List of investigational tinnitus drugs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of investigational tinnitus drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of tinnitus but are not yet approved.
Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses. The format of list items is "Name (Synonyms) – Mechanism of Action [Reference]".
This list was last comprehensively updated in September 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.
Phase 2
- Brexanolone (allopregnanolone; SAGE-547; SGE-102; Zulresso) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and neurosteroid
- Ebselen (DR-3305; ebselene; ebseleno; ebselenum; harmokisane; PZ-51; SPI-1005; SPI-3005) – various actions [1]
Not under development
Suspended
- Esketamine ((S)-ketamine; AM-101; esketamine otic gel; Keyzilen) – ionotropic glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist [2][3]
No development reported
- AM-102 (AM102) – sodium–potassium–chloride symporter inhibitor
- AUT-00063 – shaw potassium channel modulator
- Disufenton/acetylcysteine (disufenton/N-acetylcysteine; HPN-07/NAC; NHPN-1010; NXY-059/NAC) – free radical inhibitor and oxygen radical scavenger
- EGb-761 (GBE 761; Gingogink; Ginkgo biloba special extract; Tanakan; Tebonin; Tramisal) – various actions [4]
- (R)-Ketoprofen – cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Research programme: fluorine-based therapeutics/radiolabelled diagnostics - OcuTerra Therapeutics (SF-0034) – various actions
- Seliforant (SENS-111; UR-63325) – histamine H4 receptor antagonist
Discontinued
- Gacyclidine intratympanic controlled release – ionotropic glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist
- Lidocaine transdermal patch (ADL-87223; LidoPAIN) – sodium channel blocker
- Neramexane (KRP-209; MRZ 2/579) – ionotropic glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator
- Selurampanel (BGG-492; BGG-492A) – ionotropic glutamate AMPA and kainate receptor antagonist [5]
- Sodium phenylbutyrate slow-release (4-PB-D-alanin; LU-901; Lunaphen) – histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor
- Vestipitant (GW-597599; GW-597599B) – neurokinin NK1 receptor antagonist
Clinically used drugs
Approved drugs
- Caroverine (Spasmium, Tinnitin, Tinnex) – calcium channel blocker, NMDA receptor antagonist, and other actions
- Pentoxifylline (BL-191; Claudicat; Dospan Pento; Elorgan; oxpentifylline; Trental) – non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor and adenosine receptor antagonist [6]
- Trimetazidine (Adexor; Flavedon; Idaptan; Preductal; S-5016; Trimetazine; Vastarel; Vastinan) – long-chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase inhibitor and other actions [7]
Off-label drugs
- Antidepressants (e.g., sertraline, nortriptyline, amitriptyline)[8][9]
- Benzodiazepines (GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators) (e.g., alprazolam, clonazepam)[8]
- Corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone)[9][10]
- Gabapentinoids (α2δ subunit-containing voltage-gated calcium channel ligands) (e.g., gabapentin)[8][9]
- Others (e.g., acamprosate, melatonin)[8][9]