[Medicaments and oral healthcare. Adverse effects of medications on the oral mucosa].

Many medications prescribed in the Netherlands have adverse effects on the oral mucosa. Adverse events often described are stomatitis, white lesions, abnormal pigmentation and sensibility disorders. Stomatitis is frequently observed in patients using medications for the treatment of malignancies or auto-immune diseases. Important causative classes of medicines are alkylating agents, anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies, protein kinase inhibitors, purine derivatives, pyrimidine antagonists, taxanes and vinca alkaloids. White oral lesions often concern candidiasis and are frequently seen in patients using certain immunosuppressants and antibiotics. Abnormal pigmentation is frequently seen in patients using hydroxycarbamide, an antineoplastic agent. Sensibility disorders of the oral mucosa are described in several classes of medications, including protein kinase inhibitors. It is very important oral healthcare professionals can recognise possible adverse effects of medications on the oral mucosa. When it is probable an anomaly of the oral mucosa is caused by medication, the oral healthcare professional should contact the prescribing physician to discuss the possibility of adjusting or discontinuing the medication.