[Sulpiride as initial treatment in tinnitus retraining therapy]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pharmacology
• Neurology

Background:

• Tinnitus is a common auditory disorder with significant impact on quality of life.
• Current management strategies, including tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), aim to reduce tinnitus perception and associated distress.
• Understanding pharmacological interventions that may augment TRT is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of sulpiride in managing tinnitus.
• To determine the potential of sulpiride as an adjunct to tinnitus retraining therapy.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 100 tinnitus patients.
• Participants were assigned to receive either 50 mg of sulpiride or placebo, three times daily for three months.
• Clinical response, audiometry, tympanometry, and acufenometry were assessed monthly.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant improvement in tinnitus was observed in 58% of patients treated with sulpiride versus 17% with placebo in the first month.
• Sustained improvements were noted, with 41% of the sulpiride group and 20% of the placebo group showing improvement by the second month.
• By the third month, 42% of the sulpiride group and 17% of the placebo group reported improvement.

Conclusions:

• Sulpiride demonstrates significant efficacy in improving tinnitus symptoms, particularly within the first month of treatment.
• The early positive response to sulpiride suggests its potential utility in initiating tinnitus retraining therapy.
• Early sulpiride treatment may enhance the overall success and efficacy of tinnitus retraining therapy.