The purpose of this study was to clinicaly evaluate the efficacy of an antianxiety Etizolam (Depas®) on temporomandibular joint disorders. The subjects were 33 patients (10 males and 23 females, average 34 years 5 months) with myogeneous complaints. Etizolam was administered in a daily dose of 1.5 mg (0.5 mg × 3 times), and all subjects didn't take any other treatment for 2 weeks.
1. The efficacy rate of all subjects was 76%.
2. As a result of analysing efficacy according to chief complaints, the efficacy rate was a high 100% for a group suffering from stiff neck and shoulder, 92% and for a group with opening pain at the TMJ.
3. As a result of analysing improvements of each sign and symptom, the efficacy rate was a high 92 % for headache, a high 88%, 81%, and 80% respectively, for tenderness of the temporal muscle, masseter muscle, and sternocleidomastoid muscle, and a high 84% for mouth opening pain.
Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) were found in the above signs and symptom between before and after treatment.
4. The efficacy rates of joint sound and trismus were a low 43% and 40%, because some cases of joint sound and trismus were caused by the internal derangement of the TMJ, and generally, internal derangement of the TMJ doesn't respond to drug treatment.
5. Side effects were observed in 3 cases, such as slight sleepiness.
6. It is suggested that Etizolam is a usefull drug for treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, except in cases of chronic internal derangement of the TMJ
