Trazodone in burning mouth pain: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

AIMS

An 8-week parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial evaluated the efficacy of the antidepressant trazodone in the treatment of chronic burning mouth pain.

METHODS

Thirty-seven carefully selected women aged 39 to 71 (mean 58.6 years) were randomized to receive either 200 mg of trazodone or a placebo in a similar manner. Pain and pain-related symptoms were evaluated on a visual analogue scale and other measures at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the groups in treatment effects for pain or pain-related symptoms. Seven patients in the trazodone group and 2 in the placebo group failed to complete the trial because of side effects. The most common side effects were dizziness and drowsiness.

CONCLUSION

In this controlled trial, trazodone failed to relieve burning mouth pain.