[Pharmacologic aspects in the management of inner ear disease (author's transl)]

Our knowledge of the effects of drugs on the inner ear is extremely insufficient when compared to their effects on other organs. The role of drugs commonly recommended for therapy of inner ear disorders (such as, procaine, antihistaminics, diuretics, osmotics, corticoids and substances changing blood viscosity) has yet to be clarified since the clinical effects of these pharmaceuticals or vasoactive substances often cannot be confirmed by experimental study. Under present circumstances, the use of definitive therapy to prevent deafness has only limited application--as in thyroid hormone substitution to prevent deafness from cretinism.