Adverse reactions caused by drugs in the oral cavity of the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: The individuals with advanced age are the ones who consume the greatest number of medications and, as consequence, adverse reactions to these drugs often occur, including in the oral cavity. Objective: These drug-related manifestations deserve attention of health professionals so that they are properly diagnosed and actions are taken to reduce or eliminate them. Material and methods: In this article, we reviewed original articles, published from 2000 to 2018, reporting these reactions in elderly patients. Articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish were searched, using terms relevant to the topic, published online in the CAPES journals databases. The articles were selected after reading their titles and summaries and, then, the complete articles. Results: Among the 12 articles showing adverse drug reactions in the oral cavity of the elderly, we had: 6 (50%) with xerostomia and its consequences; 2 (17%) with oral ulcerations consequent to the use of nicorandil; 2 (17%) with osteonecrosis of the mandible (bisphosphonate and bevacizumab, one in each); and 1 (8.3%) with ageusia (associated with romidepsin) and 1 (8.3%) with oral candidiasis (associated with inhaled corticosteroids). Conclusion: The elderly require increased attention during medical consultations and dental procedures, due to the association of different chronic diseases and the continuous use of several medications. There is a need for a greater number of publications focusing on this theme in this age group, especially in those longevous senior individuals.