[Nimodipine (Bay e 9736) a new therapy concept in diseases of the inner ear?]

In an open study 30 patients with the symptom of tinnitus were treated for 12 weeks with nimodipin (Bay e 9736) 3 X 30 mg/die. 12 patients showed sudden deafness with a history of one day up to more than 20 years. In six cases we observed complete remission, in two cases remission up to 70-80%, in two cases slight improvement. Four patients showed no side reaction to the treatment of nimodipin. Ten patients suffered from so-called degenerative inner ear deafness. 3 (n = 10) showed complete remission, one nearly 90% improvement, another patient showed 60% improvement, one slight improvement, in 4 patients tinnitus persisted. Vertigo-Morbus Menière: 4 out of 30 patients were included with the diagnosis of Morbus Menière with tinnitus. 3 (n = 4) showed complete remission of tinnitus, normal hearing level and no more symptoms of vertigo after 12 or less weeks of treatment with nimodipin. In one case with an history over more than 20 years only the vertigo could be cured. Traumatic inner ear deafness is not apt to be treated with an agent such as nimodipin.