Controlling Tinnitus: What works for you?

Posted by scottk @scottk, Jul 1, 2019

Hello: Has anyone on this site had any luck with controlling tinnitus? I see certain things advertised but always sceptical. Any thoughts/ideas?

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@bobbyboomer

Still working.

It hasn't completely cured it, but it's about 90% better.

Often my ears are completely quiet, sometimes a little hiss, but never the constant high pitched tone I used to have.

There are times when they still ring. For some reason, if I get up in the middle of the night to urinate, they are often ringing but gone by morning. Also sometimes when the weather is very disturbed, they will ring a little.

But even when they do ring, it's never as extreme as they used to be.

For me, it works. For others? I have no idea.

Of course, the disclaimer is that I am not dispensing medical advice here. From my research, it seems safe, and my doc thinks it's OK for me. Check with yours.

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And you do 2000 main morning and 1000 mg later in day ?
Any relief I can get will help …I have ordered Taurine and it should arrive today..

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At first, I took 2,000 in the morning, on an empty stomach, with a full glass of water, and another 1,000 later in the day, also on an empty stomach with water.

I read somewhere that it's better to take amino acids without food. The reasoning was they get absorbed better that way. True or false? I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to take them solo.

I read tests on https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ that they gave people 3,000 for 6 months with no problem, and then the test ended.

So after 6 months, not knowing if there could be a long term problem, I cut back to 2,000 in the morning. I read elsewhere that 2K per day is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

It works gradually. After a number of months (I forget how many) I stopped taking it, figuring, it wasn't working, and in a few days, my tinnitus came back big time.

I had forgotten what a PITA it was until it returned. Discontinuing reminded me.

It's probably been years now, and I still take 2,000 first thing in the morning. It's gotten to the point, where over 90% of the time, I don't even know I have tinnitus.

Right now it's so low, that I have to stop moving, and shut my eyes to hear the slightest hiss in my right ear. For all practical purposes, my ears have been quiet for a few days now, except if I need to get up in the middle of the night. I wonder if reclining has anything to do with that.

Bob

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@bobbyboomer

At first, I took 2,000 in the morning, on an empty stomach, with a full glass of water, and another 1,000 later in the day, also on an empty stomach with water.

I read somewhere that it's better to take amino acids without food. The reasoning was they get absorbed better that way. True or false? I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to take them solo.

I read tests on https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ that they gave people 3,000 for 6 months with no problem, and then the test ended.

So after 6 months, not knowing if there could be a long term problem, I cut back to 2,000 in the morning. I read elsewhere that 2K per day is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

It works gradually. After a number of months (I forget how many) I stopped taking it, figuring, it wasn't working, and in a few days, my tinnitus came back big time.

I had forgotten what a PITA it was until it returned. Discontinuing reminded me.

It's probably been years now, and I still take 2,000 first thing in the morning. It's gotten to the point, where over 90% of the time, I don't even know I have tinnitus.

Right now it's so low, that I have to stop moving, and shut my eyes to hear the slightest hiss in my right ear. For all practical purposes, my ears have been quiet for a few days now, except if I need to get up in the middle of the night. I wonder if reclining has anything to do with that.

Bob

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Bob,
Thank you so much for all the details.
I started taurine last night asap after it arrived.
Took 2000 mg this morning with a full glass of water.
Will do the other dose later.
I am drinking black coffee but no food.
Did you wait awhile after taking before you had coffee ?
If this works for me your post will have changed my life more than you can imagine.
Thank you again .
I will report back when I see results.
Coffee ok in your opinion ?
I have hope now for some relief from this never ending noise.
Virginia

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@virg71

Bob,
Thank you so much for all the details.
I started taurine last night asap after it arrived.
Took 2000 mg this morning with a full glass of water.
Will do the other dose later.
I am drinking black coffee but no food.
Did you wait awhile after taking before you had coffee ?
If this works for me your post will have changed my life more than you can imagine.
Thank you again .
I will report back when I see results.
Coffee ok in your opinion ?
I have hope now for some relief from this never ending noise.
Virginia

Jump to this post

I don't know if coffee is OK or not.

