Drug Combinations For Treatment Of Tinnitus, Vertigo, and Headache

Brief Description

UC Irvine researchers propose various combinations of medications for treatment of tinnitus and vertigo.

Suggested uses

• Treatment of tinnitus

• Treatment of vertigo and dizziness

• Treatment of migraine headaches

Features/Benefits

- More successful than existing approaches in treating tinnitus

Technology Description

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of acoustic stimulation. It often involves sound sensations such as ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling, and hissing that cannot be attributed to an external sound source. Tinnitus is a symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss and can also be a symptom of other health problems. More than 40 million people in the United States are estimated to experience chronic tinnitus, of which 10 million consider their tinnitus to be a severe problem. There are presently no FDA-approved drugs specifically for tinnitus, and no medications that have been shown to reverse the neural hyperactivity at the root of tinnitus.

UC Irvine researchers discovered that a combined therapy of lifestyle/dietary modifications with migraine medications effectively reduced tinnitus loudness. This therapy was also effective in treating vertigo. Vertigo is an otological disorder, causing dizziness and room-spinning sensations.

State Of Development

The drug combinations have been used in several patients and have been found to be effective. The researchers will test the efficacy of the drug combinations in a randomized clinical trial.

Patent Status

Additional Patent Pending