Tinnitus is any perception of sound that occurs in the absence of an external auditory stimulus. Donepezil, commonly prescribed for dementia, has not yet been evaluated in individuals with tinnitus. By increasing synaptic availability of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter widely distributed in the central nervous system and potentially neuroprotective against glutamate induced excitotoxicity, donepezil may offer a...
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Until full results, sample size, and effect size are known, audiologists and ENTs should not incorporate donepezil into tinnitus management; this is a preliminary efficacy signal requiring replication in larger controlled trials.
Effective pharmacological treatment for chronic tinnitus remains an unmet clinical need, and repurposing existing drugs like donepezil is a credible avenue worth monitoring.
- 01Donepezil (an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used in dementia) was evaluated for chronic tinnitus.
- 02Published in Clinics (São Paulo), a peer-reviewed journal.
- 03Tinnitus affects roughly 10–15% of adults globally with few proven drug treatments.
- 04Study design and sample size are not described in the available abstract.
- 05Results will inform whether cholinergic pathways are a viable therapeutic target for tinnitus.
Donepezil may be efficacious in reducing chronic tinnitus symptoms.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42710361
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101135.
- Journal
- Clinics (São Paulo)
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Patients with chronic tinnitus
- Intervention
- Donepezil (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)
Primary outcomes
Efficacy of donepezil in reducing chronic tinnitus