Kd. Hunter et Ws. Wilson, THE EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS ON SALIVARY FLOW AND CONTENT OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM-IONS IN HUMAN PAROTID-SALIVA, Archives of oral biology, 40(11), 1995, pp. 983-989
Stimulated parotid saliva was collected, using the Carlson-Crittenden
cup, from normal controls and patients on antidepressant drugs. The sa
liva from patients using amitriptyline, dothiepin (tricyclics), fluoxe
tine and paroxetine (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors; SSRI) w
as analysed for flow rate, [Na+] and [K+], and was compared with that
from unmedicated, non-depressed volunteers for all variables. The tric
yclic antidepressants produced a significant reduction in how (amitrip
tyline, p < 0.01; dothiepin, p < 0.05), and consequent decrease in [Na
+] and increase in [K+]. These effects were presumably due to muscarin
ic receptor blockade. The SSRIs produced no significant change in thes
e variables. A prospective study of dothiepin in non-depressed patient
s confirmed that it decreases stimulated parotid flow. This finding al
so suggested that depression itself contributed little to the oral,dry
ness observed in and reported by the depressed patients. The patients'
subjective rating of oral dryness related well to a reduction in stim
ulated flow. This applied to those taking either tricyclics or SSRI, b
oth showing a reduced flow rate relative to control (p < 0.001 and p <
0.05, respectively). This amounted to a 58% reduction in flow rate in
the tricyclic group. The data suggest that measurement of stimulated
parotid salivary flow is a reliable indicator of drug-induced oral dry
ness.