ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Neurotec® herbal capsule (100 mg twice a day for 3 months) on the tinnitus symptoms in comparison with the placebo. DESIGN: A double-blind randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Otolaryngology clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients suffering from subjective tinnitus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pure tone audiometry was measured at .5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 kHz frequencies before and after the third month of intervention. In addition, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire as well as visual analogue scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness, daily annoyance, daily life or sleep disturbance, daily perception and mood alteration were evaluated. RESULTS: Finally, 103 (69 males and 34 females) patients with a mean age of 51.33 ± 13.91 years were analysed. In contrast with control group, patients in intervention group showed a remarkable decrease in THI score after 3 months of treatment (p < .05). Although both groups had improvements in VAS scores, mood disturbance, daily tinnitus perception and daily life alteration scores were only improved in the intervention group. The mean pure tone air and bone conduction were not significantly different between the control and the intervention group at baseline and 3 months after the intervention at .5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz (p > .05). CONCLUSION: A 3-month treatment with Neurotec capsules in addition to patient education is of benefit for managing symptoms in patients with chronic tinnitus.