title: Effects of chlorhexidine/benzydamine mouth spray on pain and quality of life in acute viral pharyngitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.
abstract: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to assess the efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate/benzydamine HCl mouth spray for reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. Prior to treatment, patients rated the intensity of their pain on a visual analog scale and evaluated their quality of life on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Patients were then randomized to receive either paracetamol (acetaminophen) plus chlorhexidine/benzydamine or paracetamol plus placebo for 7 days. On days 3 and 7 of treatment, the participants again rated the intensity of their pain, and on day 7, they again rated their quality of life. A total of 164 patients were evaluable at study's end-80 in the chlorhexidine/benzydamine group and 84 in the control group. A comparison of self-evaluations revealed that the active treatment group reported less pain on both day 3 (p < 0.001) and day 7 (p = 0.002). Likewise, the chlorhexidine/benzydamine group reported a significantly better quality of life on day 7 (p < 0.001). Chlorhexidine/benzydamine was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cingi
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Songu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ural
authors.forename: Muzeyyen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Nagehan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erdogmus
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bal
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001591:Benzydamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D001591:Benzydamine; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine