CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of an auditory stimulus, is perceived by about one in 10 adults, and for at least 1 in 100, tinnitus severely affects their quality of life. Since tinnitus is frequently associated with irritability, agitation, stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression, the social and economic burdens of tinnitus can be enormous. No curative treatments are available and the most widespread used therapies consist of auditory stimulation and cognitive behavioural treatment, aiming at improving habituation and coping strategies. Most pharmacological treatments are employed to treat specific troubling symptoms rather than the core feature of the disorder itself. Therefore, more effective pharmacotherapies are desperately needed. Even a drug that produces only a small but significant effect would have a huge therapeutic impact. This review describes current and emerging pharmacotherapies that may advance the treatment of tinnitus