Since
most drug reactions occur within 1 to 2 weeks following initiation of therapy,
reactions seen after 2 weeks are less likely to be due to medication use. Some
reactions are dependent on dosage or cumulative toxicity. The majority of drug-induced
oral reactions are moderate in severity. However, severe reactions necessitate
rapid withdrawal of the suspected drug. In most cases, the oral reaction will
be resolved by symptomatic treatment. Readministration of the offending drug
helps to establish whether the oral eruption is drug-induced. Reactions after
rechallenge may be more severe and, therefore, rechallenge should not be performed
without medical supervision. Many clients take multiple medications; therefore,
dentists must be aware of the issues related to drug use including indications,
interactions, and adverse drug effects. The ability to evaluate these issues
is necessary to accurately assess client status and prevent situations that
compromise client safety. Oral side effects interfere with client function and
increase risks for infection, pain, and possible tooth loss. It has been reported
the most frequent side-effects of drugs are xerostomia, dysgeusia, and stomatitis.
As a final note, rapid progress in
pharmacotherapeutics requires clinicians to constantly update their knowledge
of drugs used by their patients. Attention must be paid to their toxic and unwanted
effects that in many cases may be similar to characteristics of common diseases.
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| Page 20 of 22 | |
| Citation Number: Vol. 4, No. 1, Page 029 |
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