Effect of a local anesthetic lozenge in relief of symptoms in burning mouth syndrome

Abstract

Objective Patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) often represent a clinical challenge as available agents for symptomatic treatment are few and often ineffective. The aim was to evaluate the effect of a bupivacaine lozenge on oral mucosal pain, xerostomia, and taste alterations in patients with BMS. Methods Eighteen patients (4 men and 14 women) aged 39–71 years with BMS were included in this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial. Lozenges (containing bupivacaine or placebo) were administrated three times a day for 2 weeks for two separate treatment periods. Assessment of oral mucosal pain, xerostomia, and taste alterations was performed in a patient diary on a visual analog scale (ranging from 0 to 100 mm) before and after the lozenge was dissolved. Results The bupivacaine lozenge significantly reduced the burning oral pain ( P < 0.001) , increased the sense of taste disturbances ( P < 0.001), and had no impact on xerostomia, when adjusted for the treatment period. Conclusions Our results indicate that the bupivacaine lozenge offers a novel therapeutic modality to patients with BMS, although without alleviating effect on the associated symptoms, taste alterations, and xerostomia.