Treatment of central and sensorineural tinnitus with orally administered Melatonin and Sulodexide: Personal experience from a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Since very little is understood about the exact aetiology of tinnitus, this has made treatment of the condition difficult. Even though -10-15% of the general population suffer from tinnitus, only 2% consider it serious enough to warrant any treatment. The main problem arising from tinnitus is the disturbance it causes not only in day to day life but also in sleep, leading to fatigue and general discomfort. The present study focused on the effect of Melatonin in conjunction with Sulodexide as a treatment method for tinnitus. Overall, 102 patients suffering from tinnitus were evaluated in a prospective randomised controlled study conducted in a tertiary care ENT department. After randomisation, 34 patients were treated with Melatonin and Sulodexide, another 34 were treated with Melatonin alone, while the remaining 34 (control group) were managed without treatment in order to evaluate spontaneous variations in the quality of tinnitus. Patients were assessed prospectively with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Acufenometry, both pre- and post-treatment. Among the patients studied, better results with both Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Acufenometry were found in the group who received Melatonin and Sulodexide compared to those receiving Melatonin alone. No improvement was observed in the control group. In conclusion, Melatonin in combination with Sulodexide is, in our opinion, a viable treatment option for patients suffering from central or sensorineural tinnitus.