Combination therapy for the treatment of tinnitus and other medical conditions

Abstract

The disclosure provides for a combination therapy comprising different classes of medications for the treatment of tinnitus and other medical conditions, and methods of treatment thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for the treatment of an otologic condition, or an otologic symptom(s) associated with a disease or disorder, comprising therapeutically effective amounts of a first medication and a second medication selected from the following drug classes: tricyclic antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, beta blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and calcium or sodium channel blockers,
 wherein the first medication is from a different drug class than the second medication.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication of the composition is a tricyclic antidepressant; and the second medication is selected from the group consisting of an anti-seizure medication, a beta blocker, a calcium or sodium channel blocker, and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication of the composition is a selective serotonin inhibitor; and the second medication of the composition is selected from the group consisting of an anti-seizure medication, a beta blocker, a sodium or calcium channel blocker, and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication is a calcium or sodium channel blocker; and the second medication is selected from the group consisting of a tricyclic antidepressant, an anti-seizure medication, and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication of the composition is an anti-seizure medication; and the second medication of the composition is selected from the group consisting of a tricyclic antidepressant, a selective serotonin inhibitor, a beta blocker, and a sodium or calcium channel blocker. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication of the composition is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; and the second medication of the composition is selected from the group consisting of a tricyclic antidepressant, a selective serotonin inhibitor, a and a sodium or calcium channel blocker. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication of the composition is a beta blocker; and the second medication of the composition is selected from a tricyclic antidepressant and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication and the second medication combinations are selected from the group consisting of nortriptyline and topiramate, nortriptyline and gabapentin, amitriptyline and topiramate, amitriptyline and gabapentin, nortriptyline and propranolol, amitriptyline and propranolol, nortriptyline and verapamil, amitriptyline and verapamil, nortriptyline and acetazolamide, amitriptyline and acetazolamide, paroxetine and topiramate, paroxetine and gabapentin, paroxetine and propranolol, paroxetine and verapamil, paroxetine and acetazolamide, verapamil and topiramate, verapamil and gabapentin, and verapamil and acetazolamide. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral delivery and is in the form of a pill, a tablet, or a capsule. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 75% of the maximal dose of the first medication and/or the second medication. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating an otologic condition, or an otologic symptom(s) associated with a disease or disorder, in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
 administering to the subject a combined therapy comprising therapeutically effective amounts of two or more medications selected from the following drug classes: tricyclic antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, beta blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and calcium or sodium channel blockers,   wherein the two or more medications are from different drug classes.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the otologic condition is selected from the group consisting of tinnitus, fluctuating or sudden hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo, aural pressure/pain, and fluctuating hearing loss, and
 wherein the otologic symptom(s) associated with a disease or disorder comprises tinnitus and/or vertigo.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is a human patient having tinnitus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein administration of the combined therapy to the subject provides one or more of the following effects:
 improvement in a subject's tinnitus functional index;   a decrease in the average number days in which the subject has annoying tinnitus; and/or   a decrease in the level of tinnitus loudness.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein combinations of the two or more medications of the combined therapy are selected from the group consisting of: a tricyclic antidepressant and an anti-seizure medication, a tricyclic antidepressant and a beta blocker, a tricyclic antidepressant and a sodium or calcium channel blocker, a tricyclic antidepressant and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and anti-seizure medication, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a beta blocker, a selective serotonin inhibitor and a sodium or calcium channel blocker, an anti-seizure medication and a sodium or calcium channel blocker, and a sodium or calcium channel blocker and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more medications of the combined therapy are selected from the group consisting of: nortriptyline, topiramate, amitriptyline, gabapentin, propranolol, verapamil, acetazolamide, and paroxetine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein combinations of the two or more medications of the combined therapy are selected from the group consisting of: nortriptyline and topiramate, nortriptyline and gabapentin, amitriptyline and topiramate, amitriptyline and gabapentin, nortriptyline and propranolol, amitriptyline and propranolol, nortriptyline and verapamil, amitriptyline and verapamil, nortriptyline and acetazolamide, amitriptyline and acetazolamide, paroxetine and topiramate, paroxetine and gabapentin, paroxetine and propranolol, paroxetine and verapamil, paroxetine and acetazolamide, verapamil and topiramate, verapamil and gabapentin, and verapamil and acetazolamide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more medications of the combined therapy are concomitantly administered. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more medications of the combined therapy are sequentially administered. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more medications of the combined therapy is administered at less than about 75% of the maximal dose for the two or more medications.