title: A double-blind study on clonazepam in patients with burning mouth syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (BMS), various approaches have been tried with equivocal results. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial was to determine the efficacy of clonazepam, a GABA agonist designed as an antiepileptic drug that exerts the typical effects of benzodiazepines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with idiopathic BMS were carefully selected. Clonazepam (0.5 mg/day, n = 10) or placebo (lactose, n = 10) were randomly assigned to the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients on clonazepam significantly improved in pain ratings (P < .001). These changes were less pronounced in the placebo group (P < .11). No significant changes were observed in a mood scale (P = .56) or for depression scores (P = .56). Taste test and salivary flow increased over sessions, but were not different between groups (P = .83 and P = .06, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clonazepam appears to have a positive effect on pain in BMS patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heckmann
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grushka
authors.forename: Manfred G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; D002998:Clonazepam