title: The effect of intravenously administered mexiletine on tinnitus - a pilot study.
abstract: The effect of intravenously administered mexiletine on subjective tinnitus and hearing was studied in six patients, who initially responded positively to lidocaine. Distinct mexiletine-induced decreases in tinnitus loudness were demonstrated in three subjects, as reflected by maximum VAS (visual analogue scale) level reduction of 34%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. One subject reported change in tinnitus pitch, another one showed a slight (18% on VAS) tinnitus reduction, and one subject disclosed no effect. Side effects were seen only during one of seven infusions. Mexiletine induced shifts in pure-tone threshold, transient evoked otoacoustic emission, and acoustic reflex threshold, probably reflecting a reversible interference in the function of organ of Corti. The concentration effect relationship remained unclear and no general 'therapeutic' level could be identified. This study confirms the effect of mexiletine on the auditory function and its potential as a possible therapeutic agent or a model for further development in tinnitus pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Erik.Berninger@Karolinska.se
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berninger
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nordmark
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alván
authors.forename: Kjell K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Esma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Idrizbegovic
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meurling
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Shurbaji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic / Q000187:drug effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013198:Stapedius / Q000187:drug effects; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D008801:Mexiletine; D008012:Lidocaine