Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Preliminary research by scientists from the California Ear Institute and Bridges Medical Clinic in California lends credence to other work that suggests the popular anti-wrinkle treatment, Botox, may ease tinnitus symptoms. The researchers are quick to note that more study is needed, but the initial results are intriguing. The study is being presented this week in a session entitled “Evaluation of Botox in Treatment of Tinnitus” at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in New York City.

Although the reasons for why a person might experience persistent tinnitus is still highly controversial, the presence of “ringing in the ears” is thought by some experts to be related to the autonomic nervous system. Botox is a well-known treatment for skin wrinkles and frown lines, but it has also been applied to serious medical conditions like strabismus, spasmodic altered voice production, failure of the voice muscles to relax, and cervical dystonia. Additionally, Botox is thought to block not only acetylcholine in migraine sufferers, but inhibit the release of other neurotransmitters and neuropeptides important in the autonomic pathway. These successes in blocking autonomic pathways—which are, as mentioned earlier, linked to tinnitus—led researchers to examine Botox as a potential tool in tinnitus treatment.

Katrina R. Stidham, MD, California Ear Institute at San Ramon, Perry Solomon, MD, Director-Bridges Medical Clinic for Botox rx for Migraines and Hyperhydrosis, and Joseph B. Roberson, MD, California Ear, are the principle investigators in the study. Last year, Stidham conducted a double-blind study [Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Jun;132(6):883-9] of 26 tinnitus patients who were injected with Botox around the outside of the ear exhibiting the worst tinnitus. Botox improved 7 (27%) of the patients’ tinnitus, while 3 (11%) of the patients got worse; on placebo, 2 improved and 7 got worse. Stidham et al conclude that, “Larger studies need to be completed to further evaluate potential benefits of botulinum toxin A in treatment of this difficult problem.” To see the abstract of the study, click here.

A conclusion from a report published 4 years ago [.J Med Assoc Thai. 2002;85(3):392-395 ] also stated that “…Botox was used to treat a small number of patients with tinnitus originating from a variety of causes. While the results suggest a positive effect of Botox on irritation from tinnitus, the authors recommend a larger study to document repeatable results prior to drawing definitive conclusions regarding the potential benefits of Botox in treatment of tinnitus.”