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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Chronic Disease, Dopamine Agents, Female, Humans, Levodopa, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Cortex, Tinnitus, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
user
Does levodopa enhance the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in tinnitus treatment? Context: Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise for the treatment of tinnitus. Experimental data from motor cortex stimulation in healthy subjects indicate that the suppressing effect of low-frequency rTMS can be enhanced by dopaminergic receptor activation. Here we investigated whether administration of the dopamine precursor levodopa before low-frequency rTMS enhances its efficacy in tinnitus treatment. Sixteen patients with chronic tinnitus received 100 mg of levodopa before each session of low-frequency rTMS. Results were compared with a matched control group of 16 patients who received the same treatment, but without levodopa. Treatment outcome was assessed with a standardized tinnitus questionnaire. Both stimulation protocols resulted in a significant reduction of tinnitus scores after 10 days of stimulation; however, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
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Our data suggest that 100 mg of levodopa does not enhance the effect of rTMS in the treatment of tinnitus. Final Decision: no