Pain-relieving effects of clonazepam and amitriptyline in burning mouth syndrome: a retrospective study

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2017 Nov;46(11):1505-1511. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2017.03.032. Epub 2017 May 2.

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of clonazepam and amitriptyline in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). A single-centre retrospective cohort study was performed among patients diagnosed with BMS. Either clonazepam or amitriptyline was administered. Patients were asked to evaluate their pain using a 10-point verbal numerical scale (VNS) at baseline, and at 6 weeks and 3 months of treatment. Mean pain-relief values were assessed according to the treatment received using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Thirty-nine patients (85% female) were included. The mean age was 65±10.5years. The mean VNS score at baseline was 7.1±2.0 in patients treated with clonazepam and 7.5±1.1 in those treated with amitriptyline. The mean VNS scores in the clonazepam and amitriptyline groups were 4.9±2.4 and 6.1±2.6, respectively, after 6 weeks of treatment (P=0.498) and 4.4±2.0 and 4.1±2.7, respectively, after 3 months (P=0.509). There was no difference between the two treatments in terms of pain reduction. Clonazepam as well as amitriptyline may be an effective treatment for BMS.

Keywords: amitriptyline; burning mouth syndrome; clonazepam; stomatodynia.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amitriptyline / therapeutic use*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / therapeutic use*
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Clonazepam / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • GABA Modulators / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • GABA Modulators
  • Amitriptyline
  • Clonazepam