USE OF GLYCOPYRROLATE IN THE TREATMENT OF MENIERES-DISEASE

Objectives/Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to determine wh ether glycopyrrolate is useful as a vestibular suppressant in patients with Meniere's disease. The tested hypotheses were that glycopyrrolat e would decrease the perception of dizziness measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory in patients with Meniere's disease and that placeb o would cause no such decrease. Study Design: Randomized, prospective. Methods: Thirty-seven subjects with a diagnosis of Meniere's disease were administered either 2 mg of glycopyrrolate or placebo twice daily as needed for vertigo. All were also administered the regimen of 1500 mg sodium/day diet and diuretic. The following indices were examined: Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Modified S omatic Perception Questionnaire, Beck: Depression Inventory, hearing e xamination, and electronystagmography. After 4 to 6 weeks of the drug regimen, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Mo dified Somatic Perception Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Scale wer e reexamined. Paired t tests were performed to verify the significance of improvement before and after treatment. Results: Subjects who rece ived glycopyrrolate had statistically significant reduction in Dizzine ss Handicap Inventory, Beck Depression Score, and Modified Somatic Per ception Score, In the placebo group, no improvement in any index was f ound. Conclusions: The hypothesis that glycopyrrolate is a useful vest ibular suppressant in patients with Meniere's disease was statisticall y verified.