lidocaine + dexamethasone (Tanta University)

Lidocaine + dexamethasone is a combination pharmacological intervention evaluated for the management of idiopathic subjective tinnitus. This therapy involves the intratympanic injection of a 1:1 ratio of lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid). Lidocaine is hypothesized to suppress abnormal neural activity or hyper-excitability within the inner ear or auditory nerve by blocking sodium channels. Dexamethasone provides potent anti-inflammatory effects and may help stabilize the blood-labyrinth barrier or ion homeostasis within the inner ear. By delivering these agents directly into the middle ear, they can diffuse through the round window membrane into the cochlea, potentially providing relief from tinnitus symptoms with reduced systemic side effects. This specific combination was studied in a clinical trial led by Saad Elzayat at Tanta University.

Other names

intratympanic lidocaine and dexamethasone