2013 Volume 72 Issue 3 Pages 171-175
Many researchers have reported the effects of paroxetine chloride on vertigo patients, but most of the analyses have been based on subjective evaluations. In this study, we attempted to determine whether paroxetine chloride might decrease the frequency of vertigo attacks and resolve the hearing impairment in patients with Meniere's disease. The subjects were 7 females with Meniere's disease treated with paroxetine chloride, seen from January 2006 to September 2009. The patients ranged in age from 25 to 58 years. The mean duration of treatment was 22.4 (±27.6) months. The patients' psychiatric diagnoses were as follows: depression (1 case), panic disorder (3 cases), adjustment disorder (1 case), and insomnia (1 case was unspecified). The course of the vertigo attack and hearing impairment could be tracked in 7 cases and 9 ears (5 cases), respectively. The mean frequency of the vertigo attacks decreased significantly from 1.5 (±1.4) prior to treatment to 0.71 (±1.1) by 3 months of treatment and 0.14 (±0.41) by 6 months of treatment. The mean hearing level was 19.2 (±3.6) dB before the treatment and 20.6 (±8.6) dB after the treatment. These results suggest that paroxetine chloride can improve the frequency of vertigo attacks, but not the hearing impairment, in patients with Meniere's disease.
