title: [Oral premedication with clonidine as an alternative in dental practice. The effects on the pain threshold, blood pressure and salivary flow].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been recently shown to be effective in conscious sedation because of its analgesic and sedative properties, having also proven to be active in reducing neuroendocrine responses to stressful stimuli perioperatively. The current study was designed to investigate the efficacy of 150 micrograms oral clonidine as a premedicant in dentistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial, 40 patients, aged 16-64 yr, undergoing conservative, or prosthetic, or dental surgery procedures, received placebo (n = 20) or 150 micrograms of oral clonidine (n = 20) 90 min before the estimated time of induction of local anesthesia. A blinded observer recorded: salivary flow, systolic and diastolic blood pressure each 30 min lasting 2-3 hours, as well as the degree of pain and sedation intra and postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clonidine produced significant salivary flow reduction (p < 0.001) and sedation (p < 0.001) as well as significant difference in postoperative pain scores (p < 0.05) compared to placebo. Xerostomia persisted postoperatively in clonidine premedicated patients as compared to those given the placebo (p < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly only after 120 (p < 0.01) and 150 min (p < 0.001) following clonidine pretreatment, but none of the patients were treated for hypotension. 55% of the clonidine treated patients positively evaluated the experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that a dose of 150 micrograms of clonidine, given orally 90 min preoperatively, is an effective premedication in dentistry, without causing excessive haemodynamic depression and sedation, and moreover confirm that the oral route of administration is very well accepted.
authors.affiliation: Corso di Laurea in Odontoiatria e Protesi Dentaria, Insegnamento di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi, L'Aquila.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fanini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poglio
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iovinelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antenucci
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000700:Analgesics; D003000:Clonidine
vernacular_title: La premedicazione orale con clonidina come alternativa nella pratica odontoiatrica. Effetti sulla soglia del dolore, pressione sanguigna e flusso salivare.