Pharmacological Treatments for Tinnitus.
10.7599/hmr.2016.36.2.113
- Author:
So Young PARK
1
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. sypak@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Clinical Trial ; Review
- Keywords:
Anticonvulsant;
Antidepressants;
Benzodiazepines;
Dopamine Receptor Agonist;
NMDA Receptor Antagonists
- MeSH:
Anticonvulsants;
Antidepressive Agents;
Benzodiazepines;
Classification;
Clonazepam;
Dopamine Agonists;
Dopamine Antagonists;
Drug Therapy;
Humans;
Memantine;
Models, Animal;
N-Methylaspartate;
Placebo Effect;
Presbycusis;
Rodentia;
Sertraline;
Sulpiride;
Tinnitus*
- From:Hanyang Medical Reviews
2016;36(2):113-119
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Pharmacotherapy has been constantly chosen by the clinician among the available treatment options for tinnitus. Medications that have been prescribed off-label to treat tinnitus can be grouped into several categories: benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, dopamine receptor modulators, muscle relaxants, and others. In this article, a wide variety of compounds once used in the treatment of tinnitus and evidenced by clinical trials are reviewed with respect to the mechanisms of action and the drug efficacy. Only a few of the various pharmacological interventions investigated have some beneficial effects against tinnitus: clonazepam, acamprosate, neramexan, and sulpiride. Sertraline and pramipexole were effective in subgroups of patients with psychiatric symptoms or presbycusis. However, no agents have been identified to provide a reproducible long-term reduction of tinnitus in excess of placebo effects. In rodent tinnitus models, L-baclofen, memantine, and KCNQ2/3 channel activators have been demonstrated to reduce tinnitus development. Limitation of the use of an effective high dosage during a longer treatment duration due to dose-dependent side effects of the centrally acting drugs may influence the results in clinical studies. More effective and safer innovative agents should be developed based on the further understanding of tinnitus neural mechanisms and valid animal models, and should be supported by improved clinical trial methodology. The management of tinnitus patients through a tailored treatment approach depending on the detailed classification of tinnitus subtypes will also lead to better treatment outcomes.
