Oral Mycostatin as a possible alternative treatment for intractable Ménière's disease: preliminary cohort study.

BACKGROUND

The potential efficacy of antifungal agents (e.g. Mycostatin) in treating acute attacks of Ménière's disease was first suggested in 1983 but few data have been published. Oral Mycostatin has been used as second-line medical treatment for intractable Ménière's disease at our institution for many years.

OBJECTIVE

This preliminary cohort study investigated the role of oral Mycostatin in intractable Ménière's disease.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with intractable Ménière's disease who started oral Mycostatin treatment between 2010 and 2012 was conducted.

RESULTS

Of 256 patients presenting with vertiginous disorders, 26 had definite Ménière's disease and had not responded to standard first-line treatment. Following oral Mycostatin treatment, improvements were reported for vertigo (n = 8), aural fullness (n = 7), tinnitus (n = 3) and subjective hearing loss (n = 3). Half of those with symptom improvement persisted with oral Mycostatin for two years and continued to remain asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

The use of oral Mycostatin to alleviate symptoms of intractable Ménière's disease showed promising results in this case series. Mycostatin may offer a safe and useful alternative for the management of Ménière's disease for patients with chronic unremitting symptoms in whom first-line treatment options have failed.