Abstract
Ninety-one patients with Meniere's disease gave their informed consent and were randomly allocated to four treatment groups. The four treatment groups were then given the following drugs : group 1, a serotonergic antianxiety drug (tandospirone ; Sediel®); group 2, a benzodiazepine tranquilizer (alprazolam ; Solanax®); group 3, tandospirone and alprazolam in combination ; and group 4, a betahistine mesilate (Merislon®). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) test and the Toho Medical Index (TMI) test were administered before and after drug ingestion ; these questionnaires surveyed the anxiety and autonomic nervous system function of the patients. The patients symptoms were then classified according to severity. All drugs were administered for at least 4 weeks.
The results showed that the combination of tandospirone and alprazolam produced the most significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms of Meniere's disease. Thus, antianxiety drugs appear to be effective for the treatment of Meniere's disease.
