title: A comparison of artificial saliva and pilocarpine in radiation-induced xerostomia.
abstract: Twenty patients with radiation-induced xerostomia were entered into a prospective randomized crossover study comparing a mucin-based artificial saliva (Saliva Orthana) and a mouthwash containing pilocarpine (5 mg three times a day). Overall the patients found that the pilocarpine mouthwash was more effective than the artificial saliva in relieving their symptoms (p = 0.04), and 47 per cent of the patients wanted to continue with this treatment after the study had finished.
authors.affiliation: South East London Radiotherapy Department, St Thomas' Hospital, London.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D010862:Pilocarpine