Pharmacology

Question 1

What medications can be taken to treat xerostomia?

Answer 1

Pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac), cholinergic drugs that stimulate serous salivary flow

Question 2

What are ppl with xerostomia more at risk for and why?

Answer 2

The ecosystem becomes unbalanced, the proportions of pathogenic and opportunistic organisms increase. Therefore the person is at greater risk for gingivitis, periodontitis, and both viral and fungal infections. People with xerostomia greatly benefit from the use of daily Chlorhexidine and essential oil mouth rinses that have demonstrated efficacy against periodontal pathogens and fungal organisms

Question 3

What medications cause drug induced gingival enlargement?

Answer 3

Phenytoin (Dilantin) (seizure medication), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) (organ transplant antirejection drug),
Calcium channel blockers (antihypertensives)