Tinnitus Solution is Only Temporary

Q:  I hope you can help me. For years I have had tinnitus. It is so bad that it keeps me awake at night – I no longer know what it is to have a quiet night. I seem to have more of the high-tone tinnitus. I recently read an article by John J. Shea Jr., chief otologic surgeon at Shea Ear Clinic in Memphis, on which I'd appreciate your opinion. The article, called "Safe New Remedy for Ringing in the Ears,” says that 70% of people with ringing in the ears got at least partial relief from an injection of the common anesthetic lidocaine. The injection was given in the middle ear and in the arm on three consecutive days.

The story says, "The lidocaine therapy, given along with the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam (Xanax), was effective against both high-tone tinnitus (ringing, hissing, whistling, ticking) and low-tone tinnitus (roaring, buzzing, popping or swishing). The quieting effect seems to be permanent - but the treatment can be safely repeated, if necessary."

A:  According to Philip Wackym, MD, Chairman and Professor of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin, this is not new news. Intravenous lidocaine has been known for decades to suppress tinnitus, but the relief is unfortunately temporary and impractical since it has to be injected into a vein.

Lidocaine in the middle ear has been tried before and has the unfortunate side effect of vertigo until the lidocaine wears off. Use of alprazolam, a mild tranquilizer, usually offers only temporary benefit. Tricyclic anti-depressants such as imipramine, usually at doses far below those used for depression, are the most effective medication available at this time.

Related HealthLink articles:
Tinnitus
Tinnitus and Your Environment

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.