Intraoral stimulation of salivary secretion with the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine as a mouth spray: a pilot study in healthy volunteers.
Dry mouth produces a deterioration in oral health and impairs quality of life. There is a need for a novel approach to the pharmacological treatment of dry mouth. With a view to enhancing the cholinergic drive on minor salivary glands, whilst at the same time minimising adverse systemic effects, the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine was therefore sprayed, in a fixed volume, onto the oral mucosa of seven healthy subjects. Three concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 2%) were tested. The mean salivary output over time (0-105 min) was higher than that of placebo (p<0.05), as the area under the curve increased by 61%, 91% and 66% at physostigmine 0.5%, 1% and 2%, respectively. Two subjects experienced nausea at the highest physostigmine concentration, thus reflecting systemic effects. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration were unaffected by the physostigmine treatment.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Box 431, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, SE-413 90 Göteborg, Sweden.
Nina
N
Khosravani
Jörgen
J
Ekström
Dowen
D
Birkhed
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000187:drug effects; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010830:Physostigmine