Summary
Cinnarizine has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Tinnitus would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Tinnitus. No registered clinical trial in this database tests Cinnarizine specifically in Tinnitus. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study. The literature layer holds 10 publications for this pair: 4 systematic reviews, 1 randomised controlled trial publication and 5 clinical trial publications. Publication years run from 1988 to 2025. Because at least one synthesis-level source exists (systematic review, meta-analysis or Cochrane review), this pair has been assessed beyond single studies, although the synthesis may concern a different indication.
The RepurpOS disease-intelligence file for Tinnitus ranks 50 candidate therapeutics from Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and PubMed; only a minority carry direct clinical evidence, and this page covers one of those. Spontaneous remission context recorded for the condition: Spontaneous resolution in 50-60% of acute tinnitus (<3 months) without treatment; chronic tinnitus (>3 months): only 10-15% spontaneous resolution; habituated tinnitus (not distressing) in 75% at 5 years but sound remains in most.
Evidence table
| Evidence tier | A · Strong |
|---|---|
| Evidence score | 45.0 (trials 0.0, literature 25.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0) |
| Registered trials | 0 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 0 completed, 0 other |
| Linked publications | 10 (5 clinical trial publications, 4 systematic reviews, 1 randomised controlled trial publication) |
| Agent type | Drug (Small molecule) |
| Development stage (any indication) | Approved |
| Mechanism / class | blocker |
| Data sources | DGIdb |
| Linked via biomarker / target | CACNA1F |
How the evidence score is calculated
- Each registered trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5). The trial component is capped at 30.
- Each literature item scores by design (Cochrane review 5, meta-analysis 4, systematic review 3, RCT 3, clinical trial publication 2, curated reference 1.5, other PubMed record 1). The literature component is capped at 30.
- The existing evidence tier adds 15 (A / Strong), 10 (B / Moderate), 5 (C / Preliminary) or 0 (D / Anecdotal).
- Agents approved for any indication (max clinical phase 4) add 5, because an approved agent has an established safety profile that lowers the barrier to repurposing trials.
- The score ranks what has been studied, not what works. It does not read effect sizes or directions of effect.
Registered clinical trials
No registered trial links Cinnarizine to Tinnitus in the current OSMF trial extract.
Published literature
- Clinical trial publication The Evaluation of Memantine Effect on Tinnitus SeverityPourayyoubi B, Rezaei-Ashtiani A, Javaheri J et al. · Brain and behavior · 2025 · PMID 40685708
- Clinical trial publication Comparative Effectiveness of Cinnarizine Versus Cinnarizine Plus Otic Bitter Almond Oil for Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled TrialArabi M, Jokar A, Nikkhah M et al. · Alternative therapies in health and medicine · 2025 · PMID 40293851
- Systematic review TinnitusSavage J, Waddell A · BMJ clinical evidence · 2012 · PMID 22331367
- Systematic review TinnitusSavage J, Cook S, Waddell A · BMJ clinical evidence · 2009 · PMID 21726476
- Systematic review TinnitusSavage J, Cook S, Wadell A · BMJ clinical evidence · 2007 · PMID 19454115
- Systematic review Menière's diseaseJames AL, Thorp MA · BMJ clinical evidence · 2007 · PMID 19454061
- Clinical trial publication Fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate versus betahistine dimesylate in the treatment of Ménière's disease: a randomized, double-blind, parallel group clinical studyNovotný M, Kostrica R · The international tinnitus journal · 2002 · PMID 14763223
- Clinical trial publication The efficacy of Arlevert therapy for vertigo and tinnitusNovotný M, Kostrica R, Círek Z · The international tinnitus journal · 1999 · PMID 10753423
- Clinical trial publication Idiopathic subjective tinnitus treated by biofeedback, acupuncture and drug therapyPodoshin L, Ben-David Y, Fradis M et al. · Ear, nose, & throat journal · 1991 · PMID 1914952
- Randomized controlled trial Controlled clinical trial of pentoxifylline versus cinnarizine in the treatment of labyrinthine disordersGanança MM, Mangabeira Albernaz PL, Caovilla HH et al. · Pharmatherapeutica · 1988 · PMID 3283777
Mechanism and notes
Recorded mechanism or class: blocker.
OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target CACNA1F. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinnarizine approved for Tinnitus?
Cinnarizine has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Tinnitus would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Tinnitus. Approval status for the specific indication should always be confirmed with the relevant regulator and prescribing information.
Is Cinnarizine in clinical trials for Tinnitus?
No registered clinical trial in this database tests Cinnarizine specifically in Tinnitus. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study.
What does the evidence show for Cinnarizine in Tinnitus?
Synthesis-level literature links Cinnarizine to Tinnitus, but no registered trial in this database tests the pair, so the evidence is observational, pooled from other indications, or pre-dates registry practice. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target CACNA1F. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Cite this page
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-06. Page built 2026-10-07.