title: Levodopa does not enhance the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in tinnitus treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise for the treatment of tinnitus. Experimental data from motor cortex stimulation in healthy subjects indicate that the suppressing effect of low-frequency rTMS can be enhanced by dopaminergic receptor activation. Here we investigated whether administration of the dopamine precursor levodopa before low-frequency rTMS enhances its efficacy in tinnitus treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with chronic tinnitus received 100 mg of levodopa before each session of low-frequency rTMS. Results were compared with a matched control group of 16 patients who received the same treatment, but without levodopa. Treatment outcome was assessed with a standardized tinnitus questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both stimulation protocols resulted in a significant reduction of tinnitus scores after 10 days of stimulation; however, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that 100 mg of levodopa does not enhance the effect of rTMS in the treatment of tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. tobias.kleinjung@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kleinjung
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steffens
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landgrebe
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vielsmeier
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hajak
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strutz
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langguth
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa