Successful treatment of ptyalism gravidarum with clonidine hydrochloride: A case report

Ptyalism gravidarum is a disorder characterized by significant hypersalivation during pregnancy, which affects and interferes with quality of life. No published data has demonstrated an effective approach to treat this condition. This case study reports the use of clonidine hydrochloride, an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist that is typically used as an anti-hypertensive agent, to treat the excessive sialorrhea typical of this disorder. The patient who was treated with this medication saw significant improvement in her symptoms and did not experience any subsequent adverse effects throughout her pregnancy. As a result, we believe that further investigation into this potential treatment for ptyalism gravidarum is necessary ahead of medical guideline incorporation and clinical implementation.