A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF YOHIMBINE AND ANETHOLTRITHIONE ON SALIVARY SECRETION IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS TREATED WITH PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUGS

Objective: The present study compares the effects of yohimbine, an alp ha(2) adrenoceptor antagonist, and anetholtrithione, a reference drug in the treatment of dry mouth, in patients treated with psychotropic d rugs (tricyclic antidepressants or neuroleptics) and suffering from xe rostomia. Methods: Ten patients were included in a randomized, double- blind, cross-over study, and receiving after yohimbine (3 x 6 mg per d ay) or anetholtrithione (3 x 25 mg per day) orally for 5 days. Salivar y secretion was estimated under resting conditions, before any drug, a nd then on day 6, 1 h after the ingestion of yohimbine or anetholtrith ione. Results: Compared with basal secretion, the increase in salivary flow was significantly more marked after yohimbine than after anethol trithione. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the sialogenic effect o f yohimbine in drug-induced dry mouth.