The Effect of Citalopram and Colonazpam on Burning Mouth Syndrome

Statement of problem: Psychosocial factors are thought to play a role in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and several therapeutic approaches for BMS are based on this consideration. Purpose: This paper evaluated the efficacy of the combined systemic administration of citalopram and clonazepam, as anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs, in the management of burning mouth syndrome and reduction of the burning sensation. Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional study, 80 subjects suffering from idiopathic burning mouth syndrome were enrolled. The patients underwent a thorough clinical examination. Oral symptoms before and after treatment were assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale. The mean duration of burning in our patients was 7 months. Systemic combination of citalopram (20 mg/daily) and clonazpam (0.25 mg/daily) was prescribed for all of them for 8 weeks. Then, the data were analysed, using Student’s t-test. Results: Of the 62 patients who completed the protocol, 38 reported complete remission of the oral burning sensation. However, 20 patients reported a little improvement, and four of them reported no improvement. Conclusion: These data suggest that citaloperam with colonazpam is effective in patients with BMS