Don't Use Chlorhexidine for Oral Mucositis

November 2014

Questions often come up about how to treat oral mucositis...especially when it causes severe pain, weight loss, delays in chemo, etc.

Manage lesions. Suggest frequent rinsing with a solution of one teaspoon of salt in 32 oz of water to maintain oral hygiene and comfort.

If a saline rinse isn't enough, recommend using an OTC product to coat lesions (Amphojel, etc)...or a film-forming agent (Zilactin, etc).

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Table of Contents

Anticoagulants Consider Eliquis or Xarelto Over Pradaxa for Treating VTE
Acute Pain Combine Acetaminophen PLUS an NSAID Instead of an Opioid for Acute Pain
Obesity & Weight Loss Don't Combine Weight Loss Agent Contrave With Opioids
Migraine Avoid Opioids and Fiorinal in Migraine
Vaccines Give Seniors TWO Pneumococcal Vaccines
Oral Health Don't Use Chlorhexidine for Oral Mucositis
Geriatrics Reassess if Dementia Meds Are Needed Since Many Patients DON'T Benefit
Antithrombotics Be Careful Using Fluoxetine or Fluvoxamine With Warfarin
Antiepileptics Watch for Contraception Interactions with New Antiepileptics
Storage & Disposal Encourage Patients to Take Unwanted Meds to "Authorized" Pharmacies
COPD Consider Stopping Inhaled Steroids in Some Stable COPD Patients
Practice how to avoid exposure to Ebola
Opioids Consider Clonidine for Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
Neurology & Pain Explain How Exparel Compares to Other Local Anesthetics for Post-Op Pain
Infectious Diseases Identify Inappropriate Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use