Effect of Gabapentin on Idiopathic Subjective Tinnitus

The purpose of this study is to determine wether Gabapentin which is useful for treating neuropathic pains, is effective on idiopathic subjective tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of acoustic stimulation. It can be subjective or objective. .

Despite numerous researches,no effective treatment for people who suffer from tinnitus has yet been stablished.

As there are many evidences suggesting that loss of inhibition in the central nervous system may be responsible for many aspects of auditory dysfunction,including tinnitus; and as Gabapentin (Neurontin), a gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, is an effective medication in conditions where inhibition in the CNS is impaired; we guess that Gabapentin might be useful for treating idiopathic subjective tinnitus.

• Drug: Gabapentin
  Gabapentin, 600 mg bid for the first two weeks, increased to a maximum dose of 1800 mg per day during the next 6 weeks if necessary.
  Other Name: Neurontine
• Drug: placebo
  placebo is given with the same definition as Gabapentin

• Active Comparator: 1
  Randomly,half of the subjects are given Gabapentin.
  Intervention: Drug: Gabapentin
• Placebo Comparator: 2
  Randomly,half of the subjects receive placebo.
  Intervention: Drug: placebo

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with subjective idiopathic tinnitus

Exclusion Criteria:

• tinnitus with known underlying cause
• pregnant women and patients younger than 18 or older than 75 years
• patients with impaired renal function