states such as aphtae, swelling, erythema multiforme or xerostomia. The reactions are often non-specific, but they may mimic specific disease states such as erythema multiforme, lichen planus and pemphigus. Other reactions such as gingival hyperplasia secondary to the administration of phenytoins, nifedipine or cyclosporine are well known and quite characteristic. The pathogenic mechanisms of oral rections to drug administration are similar to those causing adverse drug reactions in the skin. To diagnose such a condition, the clinical interview is a helpful aid to the diagnosis of the adverse drug reaction affecting the mouth and a careful drug history, including identification of any prescription, or herbal medicines used, is needed.