Calcium Entry Blocker Flunarizine for Treatment of Sudden Deafness

Abstract

We examined the effects of a new type of calcium entry blocker, flunarizine, which acts specifically on intracranial blood vessels, upon patients with idiopathic sudden deafness. Eighteen patients with sudden deafness who exhibited flat pure tone audiogram were selected for evaluation. Eleven patients were administered one tablet (10mg) of flunarizine a day, with or without other modalities unless their pharmacological effects were similar to this substance. Seven patients not receiving flunarizine served as controls. The regimens of their therapy were mostly stellate ganglion block or intravenous steroids injection.
Patients who were cured or showed marked recovery accounted for 64% in the flunarizine group, compared with 43% in the control group. The difference of the hearing level between before- and after- treatment was 34.3dB in the flunarizine group and 24.9dB in the control group. The findings suggest that flunarizine has several pharmacological advantages and seems to be a good candidate for the drug used in combination with other established regimens for sudden deafness.