Nitrous Oxide Treatment for Tinnitus
Tinnitus
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Tinnitus focused on measuring Nitrous Oxide
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult men and women 18-65 years of age
- Subjective, unilateral or bilateral, non-pulsatile tinnitus scoring "Bothered more than a little but not a lot", "Bothered a lot", or "Extremely bothered" on the Global Bothersome scale
- Able to give informed consent
- Must be able to read, write, and understand English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Substance abuse or dependence (except for remote substance abuse or dependence with remission at least 1 year prior to the study and except for nicotine use disorders)
- Acute medical illness that may pose subject at risk during nitrous oxide administration
- Active psychotic symptoms
- Patients with significant pulmonary disease and/or requiring supplemental oxygen
- Contraindication against the use of nitrous oxide:
- Pneumothorax
- Bowel obstruction
- Middle ear occlusion
- Elevated intracranial pressure
- Chronic cobalamin and/or folate deficiency treated with folic acid or vitamin B12
- Pregnant patients
- Breastfeeding women
- Previous administration of NMDA-receptor antagonists (e.g., ketamine) within the last 3 months
- Tinnitus related to cochlear implantation, retrocochlear lesion, Meniere's Disease, or other known anatomic lesions of the ear or temporal bone
- Tinnitus related to a Workman's Compensation claim or litigation-related event that is still pending.
- Any medical condition, which, in the opinion of the PI, confounds study results or places the subject at greater risk
Sites / Locations
- Washington University School of Medicine
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Placebo Comparator
Experimental
Placebo
Nitrous oxide
Placebo was defined as 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes. Participants are blinded to the order of interventions administered. Participants have been informed prior to consent that one session will contain the nitrous oxide gas mixture, and the other session will contain the placebo gas mixture.
Nitrous oxide treatment was defined as 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes. Participants are blinded to the order of interventions administered. Participants have been informed prior to consent that one session will contain the nitrous oxide gas mixture, and the other session will contain the placebo gas mixture.