Clonazepam in the pharmacological treatment of vertigo and tinnitus.
We carried out a retrospective survey of 25 years of clinical experience with the use of clonazepam as a vestibular and tinnitus suppressant in the pharmacological treatment of vestibular or cochleovestibular disorders due to different causes. We reviewed the medical records of 3,357 outpatients treated with a 0.5 or 1.0-mg daily dosage of oral clonazepam during 60-180 days. Complete or substantial control of vertigo or nonvertiginous dizziness was achieved in 77.4% of the vertigo patients. Tinnitus was improved in 32.0% of the tinnitus patients. Light or mild drowsiness, depression, nightmares, or lowering of libido, reported by 16.9% of the patients as adverse side effects, tended to subside with continued therapy. We concluded that clonazepam is a very useful and safe drug for the symptomatic treatment of patients suffering from cochleovestibular disorders.
Ganança
Mauricio Malavasi
MM
Division of Neurootology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil. mauricio.gananca@globo.com
Caovilla
Heloisa Helena
HH
Ganança
Fernando Freitas
FF
Ganança
Cristina Freitas
CF
Munhoz
Mário Sérgio Lei
MS
da Silva
Maria Leonor Garcia
ML
Serafini
Flávio
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018757:GABA Modulators; D002998:Clonazepam