drug treatments
Last reviewed 01/2018
Drugs have not been widely used for tinnitus, and there are no drugs that are specifically licensed for the condition. Drugs that have been tried include:
- lignocaine:
- i.v. lignocaine infused over three to four minutes may give relief in cases of acoustic trauma and endolymphatic hydrops where cochlea damage exists
- continuous infusion may rarely be indicated
- benzodiazepines:
- a single night-time dose is effective in patients who have difficulty in falling asleep because of tinnitus
- in prescribing, one must also weigh up the likelihood of long-term dependence
- anticonvulsants:
- rarely used, but may be indicated in those with intolerable tinnitus who respond to a test injection of lignocaine
- frusemide: yet to be confirmed as effective on a large scale