Gelclair is an oral gel containing poly-vinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) and hyaluronic acid that coats the surface of the mouth forming a thin protective film over painful oral

lesions A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma. ''Lesion'' is derived from the Latin "injury". Lesions may occur in plants as well as animals. Types There is no designated classif ...

, such as those caused by

radiotherapy Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator. Ra ...

chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemothe ...

treatment for

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...

Uses

Gelclair can be used in the management of the painful symptoms of oral

mucositis Mucositis is the painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer. Mucositis can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal ...

usually caused by

treatment for

but can also be caused by medication, disease, oral surgery, stress, traumatic ulcers caused by dental braces and dentures, and ageing. Gelclair can be used by patients of all ages. Gelclair is usually used 3 times a day or as needed. It is usually diluted with water and rinsed around the mouth. It can be used undiluted where no water is available, and applied directly. Gelclair does not numb the mouth and can be used in conjunction with other treatment options for managing oral mucositis, including antibacterial mouthwashes and painkillers.

Clinical evidence

Innocenti et al. studied Gelclair in a total of thirty patients with chemotherapy-induced oral lesions. Results showed a 92% reduction in mean pain scores 5–7 hours after the first administration of Gelclair. Patients were also given Gelclair for a further 7–10 days and at the end of this period, pain scores were recorded. After one week of using Gelclair, 87% of patients reported overall improvements relating to pain in swallowing food, liquids, and saliva. De Cordi et al. studied thirty patients with lesions of the mouth and oropharynx (caused by various diseases). 83% of patients reported a reduction in pain, 13% remained the same and 3% showed initial improvement but then got worse. 83% showed a distinct improvement in functionality in the ability to take food, 7% remained the same, and 7% got worse, while 3% reported considerable improvement followed by slight worsening. 57% of patients reported an improvement in the grade of oral mucositis, 40% remained the same while 3% got worse. BerndtsonBerndtson, M. "A Preliminary Study of Orassist (Gelclair) in the management of Oral Mucositis". This paper was published in Svensk Sjukhustandlakartidning (Swedish Hospital Dentistry) 2001 Nr 3 (Argang 26) pp17-21. studied ten patients who were given Gelclair to evaluate its effect on their symptoms of oral mucositis. All reported that the product was acceptable for its taste and consistency, and a palliative soothing effect was noted.

Interactions with other medicines

Gelclair has no known interactions with medicines or other products and has no known toxicity.

References

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External links

Gelclair UK Product Website
Gels Oral hygiene