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Glutamate System - A Possible Cure for Tinnitus?


man holding face in hand; cure for tinnitus concept

A U.S.-based company called NeuroSystec has developed a new medicine (NST-001) to combat tinnitus. Overactive nerves thought to cause tinnitus are calmed by the drug, administered by using a drug pump implanted in the ear.

Although tinnitus has many causes including damage from loud noise(s) as well as adverse side effects of ototoxic medications (including aspirin), the bottom line is the resulting release of a brain chemical (glutamate) causes nerve cells to become hyperactive. The affected nerves in the ear then send faulty messages to the brain, resulting in tinnitus.

The new drug "is thought to block the production of excessive glutamate, in turn reducing this rogue nerve firing. Researchers claim it may even result in the elimination of tinnitus."

There's been "a small pilot study on human volunteers in Germany, [and] the majority of patients given the drug reported a significant reduction of tinnitus."

However, "when the treatment ended, the condition returned to previous levels." This indicates "the need for continual treatment, [and is why] scientists are focusing on developing a fully implanted drug pump."


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