title: Tinnitus control by dopamine agonist pramipexole in presbycusis patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since the concept of tinnitus dopaminergic pathway emerged, studies have been proposed to investigate if dopaminergic agents influence tinnitus. We hypothesized that pramipexole, an agonist on D2/D3 receptors, may antagonize tinnitus in the presbycusis patients (in the frequency range of 250 to 8,000 Hz) in a dose schedule accepted for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled and double-blind trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty presbycusis patients aged 50 years or older with subjective tinnitus were randomized to two groups (20 patients in both). Patients in the drug group took pramipexole over a period of 4 weeks according to a treatment schedule as follows: week 1, 0.088 mg t.i.d.; week 2, 0.18 mg t.i.d.; week 3, 0.7 mg t.i.d.; week 4, 0.18 mg t.i.d. over 3 days and 0.088 mg t.i.d. the rest of the week. Patients in the second group received placebo. Determination of subjective grading of tinnitus perception, the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) questionnaire and electrocochleography (ECOG) examinations served as the end points. Subjective audiometry was used to produce secondary data. A significant improvement in tinnitus annoyance is found in the group treated with pramipexole versus placebo with respect to inhibition of tinnitus and a decrease of tinnitus loudness greater than 30 dB. However, neither ECOG nor subjective pure-tone threshold audiometry revealed any change in hearing threshold in response to either pramipexole or placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pramipexole is an effective agent against subjective tinnitus associated with presbycusis at a dose schedule used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The drug did not change hearing threshold.
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. isziklai@dote.hu
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Sziklai
authors: Judit
authors: J
authors: Szilvássy
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Szilvássy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077487:Pramipexole; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D000077487:Pramipexole