Trental for the Treatment of Vertigo/Dizziness/Imbalance

One potential cause of vestibular dysfunction is a decrease in or insufficient blood flow to
the inner ear. Studies have shown that when the blood flow is decreased to the inner ear,
patients will become dizzy and off balance. This study will use validated instruments to
evaluate the effectiveness of Trental in patients that present to our providers with vertigo,
dizziness, or imbalance and meet inclusion criteria. They will be blinded and randomized to
treatment or placebo, which they will take for ~12 weeks. Patients will completed validated
surveys 3 times (beginning, middle and end of study) as well as account for the number of
times they have fallen and if they have missed any work due to their symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults 40 years and older

2. English as primary language

3. Diagnosis of multisensory losses, presbystasis, bilateral vestibulopathy, central
vascular insufficiency, small vessel circulatory disease, generalized imbalance, and
idiopathic peripheral vertigo scoring at least 16 on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory

4. Willingness to complete surveys and take medication as prescribed

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of the following: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease,
vestibular migraine with headache, intracranial mass, perilymphatic fistula, or
multiple sclerosis

2. history of cholesteatoma

3. Prior ear surgery other than myringotomy and tube placement

4. Prior radiation to head or neck

5. previous use of vestibulotoxic medications where the enrolling provider determines the
drug exposure to be the cause of imbalance

6. Use of blood thinning medications

7. intolerance/allergy to pentoxifylline or methylxanthines, as well as recent cerebral
or retinal hemorrhage (past 3 months)

8. Pregnant or lactating females.