A double-blind, randomized clinical study was undertaken to determine the
analgesic and antiinflammatory effectiveness of
benzydamine in patients with radiation-induced
mucositis of the oropharynx. Of the 67 patients in the study, 37 patients were on
benzydamine and 30 patients on a placebo. The results of the study showed that
benzydamine possessed a significant
analgesic activity as evidenced by relief of mouth and throat
pain induced by
radiation therapy. It is also noted that the patients on
benzydamine exhibited a cumulative relief of oral pharyngeal
pain and discomfort over the time of treatment, as compared to those on the placebo. These effects of
benzydamine in the present study might be a result of the antiinflammatory property of the
drug. The cumulative and prolonged effectiveness of
benzydamine makes it of distinct value compared with the commonly available local anaesthetics such as
lidocaine.
Benzydamine appears to provide a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for alleviating the symptoms of oral pharyngeal
mucositis.