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ROCHESTER, Minn., USA: Painful inflammation of the oral mucosa that manifests as erythema or ulcerations, also called oral mucositis, is a common side effect of radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. According to the findings of a recently published study, doxepin hydrochloride, a drug usually used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, could help reduce radiotherapy-induced oral pain in these patients.
In order to test the efficacy of doxepin in the reduction of pain due to oral mucositis, 155 head and neck cancer patients were given either a doxepin oral rinse or a placebo. The participants received a single dose of the respective oral rinse on day one and received the opposite agent the following day.
Overall, patients experienced greater mouth and throat pain reduction with doxepin, according to the study. Although doxepin use was also associated with more stinging or burning, an unpleasant taste, and greater drowsiness than the placebo rinse, a significant number of patients expressed a desire to continue treatment.
However, further studies are needed to determine the role of doxepin in oral mucositis management, the researchers concluded.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, the majority of oral cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in combination with radiation will experience at least some degree of mucositis. It begins 5–10 days after the initiation of chemotherapy and can last up to six weeks or more.
The study, titled "Doxepin Rinse Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Acute Oral Mucositis Pain in Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiotherapy With or Without Chemotherapy: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial (NCCTG-N09C6 [Alliance])," was published online on April 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology ahead of print. It was conducted at the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Mayo Clinic, a U.S. nonprofit medical practice and medical research group.
