title: A comparison of salivary substitutes versus a natural sialogogue (citric acid) in patients complaining of dry mouth as an adverse drug reaction: a clinical, randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare the efficacy of saliva substitutes and citric acid long-term therapy for oral dryness relief and unstimulated salivary flow in patients reporting drug-induced xerostomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients reporting drug-induced xerostomia were randomly subdivided into 3 groups and respectively administered artificial saliva, 3% citric acid, or distilled water in mouthwash 4 times a day for 30 days. Patients underwent measurement of unstimulated whole saliva before and after they finished therapy and were asked to note in a daily diary any symptomatologic changes 15 minutes and 1 hour after each daily intake of test solution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen minutes after solution intake, 12 patients (67%) belonging to the artificial saliva group, 9 (50%) from the citric acid group, and 2 (11%) from the water group reported significant symptomatologic improvement. One hour after solution intake, 7 patients (39%) from the artificial saliva group, 10 (56%) from the citric acid group, and 0 from the water group noted significant symptomatologic improvement. None of the drugs tested affected unstimulated whole saliva flow.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both artificial saliva and citric acid provided immediate relief from oral dryness. Citric acid also provided a longer-lasting feeling of oral moistness at 1 hour after use owing to its protracted activity on salivary gland function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Second University of Medicine and Surgery, Naples, Italy. femiano@libero.it
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Femiano
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rullo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: di Spirito
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cirillo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D019343:Citric Acid