Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners

Abstract Background Benzydamine for oromucosal use is indicated in the relief of pain and irritation of the mouth and throat. It is an indazole derivative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with combined local anesthetic and analgesic properties, and antiseptic activity, marketed under the brand...

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Main Authors: Desiderio Passali, Maria Felice Arezzo, Alessandra De Rose, Gianmarco De Simone, Gianluigi Forte, Michalina Jablko-Musial, Ralph Mösges
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-06-01
Series:BMC Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01762-3
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author Desiderio Passali
Maria Felice Arezzo
Alessandra De Rose
Gianmarco De Simone
Gianluigi Forte
Michalina Jablko-Musial
Ralph Mösges
author_facet Desiderio Passali
Maria Felice Arezzo
Alessandra De Rose
Gianmarco De Simone
Gianluigi Forte
Michalina Jablko-Musial
Ralph Mösges
author_sort Desiderio Passali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Benzydamine for oromucosal use is indicated in the relief of pain and irritation of the mouth and throat. It is an indazole derivative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with combined local anesthetic and analgesic properties, and antiseptic activity, marketed under the brand name “Tantum Verde”. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge and prescriptive/advising attitudes among general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists (PHs) with regard to the topical treatment of sore throat and other irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx, with a focus on benzydamine. These findings could be important to increase awareness on benzydamine efficacy in sore throat and stomatological conditions, and to reinforce knowledge on the characteristics of benzydamine and its mechanisms of action among healthcare professionals (pediatricians, otolaryngologists, oncologists, etc.). Materials and methods An online questionnaire survey was performed among PHs and GPs in four European countries (Italy, Germany, Russia and Poland). Results Both GPs and PHs proved to have an excellent knowledge and mastery of the constituents effective against oral symptoms. Among all the principles, benzydamine hydrochloride is the most recognized as certainly suitable for the topical treatment of sore throat symptoms and various inflammatory/irritative conditions of the oral cavity. It is recommended by about 90% of PHs and prescribed by 80% of GPs, mainly to solve the ailments caused by sore throats and stomatitis, especially for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anesthetic characteristics. Also in the pediatric field, benzydamine hydrochloride is recommended: among GPs, a high percentage (about 40%) prescribes it like the remedies based on dichlorobenzyl alcohol-sodium benzoate, which are instead more often recommended by PHs (44% against 37%). Conclusion Although the public has a lot of confidence in this treatment, GPs and PHs do not recommend/prescribe benzydamine as a first-line treatment of sore throat and other irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx. To increase the knowledge of benzydamine among these healthcare professionals, it would be important to emphasize its characteristics and the different irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx in which it can be used.
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spelling doaj.art-d6c9037db689408d8425b79a00f29e4f2022-12-22T00:23:20ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532022-06-0123111210.1186/s12875-022-01762-3Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitionersDesiderio Passali0Maria Felice Arezzo1Alessandra De Rose2Gianmarco De Simone3Gianluigi Forte4Michalina Jablko-Musial5Ralph Mösges6International Federation ORL Societies (IFOS) Executive Board MembersDepartment of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Sapienza University of RomeFarmacie Italiane GroupASL Roma 2Independent ResearcherInstitute of Medical Statistics, and Computational Biology (IMSB), Medical Faculty, University at CologneAbstract Background Benzydamine for oromucosal use is indicated in the relief of pain and irritation of the mouth and throat. It is an indazole derivative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with combined local anesthetic and analgesic properties, and antiseptic activity, marketed under the brand name “Tantum Verde”. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge and prescriptive/advising attitudes among general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists (PHs) with regard to the topical treatment of sore throat and other irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx, with a focus on benzydamine. These findings could be important to increase awareness on benzydamine efficacy in sore throat and stomatological conditions, and to reinforce knowledge on the characteristics of benzydamine and its mechanisms of action among healthcare professionals (pediatricians, otolaryngologists, oncologists, etc.). Materials and methods An online questionnaire survey was performed among PHs and GPs in four European countries (Italy, Germany, Russia and Poland). Results Both GPs and PHs proved to have an excellent knowledge and mastery of the constituents effective against oral symptoms. Among all the principles, benzydamine hydrochloride is the most recognized as certainly suitable for the topical treatment of sore throat symptoms and various inflammatory/irritative conditions of the oral cavity. It is recommended by about 90% of PHs and prescribed by 80% of GPs, mainly to solve the ailments caused by sore throats and stomatitis, especially for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anesthetic characteristics. Also in the pediatric field, benzydamine hydrochloride is recommended: among GPs, a high percentage (about 40%) prescribes it like the remedies based on dichlorobenzyl alcohol-sodium benzoate, which are instead more often recommended by PHs (44% against 37%). Conclusion Although the public has a lot of confidence in this treatment, GPs and PHs do not recommend/prescribe benzydamine as a first-line treatment of sore throat and other irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx. To increase the knowledge of benzydamine among these healthcare professionals, it would be important to emphasize its characteristics and the different irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx in which it can be used.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01762-3Sore throatBenzydamineOropharynxGeneral practitioner
spellingShingle Desiderio Passali
Maria Felice Arezzo
Alessandra De Rose
Gianmarco De Simone
Gianluigi Forte
Michalina Jablko-Musial
Ralph Mösges
Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
BMC Primary Care
Sore throat
Benzydamine
Oropharynx
General practitioner
title Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
title_full Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
title_fullStr Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
title_full_unstemmed Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
title_short Benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative/inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx: a cross-national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
title_sort benzydamine hydrochloride for the treatment of sore throat and irritative inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx a cross national survey among pharmacists and general practitioners
topic Sore throat
Benzydamine
Oropharynx
General practitioner
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01762-3
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