VENLAFAXINE CHLORIDRATE-ORAL LICHENOID REACTION: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Venlafaxine hydrochloride is a structurally novel antidepressant that inhibits reuptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline but, unlike the older antidepressants, has few adverse effects. A 57-year-old female patient, a smoker with anxiety, on psychiatric treatment with venlafaxine hydrochloride attended our oral medicine unit complaining of a white spot on the right cheek with 1 year since the onset, which did not regress after the use of nystatin and triamcinolone acetonide. The intraoral clinical examination revealed the presence of white striae and leucoplastic plaque on the buccal mucosa and on the right lateral border of the tongue with no symptoms. The following complementary examinations were performed: full blood cell count, coagulogram, fasting blood glucose, and incisional biopsy, with a diagnostic hypothesis of lichenoid reaction and differential diagnosis of lichen planus. Histopathologic findings revealed a chronic lymphocytic inflammatory reaction characteristic of the lichenoid reaction. Venlafaxine hydrochloride is a structurally novel antidepressant that inhibits reuptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline but, unlike the older antidepressants, has few adverse effects. A 57-year-old female patient, a smoker with anxiety, on psychiatric treatment with venlafaxine hydrochloride attended our oral medicine unit complaining of a white spot on the right cheek with 1 year since the onset, which did not regress after the use of nystatin and triamcinolone acetonide. The intraoral clinical examination revealed the presence of white striae and leucoplastic plaque on the buccal mucosa and on the right lateral border of the tongue with no symptoms. The following complementary examinations were performed: full blood cell count, coagulogram, fasting blood glucose, and incisional biopsy, with a diagnostic hypothesis of lichenoid reaction and differential diagnosis of lichen planus. Histopathologic findings revealed a chronic lymphocytic inflammatory reaction characteristic of the lichenoid reaction.