Clinical Effects of Gargling Loperamide Liquid for Oral Mucositis Caused by Cancer Chemotherapy

Objective Loperamide is used as an antidiarrheal agent. However, loperamide also has peripheral effects, because the opioid μ receptors show an analgesic effect, which has been reported to occur in the oral mucosa. Therefore, we examined the effects of treatment with a low dose of loperamide gargle liquid on oral mucositis in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy compared to lidocaine gargle liquid. Methods Twenty two patients who developed oral mucositis due to cancer chemotherapy divided these patients into two equal groups who agreed to treat the loperamide gargle liquid （0.005％）and the lidocaine gargle liquid（1％）, restrictively. We asked the subjects to answer questions about the use of the oral rinse on mucositis. In addition, we observed patientʼs dietary intake, evaluation of pain due to oral mucositis, body weight, and side effects. Results Gargling the loperamide liquid increased the dietary intake significantly, and decreased the mouth pain significantly on day 3 after starting to use the gargle liquid compared to patient gargling lidocaine liquid. In addition, the loperamide liquid group was significantly inhibited the body weight loss after gargling the liquid for ten days. Side effects such as mouth numbness and constipation were not found in the loperamide group. Conclusion The present study suggests that gargling the loperamide liquid may be useful for treating oral mucositis.