Antidepressant-induced Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Unique Case

ABSTRACT

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is defined as a chronic orofacial pain syndrome, without evidence of mucosal lesions and other clinical signs of disease or laboratory abnormalities. Patients with BMS complain of burning pain in the mouth, xerostomia and taste disturbances. It is more common among women and the median age of occurrence is about 60 years. BMS may be primary or secondary to other diseases. The mainstay in the treatment of BMS includes antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and anticonvulsants. A few cases of BMS caused due to medication have been reported. The causative drugs include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticoagulants, antipsychotics, antiretrovirals, and benzodiazepines. This is a case report of a patient on antidepressants who developed symptoms of BMS thereby causing a dilemma in management.