Relieve Tinnitus with an injection in ear
Tinnitus is the term for unexplained noise in the ear, such as a high-pitched whistling, ringing or hissing. The noise might be constant, or come & go over time. Tinnitus can be triggered by conditions such as high blood pressure. In some cases it is linked to anxiety. In others, noise induced hearing loss. In many cases, however, the cause is unknown. New researches found an injection that is administered into eardrum could help relieve tinnitus.
An injection contains a drug that blocks the brain chemical glutamate, which is thought to play a key role in the development of tinnitus. Laboratory research showed that a single dose of the drug cured tinnitus in people with noise-induced hearing loss. The treatment focuses on the fact that hearing problems such as tinnitus are linked to excessive amounts of glutamate.
Glutamate plays a key role in the way nerve cells such as those in the ear or in the auditory nerve communicate with the brain. Normally, the auditory nerve carries signals which the brain decodes into what we understand as sounds. When hearing problems develop, this can lead to too much glutamate being produced. The excess of glutamate is thought to trigger a misfiring of the auditory nerve, which results in inappropriate signals being sent through to the brain, causing tinnitus.
The new drug called AM-101 is thought to block the auditory nerve, stopping it from misfiring. AM-101 is administered by intratympanic injection - through the eardrum. Prior to the injection, the patient is given a local anesthetic in the eardrum. A fine needle is then used to perforate the eardrum. The drug is injected into the middle ear.
During the procedure & for 30 minutes afterwards, patients have to lie on their side with their treated ear facing upwards, to allow for maximum penetration of the drug into the ear. Although there are many possible treatments, including anti-depressants, various herbs, distracting devices & behavior therapy but there is no cure. However, the new treatment appears to be an effective therapy for noise-induced tinnitus.
An injection contains a drug that blocks the brain chemical glutamate, which is thought to play a key role in the development of tinnitus. Laboratory research showed that a single dose of the drug cured tinnitus in people with noise-induced hearing loss. The treatment focuses on the fact that hearing problems such as tinnitus are linked to excessive amounts of glutamate.
Glutamate plays a key role in the way nerve cells such as those in the ear or in the auditory nerve communicate with the brain. Normally, the auditory nerve carries signals which the brain decodes into what we understand as sounds. When hearing problems develop, this can lead to too much glutamate being produced. The excess of glutamate is thought to trigger a misfiring of the auditory nerve, which results in inappropriate signals being sent through to the brain, causing tinnitus.
The new drug called AM-101 is thought to block the auditory nerve, stopping it from misfiring. AM-101 is administered by intratympanic injection - through the eardrum. Prior to the injection, the patient is given a local anesthetic in the eardrum. A fine needle is then used to perforate the eardrum. The drug is injected into the middle ear.
During the procedure & for 30 minutes afterwards, patients have to lie on their side with their treated ear facing upwards, to allow for maximum penetration of the drug into the ear. Although there are many possible treatments, including anti-depressants, various herbs, distracting devices & behavior therapy but there is no cure. However, the new treatment appears to be an effective therapy for noise-induced tinnitus.
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