Current pharmacological treatment of tinnitus

Abstract

Tinnitus is the phantom perception of sound. The pathophysiology of tinnitus is poorly understood in medicine. It is a highly prevalent disorder and treatment is still elusive. Tinnitus is a common otologic symptom presented by patients in the outpatient department of otolaryngology. In some people, tinnitus is a fairly minor irritation but for many, it intrudes to such a degree that it affects their ability to lead a normal life. Individuals who suffer from disabling tinnitus often need medical treatment from an otologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist with the hope of finding a medication that can completely switch off their tinnitus and bring back silence. The available treatment for tinnitus patients is diverse. These include counseling, cognitive behavioral therapies, tinnitus retraining therapy, and input to the auditory system such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. The pharmacological treatment for tinnitus patients is often less discussed in the literature. The search for effective tinnitus treatment faces considerable challenges. Tinnitus is only a symptom that might be the result of different underlying pathologies. Thus, heterogeneity within tinnitus patients is expected and the drug discovery endeavor faces a “one drug will not fit all” scenario. Tinnitus today is still clinically challenging and most patients want a drug that could reduce or even abolish their phantom sound. The objective of this review article is to discuss the current pharmacological treatment of tinnitus.