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A clinical trial of bethanechol in patients with xerostomia after radiation therapy. A pilot study
J B Epstein1, J L Burchell, S Emerton
1Division of Oral Medicine and Clinical Dentistry, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract:
The effects of bethanechol in the treatment of dry mouth were assessed in patients with xerostomia after radiation therapy to the head and neck. Bethanechol possesses muscarinic and nicotinic-cholinergic activity that likely accounts for its mode of action. Bethanechol (25 mg, three times daily) was not associated with significant side effects. Statistically significant increases in whole resting saliva (p = 0.003) and whole stimulated saliva (p = 0.001) were seen. In patients with pretreatment stimulated saliva volumes greater than resting saliva volumes, a positive response to subsequent use of the sialagogue was seen.