Misoprostol for tinnitus.

Practitioners should realize that further study of misoprostol in larger patient populations must be undertaken to determine its efficacy and safety in the treatment of tinnitus. Previous approaches to treating tinnitus have included carbamazepine, phenytoin, lidocaine, tocainide, flecainide acetate, alprazolam, and nortriptyline. Studies using lidocaine, nortriptyline, or alprazolam have shown encouraging results. The relative contribution of misoprostol remains to be seen; however, it may offer a new treatment option to patients who have experienced adverse effects or have contraindications to the pharmacologic agents currently available.