Vinaya Manchaiah1,2,3,4, Alicia Brazelton5, Hansapani Rodrigo6, Eldré W Beukes1,7, Marc A Fagelson8,9, Gerhard Andersson10,11, Meghana V Trivedi5. 1. Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. 2. Virtual Hearing Lab, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. 3. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. 4. Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India. 5. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, TX. 6. School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX. 7. Vision and Hearing Sciences Research Group and School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 8. Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. 9. Audiologic Rehabilitation Laboratory, Auditory Vestibular Research Enhancement Award Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN. 10. Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. 11. Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study examined medication use by individuals with tinnitus who were seeking help for their tinnitus by means of a psychological intervention. METHOD: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and included individuals with tinnitus enrolled in an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy trial (n = 439). Study participants provided demographic details, completed various structured questionnaires and provided details about the medications used. The self-reported medications were classified using the United States Pharmacopeial Medicare Model Guidelines v7.0. RESULTS: Current medication use was reported by 67% (n = 293) of the study participants. Those currently using medication were older; had consulted their primary care physician, had greater tinnitus severity, depression, anxiety, and insomnia when compared with those not reporting any current medication use. The top 10 medication used included cardiovascular agents (n = 162; 55.3%), antidepressants (n = 80; 27.3%), electrolytes/minerals/metals/vitamins (n = 70; 23.9%), respiratory tract/pulmonary agents (n = 62; 21.2%), anxiolytics (n = 59; 20.1%), hormonal agents/stimulant/replacement/modifying (thyroid; n = 45; 15.4%), gastrointestinal agents (n = 43; 14.7%), analgesics (n = 33; 11.3%), blood glucose regulators (n = 32; 10.9%), and anticonvulsants (n = 26; 8.87%). Some associations between type of medication used and demographic or tinnitus-related variables were noted especially for the cardiovascular agents, electrolytes/minerals/metals/vitamins, and anxiolytics. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study indicated a large percentage of patients using medication and a range of medications. Further studies are required to assess the effects of such medications on the tinnitus percept and concurrent medication moderate treatment effects.
PURPOSE: This study examined medication use by individuals with tinnitus who were seeking help for their tinnitus by means of a psychological intervention. METHOD: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and included individuals with tinnitus enrolled in an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy trial (n = 439). Study participants provided demographic details, completed various structured questionnaires and provided details about the medications used. The self-reported medications were classified using the United States Pharmacopeial Medicare Model Guidelines v7.0. RESULTS: Current medication use was reported by 67% (n = 293) of the study participants. Those currently using medication were older; had consulted their primary care physician, had greater tinnitus severity, depression, anxiety, and insomnia when compared with those not reporting any current medication use. The top 10 medication used included cardiovascular agents (n = 162; 55.3%), antidepressants (n = 80; 27.3%), electrolytes/minerals/metals/vitamins (n = 70; 23.9%), respiratory tract/pulmonary agents (n = 62; 21.2%), anxiolytics (n = 59; 20.1%), hormonal agents/stimulant/replacement/modifying (thyroid; n = 45; 15.4%), gastrointestinal agents (n = 43; 14.7%), analgesics (n = 33; 11.3%), blood glucose regulators (n = 32; 10.9%), and anticonvulsants (n = 26; 8.87%). Some associations between type of medication used and demographic or tinnitus-related variables were noted especially for the cardiovascular agents, electrolytes/minerals/metals/vitamins, and anxiolytics. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study indicated a large percentage of patients using medication and a range of medications. Further studies are required to assess the effects of such medications on the tinnitus percept and concurrent medication moderate treatment effects.
Authors: Mary B Meikle; James A Henry; Susan E Griest; Barbara J Stewart; Harvey B Abrams; Rachel McArdle; Paula J Myers; Craig W Newman; Sharon Sandridge; Dennis C Turk; Robert L Folmer; Eric J Frederick; John W House; Gary P Jacobson; Sam E Kinney; William H Martin; Stephen M Nagler; Gloria E Reich; Grant Searchfield; Robert Sweetow; Jack A Vernon Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2012 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 3.570