Penmas Teeravanittrakul¹, Narit Jianbunjongkit¹, Wipan Nattarangsi¹

Background: Primary tinnitus is a common condition that can significantly impair a patient’s quality of life. Currently, there is no standardized treatment that can completely cure tinnitus and no studies in Thailand have examined the efficacy of EGb 761® in reducing tinnitus symptoms.

Objective: To study of the efficacy of EGb 761® in treating primary tinnitus compared to placebo and side effects of EGb 761®.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial of 71 patients aged 20 years and older with primary tinnitus lasting for three months or longer who presented to the Department of Otolaryngology at Burapha University Hospital between July 2022 and May 2024. Divided into two groups, 36 patients received treatment with EGb 761® and 35 received placebo. Data were collected using an 11 point-box scale to assess the loudness and annoyance of tinnitus and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) to evaluate the severity of its impact. Measurements were taken prior to treatment and in weeks 2, 6, and 12 following treatment initiation.

Results: Patients in both the EGb 761® and the placebo groups showed significant reductions in tinnitus loudness and annoyance scores, as measured by the 11-point box scale and THI, over the 12-week treatment period, with improvements observed as early as week 2. Compared between groups, the EGb 761® group showed significantly lower THI scores in weeks 2, 6, and 12. No serious adverse effects were reported in either group.

Conclusion: Both EGb 761® and placebo were found to reduce the loudness, annoyance, and perceived severity of the impact in patients with primary tinnitus. Significant reductions in scores were observed starting from week 2.

Received 16 May 2025 | Revised 4 July 2025 | Accepted 8 July 2025

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2025.11.923-927-03131