Tinnitus treatment with Trazodone.
Tinnitus is a common symptom, defined as a sound perception in absence of a sound stimulus.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate if Trazodone, an antidepressant drug, which modulates serotonin at central neuronal pathways, is effective in controlling tinnitus.


METHODS
Prospective, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled.


METHODS
Study performed with patients presenting tinnitus. 85 patients were analyzed between February and June of 2005. 43 received trazodone and 42 placebo, for 60 days. The clinical criteria of analysis were tinnitus intensity, discomfort and life quality impact by tinnitus, using an analogue scale varying between 0 and 10, scored by patients before and after drug or placebo use.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in intensity, discomfort and life quality in both groups after treatment; however, there was no significant difference between the drug and placebo groups. Patients with age equal or over 60 years presented better results after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Trazodone was not efficient in controlling tinnitus in the patients evaluated under the doses utilized.
Dib
Gabriel Cesar
GC
EPM, UNIFESP.
Kasse
Cristiane Akemi
CA
Alves de Andrade
Tatiana
T
Gurgel Testa
José Ricardo
JR
Cruz
Oswaldo Laércio M
OL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone