Postmenopausal women and burning mouth
Over 1 million American adults, mostly postmenopausal women, are afflicted
with a debilitating condition called burning mouth syndrome or BMS. This
condition is often a chronic condition with an unknown cause.
In the past, it was believed to be caused by emotional, depressive neuroses,
but recent research has found that it may be caused by a physical condition. The syndrome has been found to be more intense in the morning and reaches
its painful peak at night, causing the patient to have poor sleep.
At the Case Western Reserve University, Miriam Grushka, an associate
professor of oral diagnosis at the CWRU Dental School, conducted studies
with a drug in the benzodiazepine family called Clonazepam. This drug
is most often used as an anticonvulsant. Studies were performed on 30
patients where 43% said they reported partial to complete relief when
using the medication. Twenty-seven percent found the medication helpful
while using it but quit due to its side effects, most notably drowsiness. Thirty percent found no relief at all.
Grushka continues to study the medication which appears promising.
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