Use of alprazolam for relief of tinnitus. A double-blind study
R. M. Johnson, R. Brummett and A. Schleuning
Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.
OBJECTIVE--To systematically test the effectiveness of alprazolam as a
pharmacological agent for patients with tinnitus. DESIGN--Prospective,
placebo-controlled, double-blind study. PATIENTS--Forty adult patients with
constant tinnitus who had experienced their tinnitus for a minimum of 1
year and who resided in the Portland, Ore, metropolitan area. Twenty
patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the
control group. RESULTS--Seventeen of 20 patients in the experimental
(alprazolam) group and 19 of the 20 in the placebo (lactose) group
completed the study. Of the 17 patients receiving alprazolam, 13 (76%) had
a reduction in the loudness of their tinnitus when measurements were made
using a tinnitus synthesizer and a visual analog scale. Only one of the 19
who received the placebo showed any improvement in the loudness of their
tinnitus. No changes were observed in the audiometric data or in tinnitus
masking levels for either group. Individuals differed in the dosages
required to achieve benefit from the alprazolam, and the side effects were
minimal for this 12-week study. CONCLUSIONS--Alprazolam is a drug that will
provide therapeutic relief for some patients with tinnitus. Regulation of
the prescribed dosage of alprazolam is important since individuals differ
considerably in sensitivity to this medication.
