METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TINNITUS INDUCED BY COCHLEAR EXCITOTOXICITY
The invention relates to methods for the prevention and/or treatment of tinnitus induced by cochlear excitotoxicity. In these methods, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an NMDA receptor antagonist is administered to an individual in need of such treatment by appropriate devices and/or formulations for local administration to the inner ear. The tinnitus to be prevented and/or treated may be provoked by acoustic trauma, presbycusis, ischemia, anoxia, treatment with one or more ototoxic medications, sudden deafness, or other cochlear excitotoxic-inducing occurrence. The invention also relates to method for the identification of compounds effective in the treatment and prevention of tinnitus by a novel screening method incorporating an electrophysiological test method.
1 . A method of reducing the perception of tinnitus in a human in need thereof comprising administering to the human a pharmaceutical composition comprising ketamine.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tinnitus is acute.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tinnitus results from acoustic trauma, presbycusis, ischemia, anoxia, infection, exposure to ototoxic drugs, or sudden deafness.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tinnitus results from an occurrence that induces cochlear excitotoxicity.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tinnitus persists for more than 24 hours.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a ketamine analog, a ketamine derivative, a ketamine enantiomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the ketamine enantiomer is (S)-ketamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is hydrochloride salt.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a gel.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the gel is a hyaluronate gel.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered topically via the round window membrane or the oval window membrane to the inner ear.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by a transtympanic injection.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is delivered to the middle ear.
14 . A method of ameliorating persistent tinnitus in a human in need thereof comprising administering to the human a pharmaceutical composition comprising ketamine.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tinnitus is acute.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tinnitus results from acoustic trauma, presbycusis, ischemia, anoxia, infection, exposure to ototoxic drugs, or sudden deafness.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tinnitus results from an occurrence that induces cochlear excitotoxicity.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tinnitus persists for more than 24 hours.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a ketamine analog, a ketamine derivative, a ketamine enantiomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the ketamine enantiomer is (S)-ketamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is hydrochloride salt.
22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a gel.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the gel is a hyaluronate gel.
24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered topically via the round window membrane or the oval window membrane to the inner ear.
25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by a transtympanic injection.
26 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is delivered to the middle ear.