The efficacy of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 in patients with tinnitus.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the present study in 60 patients with chronic tinnitus aurium was to confirm the efficacy of oral treatment with 2 x 80 mg Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 per day subsequent to 10-day EGb 761 infusion treatment.

METHODS:

Patients with chronic tinnitus aurium underwent 10 days of in-patient infusion treatment with 200 mg/day EGb 761, after which they were randomized to double-blind, oral out-patient treatment with either 2 x 80 mg/day EGb 761 or placebo, given over a scheduled treatment period of 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in tinnitus volume in the more severely affected ear during randomized treatment.

RESULTS:

Fifty-two of 60 patients (89.7%) completed the infusion treatment; complete sets of data were available for 40 (66.7%), 30 (50.0%) and 22 (36.7%) patients after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of randomized treatment, respectively. For the primary outcome measure, significant superiority of EGb 761 over placebo was demonstrated in the intention-to-treat analysis data set after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of out-patient treatment (p < 0.05, 1-tailed), although the absolute treatment group difference was moderate. The results were supported by the secondary outcome measures for efficacy (e.g. decreased hearing loss, improved self-assessment of subjective impairment). During out-patient treatment, there were no attributable adverse events under EGb 761.

CONCLUSIONS:

A combination of infusion therapy followed by oral administration of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 appears to be effective and safe in alleviating the symptoms associated with tinnitus aurium.

• Authors: C Morgenstern, E Biermann
• Journal: International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 188-97 (May 2002) ISSN: 0946-1965 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12051570 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Plant Extracts
• Ginkgo biloba extract

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Biometry
• Chronic Disease
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Ginkgo biloba
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Tinnitus (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome