Tinnitus in postherpetic neuralgia.
We describe a woman who developed postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) located on the skin areas of the left ophthalmic division of the fifth cranial nerve without ocular involvement. PHN was associated with tinnitus, which was located ipsilaterally to the painful side and increased in proportion to the intensity of pain. Tinnitus was responsive to treatment with duloxetine, 60 mg daily, and subsided when the PHN resolved. This is the first description of tinnitus in PHN.
De Marinis
Milena
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell' Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. m.de.marinis@mclink.it
Santilli
Valter
V
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D000212:Acyclovir