Comparison of Melatonin and Sertraline Therapies on Tinnitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial

[Tigo]

Comparison of Melatonin and Sertraline Therapies on Tinnitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing without external acoustic stimulants which affects almost 10% of general population. Many therapies have been recommended including diet modifications, herbal remedies, and chemical drugs. Most common utilized drugs for tinnitus are melatonin and antidepressants such as sertraline which have been proven in different studies. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of melatonin and sertraline in treating tinnitus for the first time.

METHODS:
In this clinical trial, 70 patients with tinnitus according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were included and randomly divided into two groups: melatonin group, taking melatonin 3 mg once daily and sertraline group taking sertraline 50 mg once daily, all treating for 3 months. Before and after treatments, every patient received Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and severity of tinnitus was assessed, and data analysis was performed.

RESULTS:
Before treatments, the mean of THI score for melatonin and sertraline groups were 45.02 ± 17.67 and 44.85 ± 20.57, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups THI score (P = 0.23). After 3 months, the mean of THI scores for melatonin and sertraline groups were 30.29 ± 19.62 and 36.96 ± 25.03, respectively which the mean of THI scores in two groups was decreased significantly (P < 0.01, for-both). In addition, indicated the significant decline in THI score of melatonin group who were under treatments with melatonin 3 mg once daily (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:
Here in this clinical trial, we demonstrated that both melatonin and sertraline are efficient in treating tinnitus, but the usage of melatonin 3 mg once daily is more effective.

KEYWORDS:
Melatonin; sertraline; tinnitus

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

There is another study that suggests Melatonin assists with Tinnitus as well - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21859051. Personally, its never helped me but only made me sleepy the next day.

I know Zoloft is one of the AD's often used for Tinnitus as well; but thats probably because its also one of the most popular AD's prescribed by physicians.

 

[jimH]

I took three mg a day for more than a year. It didn't help me either with regard to my T. However, it did help me to sleep better. As you already know, there are different conditions that cause Tinnitus. So, I think it's one of those things that a person has to try and see for themselves if it helps.

 

[HomeoHebbian]

Comparison of Melatonin and Sertraline Therapies on Tinnitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing without external acoustic stimulants which affects almost 10% of general population. Many therapies have been recommended including diet modifications, herbal remedies, and chemical drugs. Most common utilized drugs for tinnitus are melatonin and antidepressants such as sertraline which have been proven in different studies. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of melatonin and sertraline in treating tinnitus for the first time.

METHODS:
In this clinical trial, 70 patients with tinnitus according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were included and randomly divided into two groups: melatonin group, taking melatonin 3 mg once daily and sertraline group taking sertraline 50 mg once daily, all treating for 3 months. Before and after treatments, every patient received Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and severity of tinnitus was assessed, and data analysis was performed.

RESULTS:
Before treatments, the mean of THI score for melatonin and sertraline groups were 45.02 ± 17.67 and 44.85 ± 20.57, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups THI score (P = 0.23). After 3 months, the mean of THI scores for melatonin and sertraline groups were 30.29 ± 19.62 and 36.96 ± 25.03, respectively which the mean of THI scores in two groups was decreased significantly (P < 0.01, for-both). In addition, indicated the significant decline in THI score of melatonin group who were under treatments with melatonin 3 mg once daily (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:
Here in this clinical trial, we demonstrated that both melatonin and sertraline are efficient in treating tinnitus, but the usage of melatonin 3 mg once daily is more effective.

KEYWORDS:
Melatonin; sertraline; tinnitus

Tinnitus is measured through a highly subjective self report. Any type of clinical study that uses self-report instead of an objective measure runs the risk of having placebo effects strongly influence their outcome measure. If a study like this does not include a placebo control, it is, at best, an interesting curiosity. You cannot make any strong claims regarding tinnitus management and care without a properly designed study, that includes the necessary control groups. This is science 101.

 

[Alue]

Tinnitus is measured through a highly subjective self report. Any type of clinical study that uses self-report instead of an objective measure runs the risk of having placebo effects strongly influence their outcome measure. If a study like this does not include a placebo control, it is, at best, an interesting curiosity. You cannot make any strong claims regarding tinnitus management and care without a properly designed study, that includes the necessary control groups. This is science 101.

I agree, but how do you measure it objectively? When I was a patient in the AM-101 trials they did tinnitus volume matching tests (DBSL) and repeated it multiple times for consistency, but even that is somewhat subjective.

 

[Onsdag]

How can melatonin be effective? It improves sleep so easier to cope with tinnitus?

 

[AnnieM]

Melatonin was one thing I took to help me sleep at night but apparently I must be acclimating to it. I'm up to 12 mg a night (I take the Alteril brand, which has several other natural sleep aids included) and I still need to take an occasional sleeping pill. Partly this is a response to worsening tinnitus but also because of several extremely stressful things happening around me concurrently.

 

[Onsdag]

I'm up to 12 mg a night

Isn't 3 mg a maximum dosage one can take melatonin? Is 12 mg even safe...?

 

[Spiral]

Isn't 3 mg a maximum dosage one can take melatonin? Is 12 mg even safe...?

Melatonin is a natural hormone that is produced by the brain. People take it to help them sleep when their brain doesn't produce enough of it. It regulates the circadian rhythm that the body uses to set sleep schedules.

To answer your question, no, 12 mg is not unsafe. Excessive, but sometimes it helps with rough nights. It is very difficult to overdose on most naturally produced hormones.

Before I took legitimate sleeping medication like I do now, I used only over the counter sleep aids.

Many years ago, out of frustration with horrible insomnia, I took half of a bottle of Melatonin. 23 pills, each 3 mg. 23x3=69 mg. Let's say that not all of the hormone was absorbed so it was likely just above the 60 mg mark and all I got was slight nausea and I slept the whole night, plus through most of my classes that day.

Boy did I ever have a sleep hangover and massive lethargy the next day. But... I was fine.

Now I take 2 (sometimes modified to 3 or 4) quick dissolve tablets both of which are 3 mg and dissolve them under the tongue along with Lunesta. I sleep much better nowadays.

Still makes no difference on the T though.

 

[Matchbox]

I'd seriously question the use of ingesting a neurologically active hormone for over a year at high doses aka above 3 mg which is all that the body makes and is bioavailable anyways as safe.

I'd suggest it could even worsen tinnitus as whichever negative feedback biochemical process is certainly inhibited by doing this.

A lot of enzymes can have more than one job so who knows by doing this what else you've put the brakes on in your neurochemistry.

 

[Rb86]

I take 10 mg Melatonin every night to sleep. Probably at least for the last 5 months. No effect on my tinnitus but it definitely helps me get a good night's sleep most nights.

 

[KazM]

I'd seriously question the use of ingesting a neurologically active hormone for over a year at high doses aka above 3 mg which is all that the body makes and is bioavailable anyways as safe.

I'd suggest it could even worsen tinnitus as whichever negative feedback biochemical process is certainly inhibited by doing this.

A lot of enzymes can have more than one job so who knows by doing this what else you've put the brakes on in your neurochemistry.

Melatonin production reduces as we age and so taking Melatonin isn't harmful as we get older. It isn't recommended for younger people as they normally produce it sufficiently.

That being said, when the brain is impacted by tinnitus I believe that the normal cycle of brainwaves during sleep is interrupted and this can have an impact on the body's other processes and also mental well being.

If someone finds Melatonin can help with sleep issues then it's certainly worth having some on hand for those rough patches, I do.