The objective of this project is to determine whether acamprosate is more effective at
providing relief for tinnitus than a placebo.
Acamprosate has been suggested to be effective in reducing tinnitus annoyance in a
preliminary study. Study evidence indicates that tinnitus is related to increased excitatory
spontaneous brain activities. Acamprosate may help restore the excitatory/inhibitory balance
in the brain and thus reduce tinnitus.
The current study includes three phases. The first phase is an open-label screening study
used to identify tinnitus subjects responding to acamprosate. These responding subjects will
enter the second phase, which is a double blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at confirming
the subjects' responses to acamprosate. In the third phase, clinical parameters of both
responders and non-responders will be compared using a multi-linear regression model to
determine characteristics that define the sub-group of tinnitus patients that are likely to
benefit from acamprosate treatment. Participation in the study requires that individuals come
to Portland, Oregon at least 6 times over 16 months for evaluation and data collection.