Efficacy Assessment and Safety Considerations in Using Ginkgo Biloba Extract for Treating Tinnitus Patients

Background and Aim: Even though close to 30% of people experience tinnitus at some point in their lives, the latter is generally perceived as an annoyance rather than a major health issue in the majority of cases. However, approximately 0.5% of sufferers report significant impairment in their quality of life. Pharmacological treatment using vasodilating agents has been tried in patients with debilitating symptoms. The aim of the present study is to report the efficacy and safety of ginkgo biloba in the treatment of tinnitus.

Materials and Methods: Of the 56 patients who were enrolled in the study (25 males and 31 females), 45 suffered from bilateral tinnitus (80.36%) and 11 from unilateral tinnitus (19.64%). The patients were interviewed and given a full neurotological examination. Additional testing included ABR, ENG, and brain MRI, when indicated. The severity of tinnitus was personally assessed by the patients, with the use of a 0–5 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In the absence of any contraindication, ginkgo biloba was prescribed at an initial dose of 80 mg three times per day. The patients were reviewed twice at 6-week intervals.

Results: Sixteen patients (28.6%) completed the study. Initial VAS scoring was 3.59, and VAS scoring at 3 months was 2.09. The observed improvement was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Most of the patients that showed improvement had symptom duration of less than 1 year. The incidence of adverse effects necessitating cessation of the drug was 5.35%. These effects included dizziness, hematomas of the lower extremities, and redness of the upper extremities.

Conclusion: Ginkgo biloba appears to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of tinnitus, demonstrating a reasonably safe profile. Tinnitus sufferers of less than 1 year seem to benefit the most. However, adverse effects may occur despite careful patient selection, necessitating increased surveillance. Additional studies are warranted to compare the effectiveness of ginkgo over placebo.