- Objectives:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of topical clonazepam mouthwash in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS), a chronic idiopathic pain disorder that significantly affects quality of life.
- Methods:
A retrospective pilot study, lacked control group, was conducted on 30 patients clinically diagnosed with BMS and treated with clonazepam mouthwash (0.5 mg/5 mL solution, three times daily). Symptom severity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline and after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student’s t-test.
- Results:
The mean age of participants was 54.7 ± 8.9 years, with a female predominance (76.7%). The mean baseline VAS score of 7.8 ± 1.1 decreased significantly to 3.2 ± 1.4 after therapy (p < 0.001). Marked improvement was reported in 70% of patients, moderate benefit in 20%, and minimal change in 10%. Two patients (6.7%) experienced transient drowsiness, with no major adverse effects observed.
- Conclusion:
These findings contribute region-specific data from a South Asian cohort, an under-represented population in BMS research.Clonazepam mouthwash provided significant symptomatic relief with excellent tolerability, suggesting its potential as a safe, locally acting therapeutic option for BMS. Further large-scale, prospective studies are warranted to confirm efficacy and optimize treatment protocols for long-term management.