Transdermal scopolamine in the treatment of acute and intermittent phases of Meniere's disease

Abstract

The efficacy of transdermal scopolamine (TTS-scopolamine) was evaluated in 21 patients, 10 females and 11 males, with confirmed Meniere's disease. Twelve patients in the acute phase who could recognize relatively definite prodromal symptoms, such as a sensation of ear fullness and/or tinnitus, etc., several hours before the onset of intractable vertigo accompanied by severe autonomic nerve disturbances and nine patients in the intermittent phase were included in this study. For the acute phase patients, one sheet of TTS scopolamine (TTS 1.5) (7 μg/h release) was prescribed for application to the postauricular skin to be left for three days when the prodromal symptoms occurred. In the intermittent phase patients, one sheet of TTS scopolamine was applied as indicated.TTS scopolamine significantly reduced vertigo and autonomic nervous symptoms (nausea, vomiting) in 10 of the 12 acute phase patients. In the intermittent phase patients, tinnitus and hearing loss were vertually unchanged by TTS-scopolamine application. TTS-scopolamine, with scopolamine released for up to 3 days, generally did not cause scopolamine's usual side effects, such as drowsiness and sedation, but minor reactions of blurred vision and dry mouth were observed.In conclusion, our objective in the present study was to evaluate TTS-scopolamine efficacy and its side effects in the treatment of attacks of Meniere's disease. In acute phase patients, TTS provided satisfactory relief and the side effects were minor and tolerable.