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Original Article

Caffeine abstinence: an ineffective and potentially distressing tinnitus therapy

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Pages 24-29 | Received 23 Apr 2009, Accepted 02 Jul 2009, Published online: 07 Jan 2010
 

Abstract

The effect of phased caffeine withdrawal and abstention on tinnitus severity was assessed using a pseudo-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 30 days duration. Sixty-six volunteers who experienced tinnitus and who usually consumed at least 150 mg/day of caffeine participated. The intervention was a direct replacement of usual caffeinated tea/coffee with double-blinded supplies, under one of two conditions. Condition 1: Maintenance followed by phased withdrawal. Condition 2: Phased withdrawal followed by reintroduction and maintenance. Tinnitus severity was measured by the total score of the Tinnitus Questionnaire on Days 1, 15, and 30. Secondary measures included twice daily self-rated symptoms relevant to tinnitus and caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine had no effect on tinnitus severity, the mean difference between caffeinated and decaffeinated days being –0.04 (95% confidence interval –1.99 to 1.93), p=0.97. Significant acute adverse symptoms of caffeine withdrawal were observed. No evidence was found to justify caffeine abstinence as a therapy to alleviate tinnitus, but acute effects of caffeine withdrawal might add to the burden of tinnitus.

Sumario

Se evaluó el efecto del retiro paulatino y la abstención de la cafeína sobre la severidad del acufeno mediante un ensayo clínico de 30 días, pseudo-aleatorio, doble ciego, con control de placebo y transversal. Participaron sesenta y seis voluntarios que experimentaban acufeno y que usualmente consumían al menos 150 mg/día de cafeína. La intervención fue un reemplazo directo de café y/o té cafeinado con suministros doble ciego bajo una de estas dos condiciones: Condición 1. Mantenimiento seguido de retiro paulatino. Condición 2. Retiro paulatino seguido de reintroducción y mantenimiento. La severidad del acufeno fue medida mediante la puntuación total del cuestionario de acufeno en los días 1, 15 y 30. Dentro de las mediciones secundarias se incluyó una autoevaluación de los síntomas relativos al acufeno y a la abstención de cafeína. La cafeína no tuvo efecto en la severidad del acufeno. La diferencia media entre los días con cafeína y sin ella fue de -0.04 (intervalo de confianza del 95% -1.99 a 1.93), P=0.97. Se observaron efectos adversos agudos significativos por la abstención de cafeína. No se encontró evidencia que justificara la abstinencia de cafeína como tratamiento para aliviar el acufeno, pero los efectos agudos del retiro de la cafeína puede agregarse a la carga del acufeno.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Amr El Refaie, Amanda Hall, and Adrian Davis. This study was supported by a grant from Deafness Research UK (Grant no. 464:BRS:LS). The sponsors had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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