Sulpiride plus hydroxyzine decrease tinnitus perception.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to confirm the effectiveness of sulpiride and hydroxyzine in tinnitus patients. The administration of sulpiride, a D2 antagonist of dopamine receptors, together with hydroxyzine, a subcortical sedative, covers the areas of tinnitus perception.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, single blinded, placebo-control study was done in general otorhinolaryngology consultations for 2002-2004 in Seville and Zaragoza (Spain). One hundred and fifty patients consulted for subjective tinnitus. They were included randomly in three groups of 50. A group took sulpiride (50 mg/8 h) alone, other the same dose of sulpiride plus hydroxyzine (25 mg/12 h), and the third placebo (lactose), for 1 month. One hundred and twenty-two patients completed the study. Clinical history, tonal audiometry, tympanometry, and tinnitometry were done in the beginning and end of the study. Subjective Grading of Tinnitus Perception and visual analogical scale (0-10) were done for result evaluation.


RESULTS
Based on the Subjective Grading of Tinnitus Perception, tinnitus perception diminished by 56% in patients treated with sulpiride and by 81% in patients treated with sulpiride plus hydroxyzine. Based on the visual analogical scale, tinnitus perception diminished from 7.8 to 6.3 in the patients treated with sulpiride, and from 7.8 to 5.1 in those treated with sulpiride plus hydroxyzine.


CONCLUSIONS
Sulpiride plus hydroxyzine decreases tinnitus perception. Tinnitus auditolimbic dopaminergic pathway opens wide therapeutical implications.
Lopez-Gonzalez
Miguel A
MA
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain. malopez@cica.es
Moliner-Peiro
Fernando
F
Alfaro-Garcia
Jorge
J
Esteban-Ortega
Francisco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006919:Hydroxyzine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006919:Hydroxyzine; D013469:Sulpiride