Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) Therapy

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Dry Mouth & Stomatitis

There are many factors that can interfere with the ability to eat when a person is receiving chemotherapy. Malnutrition may result, yet it is often preventable. Our pharmacy can compound medications to help combat mouth tenderness and infections, which may enable patients to enjoy eating again.


Cancer. 2002 Nov 15;95(10):2230-6
Effect of topical morphine [mouthwash] for mucositis-associated pain following concomitant chemoradiotherapy for head and neck carcinoma.
Cerchietti LC, Navigante AH, Bonomi MR, Zaderajko MA, Menendez PR, Pogany CE, Roth BM.
Supportive Care Division, Department of Medical Oncology, Angel H. Roffo Cancer Institute, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


A three-drug mouthwash (lidocaine, diphenhydramine and sodium bicarbonate in normal saline) can provide effective symptomatic relief in patients with chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Support Care Cancer. 2000 Jan;8(1):55-8
Efficacy of treatment to relieve mucositis-induced discomfort.
Turhal NS, Erdal S, Karacay S.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Loss of saliva (xerostomia) is one of the most common complaints among patients who have received radiation therapy of the head and neck. Xerostomia contributes to radiation-induced periodontal infection, dental caries, osteoradionecrosis, and poor digestion of carbohydrates. Ask us about sialogogues (saliva stimulants) in customized dosage forms.

The following article discusses the benefits of using pilocarpine in a sustained release dosage form to treat xerostomia.

Yakugaku Zasshi. 1997 Jan;117(1):59-64
[Preparation and evaluation of solid dispersions of pilocarpine hydrochloride for alleviation of xerostomia]
[Article in Japanese] Oda M, Sato M, Yagi N, Ohno K, Miyazaki S, Watanabe S, Takada M.

Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

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