[Effect of cinnarizine on various types of vertigo. Clinical and electronystagmographic results of a double-blind study]

Abstract

The anti-vertigo effect of Cinnarizine (Stugeron R) has been tested in a controlled double blinded study on 40 patients suffering from various, well defined peripheral or central vestibular disorders. 12 patients out of 20 treated with 75 mg Cinnarizine twice a day during seven days demonstrated satisfactory vertigo suppression versus only 5 out of 20 treated with placebo. (

Significance: p less than 0.05). Particularly favorable results were obtained in patients suffering from sudden peripheral vestibular deficit, from vertigo of circulatory origin and from post traumatic vertigo. Results were less conclusive in patients with Menière's disease or central neurologic disorders (multiple sclerosis or heredito-degenerative diseases). The difference between the treated group and the placebo group was less striking after a prolonged treatment of eight weeks because of an important spontaneous improvement rate also in the placebo group. Electronystagmography did not show clearly detectable differences between patients treated with Cinnarizine and those treated with placebo. A temporary depressant effect on vestibular nystagmus was however electronystagmographically documented when the Cinnarizine dose was increased to 150 mg, (single dose) given to 5 healthy volunteers. The drug was generally well tolerated. Minor side effects were: slight somnolence (5 patients out of 19), slight headache (2/19) and transient abdominal pain (2/19).