Comparative Evaluation of Melatonin as an Alternative Therapy in Tinnitus: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial
Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery,
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2022),
25 January 2022
,
Page 1-6
https://doi.org/10.22037/orlfps.v8i1.39033
Abstract
Background: Tinnitus is an auditory perception that is described as a perception of noise without any external acoustic stimulant. Tinnitus causes many problems including sleep disturbances and difficulty in concentrating for patients.
Aim: In this trial, we evaluated melatonin as an alternative therapy in tinnitus.
Methods: In this clinical trial, tinnitus patients (n = 90) were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with melatonin (n = 30) at a fixed-dose (3 mg once daily), sertraline (n = 30) at a fixed dose (50 mg once daily) and placebo (n = 30) once daily. The treatment outcomes were measured using THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory), tinnitus loudness score, and tinnitus awareness score after 3 months.
Results: The baseline assessment with THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) showed no significant difference in THI score between groups before treatment (p-value = 0.38). The mean THI score shows a significant decrease in both melatonin and sertraline groups (p-value < 0.03). Overall, a mean of 20% decrease in tinnitus loudness score and a 2-fold decrease in tinnitus awareness score was seen in the melatonin group. In contrast, a mean of 2% decrease in tinnitus loudness score and 25% decrease in tinnitus awareness score was seen in the sertraline group.
Conclusion: Both melatonin and sertraline reduce tinnitus loudness score and tinnitus awareness score within 12 weeks in primary care, but melatonin showed a more significant outcome. Our findings support the prescription of melatonin in tinnitus management.
- Tinnitus; Melatonin; Sertraline; Randomized.
How to Cite
References
2. Hoffman HJ RG. Epidemiology of tinnitus. In: Snow JB, editor. Tinnitus: Theory and Management. Tinnitus2004. p. 16–41.
3. Neri G, De Stefano A, Baffa C, Kulamarva G, Di Giovanni P, Petrucci G, et al. Treatment of central and sensorineural tinnitus with orally administered Melatonin and Sulodexide: personal experience from a randomized controlled study. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2009; 29(2):86-91.
4. Dalrymple SN, Lewis SH, Philman S. Tinnitus: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2021 ;1;103(11):663-671.
5. Megwalu UC, Finnell JE, Piccirillo JF. The effects of melatonin on tinnitus and sleep. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;134(2):210-3. doi: 10.1016/j. 2005.10.007.
6. Herraiz C, Hernandez FJ, Plaza G, de los Santos G. Long-term clinical trial of tinnitus retraining therapy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;133(5):774-9. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.07.006.
7. Folmer RL, Griest SE, Martin WH. Chronic tinnitus as phantom auditory pain. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;124(4):394-400. doi: 10.1067/mhn.2001.114673.
8. Tunkel DE, Bauer CA, Sun GH, Rosenfeld RM, Chandrasekhar SS, Cunningham ER, Jr., et al. Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus executive summary. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;151(4):533-41.
doi: 10.1177/0194599814547475.
9. Rosenberg SI, Silverstein H, Rowan PT, Olds MJ. Effect of melatonin on tinnitus. The Laryngoscope. 1998;108(3):305-10. doi: 10.1097/00005537-199803000-00001.
10. Robinson SK, Viirre ES, Stein MB. Antidepressant therapy in tinnitus. Hearing research. 2007;226(1-2):221-31. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2006.08.004.
11. Salvi R, Lobarinas E, Sun W. Pharmacological Treatments for Tinnitus: New and Old. Drugs Future. 2009;34(5):381-400. doi: 10.1358/dof.2009.034.05.1362442.
12. Abtahi SH, Hashemi SM, Mahmoodi M, Nilforoush MH. Comparison of Melatonin and Sertraline Therapies on Tinnitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Prev Med. 2017; 8:61. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_229_17.
13. Lopez-Gonzalez MA, Santiago AM, Esteban-Ortega F. Sulpiride and melatonin decrease tinnitus perception modulating the auditolimbic dopaminergic pathway. J Otolaryngol. 2007;36(4):213-9. doi: 10.2310/7070.2007.0018.
14. Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Korkmaz A, Fuentes-Broto L. Drug-mediated ototoxicity and tinnitus: alleviation with melatonin. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;62(2):151-7.
15. Merrick L, Youssef D, Tanner M, Peiris AN. Does melatonin have therapeutic use in tinnitus? South Med J. 2014;107(6):362-6. doi: 10.14423/01.SMJ.0000450714.38550.d4.
16. Robinson S. Antidepressants for treatment of tinnitus. Progress in brain research. 2007;166:263-71. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(07)66024-5.
17. Robinson SK, Viirre ES, Bailey KA, Gerke MA, Harris JP, Stein MB. Randomized placebo-controlled trial of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of nondepressed tinnitus subjects. Psychosom Med. 2005;67(6):981-8. doi: 10.1097/01.psy.0000188479.04891.74.
18. Larsen DG, Ovesen T. Tinnitus guidelines and treatment. Ugeskr Laeger. 2014 Oct 13; 176(42):V04140242.
- Abstract Viewed: 110 times
- PDF Downloaded: 198 times