Oral glycopyrrolate alleviates drooling in a patient with tongue cancer.
Although sialorrhea and drooling are uncommon symptoms in cancer patients, they can cause considerable discomfort, inconvenience and social embarrassment. In this article we describe a patient with tongue cancer who was successfully treated with oral glycopyrrolate 0.4 mg 3 times daily. Glycopyrrolate is a quaternary ammonium compound. In contrast to the recommended treatment with scopolamine, glycopyrrolate is virtually without side effects to the central nervous system because it penetrates the blood-brain barrier poorly. Glycopyrrolate has a slow and erratic absorption from the gastrointestinal system, but even low plasma levels are associated with a distinct and long-lasting antisialogic effect.
Olsen
A K
AK
Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sjøgren
P
P
D005260:Female; D006024:Glycopyrrolate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D006024:Glycopyrrolate