Drug induced xerostomia in elderly individuals: An institutional study.
BACKGROUND
With better health care facilities and nutritional levels the average life expectancy of Indian population has been on the rise over the years. Most of the geriatric population is under long-term medication.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of multiple xerostomia drugs.


METHODS
Unstimulated saliva was measured in 60 geriatric patients, and xerostomia questionnaire and quality-of-life scale were also administered.


RESULTS
There was a very highly significant reduction in the salivary flow rates of patients under multiple xerostomia-inducing drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
The synergistic effect of the xerostomia inducing medication could be the possible factor responsible for reduced salivary flow in elderly individuals using such drugs.
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shishir Ram
SR
Shetty
Sunanda
S
Bhowmick
Renita
R
Castelino
Subhas
S
Babu