title: Treatment of radiation side effects with oral pilocarpine.
abstract: Radiation therapy is commonly utilized either alone or in combination with surgery in the treatment of malignancies arising in the upper aerodigestive tract. Frequent post-treatment sequelae include xerostomia, dysgeusia, and dysphagia. Numerous commercial products designed to decrease these symptoms have not been uniformly successful. This pilot study was designed to evaluate prospectively oral pilocarpine as a means of stimulating minor and major salivary gland flow to eradicate these radiation-induced symptoms. The results of this pilot study support the hypothesis that the salivary glands are capable of responding to oral pilocarpine, and this therapeutic approach warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gahbauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D010862:Pilocarpine