Abstract
Objective: 1) Evaluate effectiveness of amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic laryngitis. 2) Compare the effectiveness of amitriptyline by gender, age, and race.
Method: A retrospective chart review identified patients treated with amitriptyline for laryngitis in an academic otolaryngology practice. Subjects who had documented compliance with medication and follow-up evaluation within three months after initiation were included. Symptoms, demographic information, and response to therapy were abstracted from their records.
Results: A total of 66 subjects were identified, consisting of 48 women and 18 men. Those of African descent constituted 42%, with Hispanic 27%, white 20%, Asian 6%, and other 5%. Response to treatment was complete in 32%, partial in 24% and without improvement in 36%, with the remaining 8% unable to tolerate treatment. Overall, 56% of subjects improved (95% confidence limit 43.3% to 68.3%). No significant differences in response rates were seen based on gender (P = .289), age (<60 vs 60+) (P = .149) or race (P = .254).
Conclusion: We found a substantial rate of improvement with amitriptyline treatment among individuals with chronic laryngitis, with most subjects tolerating this treatment. No significant differences in efficacy were seen among racial, age and gender subgroups. A prospective randomized trial of this therapy appears warranted.
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