A Comparison of gabapentin and placebo in the treatment of subjective tinnitus

Tinnitus is prevalent in our country and all over the world and there is no satisfactory treatment for it at present. Many people suffer from this condition that is debilitating in 2% or near 3 millions. This study is planned to evaluate gabapentin effect on subjective tinnitus. This study was conducted on 169 patients in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital (Shahed University) and Jondi Shapoor neurology clinic from 2006 to 2007. Patients were randomly assigned in two groups. Patients in group G took gabapentin (900 mg/d) and in Group P took placebo. Both groups were followed by THI score for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed with SPSS software using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Repeated measure tests. 147 patients completed the study. There were 81 male (55.1%) and 66 female (44.9%). Tinnitus in 50 (34%) patients was present in right side, in 45 (30.6%) in left side and in 52 (35.4%) patients it was bilateral. THI score at the beginning was 51.7 in group G and 53.3 in group P. At the end of the study the THI score in group G was 34.5 and in Group P it was 52.8. Statistical analysis showed significant difference between the two groups at the end of study but at the beginning the difference was not statistically significant. In this study Gabapentin was more effective than placebo in treating subjective tinnitus with more than one year duration. We suggest its use in these Patients.