title: Determination of the efficacy of topical oral pilocarpine for postirradiation xerostomia in patients with head and neck carcinoma.
abstract: Pilocarpine hydrochloride suspended in a candy-like pastille was evaluated as a topical treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients. This local delivery system, which differs from systemically administered pilocarpine preparations, was developed to hopefully maximize the local response and minimize the systemic side effects. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to determine objective and subjective efficacy in reversing the decrease in salivation. Forty previously irradiated patients received increasingly higher pilocarpine dosages in pastilles for 5 successive weeks. At each successive dose of pilocarpine, no significant increased salivation was noted. However, 25 (74%) of 34 patients reported that pilocarpine alleviated their subjective xerostomia. Topical pilocarpine administration has shown similar results to previous systemic delivery methods for radiation-induced xerostomia, but with improved patient tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ohio State University Medical Center; Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Hamlar
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gahbauer
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Buerki
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Staubus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Elzinga
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012472:Salivation; D013997:Time Factors; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D010919:Placebos; D010862:Pilocarpine