Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (ALTENS) for Xerostomia

The most commonly reported [causes of xerostomia are dry mouth and excessive salivation] were: smoking (39%), medication (32%), and stress (17%). None of these factors could be linked to the condition directly.

Xerostomia is an early marker of a compromised quality of life with multiple adverse consequences. This condition can be treated only after the full clinical picture is known. The signs of xerostomia are: dry mouth (xerosis), burning mouth, parasthesias, and hypertrichosis. An improvement in the patients' quality of life can be achieved only if xerostomia is treated as a full-blown oral disease.

Xerostomia may be cured after successful treatment of the underlying psychiatric disorder. The lack of cure of xerostomia after such treatment might be a useful clinical marker of the success of the underlying disease.

The most common treatment for xerostomia is the use of moisturizers. Other solutions may include mouthwash, chewing gum, and oral rinses. In severe cases topical medications may be used.

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a symptom commonly associated with cancer, particularly in those with salivary gland cancer. Xerostomia is not exclusive solely to any particular cancer or malignancy. It can affect any person undergoing any oral-maxillofacial-health-related diagnostic procedure, and is often misinterpreted as a symptom indicative of oral cancer. Xerostomia is commonly associated with salivary gland carcinomas such as carcinomas of the parotid, submandibular gland, and minor salivary gland. It can also become associated for carcinomas of the tongue, nasal cavity, and esophagus, and can serve as a marker for many metastatic malignancies.

The prevalence of dry mouth, as it pertains to postmenopause, is 2.4% in the United States. In a number of instances, patients who seek for medical help can be treated using oral rehydration therapy and/or topical antibiotics and anti-cholinergic agents.

Our preliminary data suggest that TEstim does not pose a safety concern for most patients relative to usual care and should no longer be classified as contraindicated; however, it is likely prudent to not perform treatments on patients with history of severe bleeding or bruising as this may be a transient but potentially serious side effect of treatment.

Findings from a recent study here show strong support for the use of acupuncture as a treatment for patients with symptomatic xerostomia. As patients were not randomized and compliance with the placebo (transcutaneous electrical stimulation for ten minutes) is very low, no conclusions regarding its effect on treatment of patients with symptomatic xerostomia can be drawn from the study. This trial has not been registered due to the fact that the trial would be of no value to patients because their progress could not be measured.

This is the first report of the safety and tolerability profile of ALTS in a cohort of patients on various psychotropic medications. There was no exacerbation of existing psychotropic conditions or clinically evident adverse side effects.

It seems there are no new discoveries for treating xerostomia\n\nThe following list of medications are not recommended to treat SIBO, and therefore they are considered ineffective by the AAO/EASO, or do not qualify as a treatment under the National Institute for Health and Healthcare Excellence (NICE) guidelines. These medications or preparations are not prescribed to people with SIBO under the guidance of the Australian Government.\n\n- Abilify, an atypical antipsychotic.\n- Sulfoquine tablets are an antimalarial drug that may be ineffective or potentially harmful.

The treatment effect of transcutaneous electric stimulation (Altens) was significantly greater than a placebo. The beneficial effect for transcutaneous electrostimulation for a subgroup of patients with a high baseline intensity of xerostomia (≥40 units) should be further validated by randomized clinical trials.