This study was carried out to examine the efficacy of multi-drug therapy with the combination of lycopene, betacarotene, zinc, selenium, copper, alpha-lipoic acid, and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the management of oral submucous fibrosis. 46 patients with OSMF were divided into three categories; group 1 (inter-incisal opening >35 mm), group 2 (inter-incisal opening 25 to 35 mm), and group 3 (inter-incisal opening 15 to 25 mm). Inter-incisal distance and burning sensation (scored using the visual analogue scale) were recorded preoperatively and at the 2nd month of drug therapy. All data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Comparison within the three groups for change in inter-incisal distance and burning sensation after drug therapy was studied by paired t-test. Intergroup comparison of inter-incisal distance and burning sensation was done by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test for pairwise comparison. The mean age of patients included in the study was 29.71 years, with a male to female ratio of 8:1. The mean increase in mouth opening was 1.3, 3.9, and 2.4 mm while decrease in burning sensation was 1.42, 2.46, and 1.86 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (which was statistically significant). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant increase in mouth opening and reeducation of burning sensation between groups 1 and 2, as well as groups 2 and 3. Multidrug therapy was effective in improving burning sensation symptoms and mouth opening in OSMF patients. The combination therapy was most effective in patients with early-stage OSMF (mouth opening between 25 to 35 mm).
