The role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants in addressing reduction of Meniere's disease burden: A scoping review

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in reducing vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss among patients with Meniere's disease (MD).Data SourcesThe following databases were utilized in this scoping review: Ovid Medline, PubMed-NCBI, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and .MethodStudies were identified through the following search phrases: "serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors" OR "tricyclic antidepressants" AND "Meniere's disease." References from included manuscripts were examined for possible inclusion of additional studies.ResultsThe literature search yielded 23 results, which were screened by three independent reviewers. Seventeen studies and three duplicates were excluded. An examination of references from the included studies yielded two additional publications. A total of four published studies assessing SSRIs and TCAs among 147 patients with MD were ultimately included. Four studies described significant reductions in vertigo attack frequency among patients treated with either SSRIs or TCAs compared to their pretreatment baseline. Three studies assessed the drugs' effects on hearing, of which none found a significant difference among patients treated with SSRIs or TCAs. One study found a significant decrease in patient-reported tinnitus following treatment with TCAs or SSRIs compared to their pretreatment baseline.ConclusionsData exploring SSRIs and TCAs among patients with MD suggests that these medications may reduce the frequency of tinnitus and vertigo, although there was significant heterogeneity in outcome reporting. There remains a need for larger-scale prospective studies that emphasize objective data to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing common MD symptoms. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are potentially effective in relieving the burden of a chronic inner ear disorder, Meniere's disease. These medications may help reduce vertigo and tinnitus symptoms. There remains a need for larger-scale prospective studies to further evaluate their effectiveness.