Could migraine meds silence tinnitus? new trial investigates
NCT ID NCT04404439
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether two combinations of migraine medications can reduce the impact of moderate-to-severe tinnitus. 78 adults were randomly assigned to receive either nortriptyline plus topiramate, verapamil plus paroxetine, or a placebo. The main goal was to see if these drugs improve tinnitus symptoms, as measured by the Tinnitus Functional Index.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Nortriptyline + Topiramate, or Verapamil + Paroxetine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new medication option to ease tinnitus symptoms and improve quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small Phase 4 trial with only 78 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drugs also have side effects and may not work better than placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
78 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Sep 2019
- Finished
-
Dec 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
25 to 85 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with moderate to severe tinnitus. * Male or female between the ages of 25 to 85 years. * Subject must be compliant with the medication and attend study visits. * Must be able to read and write in the English language to provide consenting. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy will result in automatic exclusion from the study. Rule out of pregnancy will be done by a urine pregnancy test to confirm the situation for all women who are of child bearing potential. * Subject with history of an adverse reaction to medication being prescribed. * Subject suffers from a medical condition or has history that may be concerning to the investigators clinical opinion. * All contraindications for the medications which prevent subjects from randomization will be considered as exclusion criteria.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of California, Irvine Medical Center ENT Clinic (Pavilion 2)
Orange, California, 92868, United States
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