Pharmacologic treatment of stuttering: Evidences and controversies

Abstract

Objective: This article analyzes the pharmacologic treatment of stuttering, assessing the effectiveness of different treatments using psychiatric drugs and further evidences of other drugs in the treatment of this disorder. Methods: Search in Medline database, using the terms stuttering treatment, disfluency, disfluency treatments, botulinum toxin and stuttering treatment, botulinum toxin and disfluency treatment. Results: Studies involving the following drugs were found: citalopram + clomipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, olanzapine, pimozide, risperidone, tiapride, levetiracetam, divalproex sodium, citalopram + alprazolam, clonidine and bethanecol, as well as clinical trials with the botulinum toxin A and anesthetics. Studies with citalopram + clomipramine, paroxetine, olanzapine, citalopram + alprazolam, risperidone, clomipramine and desipramine, levetiracetam, divalproex sodium, lidocaine and botulinum toxin A showed positive results. However, the great majority of pharmacological studies in this area are case series or clinical trials with small samples. Conclusion: Enough evidences do not exist that justify the use of a specific treatment for stuttering. The presented studies indicate the necessity of accomplishment of more double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving larger samples.