Melatonin: Can it stop the ringing?
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We sought to report the efficacy of oral melatonin as treatment for chronic tinnitus and to determine whether particular subsets of tinnitus patients have greater benefit from melatonin therapy than others. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial in an ambulatory tertiary referral otology and neurotology practice. Adults with chronic tinnitus were randomized to 3 mg melatonin or placebo nightly for 30 days followed by a 1-month washout period. Each group then crossed into the opposite treatment arm for 30 days. The tests audiometric tinnitus matching (TM), Tinnitus Severity Index (TSI), Self Rated Tinnitus (SRT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered at the outset and every 30 days thereafter to assess the effects of each intervention. RESULTS: A total of 61 subjects completed the study. A significantly greater decrease in TM and SRT scores (p < 0.05) from baseline was observed after treatment with melatonin relative to the effect observed with placebo. Male gender, bilateral tinnitus, noise exposure, no prior tinnitus treatment, absence of depression and/or anxiety at baseline, and greater pretreatment TSI scores were associated with a positive response to melatonin. Absence of depression and/or anxiety at baseline, greater pretreatment TSI scores, and greater pretreatment SRT scores were found to be positively associated with greater likelihood of improvement in both tinnitus and sleep with use of melatonin (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin is associated with a statistically significant decrease in tinnitus intensity and improved sleep quality in patients with chronic tinnitus. Melatonin is most effective in men, those without a history of depression, those who have not undergone prior tinnitus treatments, those with more severe and bilateral tinnitus, and those with a history of noise exposure.
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Melatonin treatment produced a significantly greater decrease in tinnitus scores and self-rated tinnitus than placebo in one study of adults with chronic tinnitus.
“One study observed a significantly greater decrease in tinnitus scores on an audiometric test and self-rated tinnitus after treatment with melatonin compared to placebo [112].”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [112]
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“One study observed a significantly greater decrease in tinnitus scores on an audiometric test and self-rated tinnitus after treatment with melatonin compared to placebo [113].”
BackgroundTherapeutic approaches to the treatment of tinnitus
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- Authors
- Hurtuk, A., Dome, C., Holloman, C. H., Wolfe, K., Welling, D. B., Dodson, E. E., & Jacob, A.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- ORCID
- Welling, D. Bradley
- Venue
- Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-07
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 433-440
- ISSN
- 0003-4894 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-572X
- OpenAlex
- W2170538860
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Noise Effects and Management
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- melatonin, chronic tinnitus, tinnitus treatment, sleep quality, tinnitus severity, depression, noise exposure, bilateral tinnitus, predictors of treatment response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Central Nervous System Depressants, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Melatonin, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Sleep, Tinnitus, Cross-Over Studies
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