Sialagogues (sialics) and antisialagogues (antisialics)

SIALAGOGUES

  • Sialogogues are agents that increase the volume of saliva, thereby increasing the appetite and the digestability of food.
  • Such remedies are used in large animal practice as ‘tonics’.
  • Increased salivation is obtained by administering substances that stimulate taste buds like the vegetable bitters.
  • Substances with this type of activity include gentian, quassia and nuxvomica.
  • Increase in salivation is also achieved on administration of parasympathomimetics.

ANTISIALAGOGUES

  • Antisialagogues (antisialics) are agents that decrease the volume of salivary secretions.
  • The antisialagogue effect may be required during surgery of the mouth or after excision of salivary cysts.
  • Parasympatholytic drugs have antisialagogue effect. Atropine or glycopyrrolate are commonly used to reduce secretions as a premedicant during surgery to reduce salivary and bronchial secretions.

STOMACHICS

  • Stomachics are agents that increase the tone and function of stomach and increase appetite.
  • Eg: Bitter stomachics such as ginger, gentian, chirata. These plant based preparations stimulate the taste buds and reflexly stimulate the stomach.
Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 9:58 AM