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CompletedNCT02382029ACUCLONBMSUpdated Mar 6, 2015

Acupuncture Versus Clonazepam in Burning Mouth Syndrome

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Clonazepam and acupuncture in Burning Mouth Syndrome, sponsored by University of Zagreb. Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-03-06.

Sponsored by University of Zagreb · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
4
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Objective: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is chronic oral condition characterized with burning symptoms which affects perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. It seems that neuropathy might be the underlying cause of the condition. There are still insufficient data regarding successful therapy. The aim of this study was to compare efficacy of acupuncture and clonazepam in 42 BMS patients (38 women, 4 men), age range 66.7±12 years.

Methods: Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Acupuncture was performed in group I during four weeks, 3 times per week on the points ST 8, GB 2, TB 21, SI 19, SI 18, LI 4 on both sides of the body as well as GV 20, each session lasted half an hour.Group II patients took clonazepam two times a day (0.5 mg) in the morning and after two weeks two tablets (0.5 mg) in the morning and in the evening during the next two weeks. Prior to and one month after either therapy, participants fulfilled questionnaires: visual analogue scale, Beck depression inventory, LANSS pain scale, 36-item short form Health Survey (SF-36) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analysis was performed by use of Student t test and Pearson's correlation test. P values lower than 0.05 were considered significant.

Read the detailed description

This study was approved by Ethical Committee of the School of dentistry in Zagreb. Prior to the study every participant signed informed consent according to the Helsinki II. All patient were recruited from the Department of Oral medicine, School of dentistry in Zagreb.

Patients were randomized by simple randomization method- flipping a coin (heads - acupuncture, tails - clonazepam).

Inclusion criteria were symptoms of burning in the oral cavity with clinically healthy appearance of the oral mucosa. Burning symptoms were continuous throughout the day and lasted for more than 6 months. Some of the patients also had hyposalivation and disturbed taste.

Prior to the either therapy as well as after the therapy (one month after the therapy has finished) every participant fulfilled following questionnaires: visual analogue scale (VAS) which referred to the severity of burning symptoms, Beck depression inventory (BDI), The Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS) Pain Scale, 36-item short form Health Survey (SF-36) total sum score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Arm (I) traditional Chinese acupuncture - performed 3 times during one week for four weeks on the points ST 8 (stomach- tou wei), GB 2, TE 21, SI 19 (small intestine- ting gong), SI 18 (small intestine- quan liao), LI 4 (large intestine-Yuan) on both sides of the body as well as GV 20 (Governing vessel-bai hui) and each session lasted half an hour. We used sterile acupuncture needles from surgical stainless steel silicone coated with spring handle, the dimensiones of the chosen needles were 0.25 in diameter and 30 mm lenght, inserted at the depht of the 0.5-1 cun. The elicited response was of the type "de qi" accompanied by redness and a feeling of numbness around the needles.

Arm (II) Clonazepam - patients took clonazepam two times a day (0.5 mg) in the morning and after two weeks one tablet (0.5 mg) in the morning and another tablet (0.5 mg) in the evening during the next two weeks.

Statistical analysis was performed by use of Student t test and Pearson's correlation test. P values lower than 0.05 were considered significant.

02

Conditions studied

  • Burning Mouth Syndrome
03

In context

Burning Mouth Syndrome

44 studies on the registry are indexed under Burning Mouth Syndrome; 6 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 4 is below the median of 42 across 35 interventional studies indexed under Burning Mouth Syndrome.

Browse Burning Mouth Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Zagreb is the lead sponsor of 67 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Clinical diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome Clinically normal appearance of oral mucosa Must be able to swallow tablets

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Oral mucosal lesions Anemia

05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Investigator)
Enrollment
4 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    clonazepam

    Twenty two patients took clonazepam two times a day (0.5 mg) in the morning and after two weeks one tablet (0.5 mg) in the morning and another tablet (0.5 mg) in the evening during the next two weeks.

    Drug: Clonazepam

  • Experimental
    acupuncture

    Traditional Chinese acupuncture was performed on 20 participants 3 times during one week for four weeks. Intervention was performed on acupuncture points as follows: the points ST 8 (stomach- tou wei), GB 2, TE 21, SI 19 (small intestine- ting gong), SI 18 (small intestine- quan liao), LI 4 (large intestine-Yuan) on both sides of the body as well as GV 20 (Governing vessel-bai hui). Each session lasted half an hour. Sterile acupuncture needles made from surgical stainless steel silicone coated with spring handle were used. The dimensions of the chosen needles were 0.25 in diameter and 30 mm length, inserted at the depth of the 0.5-1 cm. The elicited response was of the type "de qi" accompanied by redness and a feeling of numbness around the needles.

    Other: acupuncture

Interventions

  • DrugClonazepam

    Active medical treatment for burning mouth syndrome

    Also known as: Rivotril

  • Otheracupuncture

    Traditional chinese acupuncture

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale

    Assessment of neuropathic pain measured by validated instrument (LANSS pain scale)

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Cognitive function

    Assesment of cognitive function measured by validated instrument ( MoCA cognitive test)

    Time frame: 6 months

  3. Depression

    Assesment of depressive symptoms by use of validated instrument (Beck Depression Inventory)

    Time frame: 6 months

  4. Quality of life

    Assesment of quality of life by validated instrument (Short Forma Health Survey: SF-36)

    Time frame: 6 months

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 6, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02382029
Lead sponsor
University of Zagreb
Responsible party
Vanja Vucicevic Boras (Associate professor, University of Zagreb) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 6, 2015
Start date
Mar 2014
Primary completion
Nov 2014
Completion
Nov 2014
Last update
Mar 6, 2015

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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