Double-blind study on the effectiveness of a bioflavonoid in the control of tinnitus in otosclerosis.

Ipriflavone (7-isopropoxy-isoflavone) was attempted to relieve tinnitus of otosclerotic patients prior to stapedectomy and continuing the treatment postoperatively in a 6 months regimen. As a whole the double-blind study revealed effectiveness of Ipriflavone in the control of tinnitus when preoperatively administered as well as in combination with stapedectomy. The small number of cases (9 patients treated with Ipriflavone and 7 patients with placebo) needs further confirmation of the present data. Predominantly low-tone tinnitus rises the possibility of its cochlear origin in otosclerosis, as a consequence of mechanical or hydrodynamic causes or hydrostatic pressure elevation due to spread of the otosclerotic focus onto the cochlear duct.