I usually have the Taurine+water first thing. Then I go about a few morning tasks, brush teeth, etc, and then have a cup of green tea followed by a cup of black tea.

I drink coffee later in the day.

But that's just me.

I found this:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24615238/

It seems Taurine might diminish the effects of caffeine, but they are talking energy drink doses of caffeine.

I generally trust the National Institute of Health, pubmed site more than others. Since it's peer-reviewed in scientific journals, it's open to scrutiny by other scientists. That doesn't mean the author does not have an agenda, but it lessens it.

open pubmed and put taurine in the search box and there are plenty of articles written about it.

I do hope this works for you. Remember, it works gradually, and you won't know for a couple of months.

Over the years my tinnitus had diminished at least 90% and I have many quiet days, when before taurine, I had none.

If it works for you, I'll be happy for you.

Bob

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@bobbyboomer

I don't know if coffee is OK or not.

I usually have the Taurine+water first thing. Then I go about a few morning tasks, brush teeth, etc, and then have a cup of green tea followed by a cup of black tea.

I drink coffee later in the day.

But that's just me.

I found this:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24615238/

It seems Taurine might diminish the effects of caffeine, but they are talking energy drink doses of caffeine.

I generally trust the National Institute of Health, pubmed site more than others. Since it's peer-reviewed in scientific journals, it's open to scrutiny by other scientists. That doesn't mean the author does not have an agenda, but it lessens it.

open pubmed and put taurine in the search box and there are plenty of articles written about it.

I do hope this works for you. Remember, it works gradually, and you won't know for a couple of months.

Over the years my tinnitus had diminished at least 90% and I have many quiet days, when before taurine, I had none.

If it works for you, I'll be happy for you.

Bob

Jump to this post

Thanks again,
I will post again when things change…I appreciate your comments and reply’s.
Virginia

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My pleasure. I truly hope it works for you.

If it does, please share it with others.

Bob

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Hi @scottk I am so glad I run into your thread because I have been wanting to share an excellent resource that my friend recommended. A little background... I am an audiology student and started experiencing tinnitus in my second semester of grad school (probably stress-induced). As you would think, as an audiology student I would kind of know what to do about it but to be honest, I was so desperate and frustrated about it until my friend recommended Treble Health. It is a tinnitus management practice with audiologists who are tinnitus experts. Really a GAME CHANGER. I just checked their website and they are actually having a Cyber Monday offer!! $500 off on their tinnitus management packet. I wish they had this sale when I purchased--ugh! Anyways, you should take advantage of it. I highly recommend it.
Link to their website: https://treblehealth.com/cyber-monday/?utm_source=BF%2FCM%20sale&utm_campaign=500%20off&utm_medium=forums
Feel free to share it with more people! It is important to share good resources with everyone who feels frustrated about hearing a constant ringing in their heads :/

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@nurseheadakes

Sometimes the tinnitus will stop if you take only a short course of some of the medication, however, most medication on the market today when taken on a regular basis will cause long-term tinnitus. Drug categories such as antibiotics, cancer meds and diuretics or water pills are all known to cause tinnitus. Even taking them for only a few days may give you lasting effects of ringing in the ears. That is why it is paramount to speaking with your health care providers about taking any type of medicine and what type of side effects, particularly ringing in the ears is possible, since most physicians don't even think about that. Pharmacist are your go-to professional regarding this as well since they know more about this than your doctors.
I have had tinnitus since my encounter with C.diff when I was treated with 4 different antibiotics to save me. The tinnitus came on with a vengeance and never left. I will have it until I die. It is a fact of life. I live with it and don't really think about it. It is two tones. A squeal in both ears - I use my hearing aids to muffle the sounds - a special program that I love to use 10-12 hrs a day.
I use to hate the noise since I can hear it day and night but it reminds me that I am alive rather than dead....it's a reminder for me.
Also, there is so much research going on right now about tinnitus and where it is in the brain and what it truly is... This is worth your while to track your story and stay on top of it. Mine is influenced by emotions, sleep, salt, sugar, migraines, exposure to sun, and if my neck is out of wack. I avoid antibiotics, never take water pills, and limit/avoid any meds that contribute to my vertigo that I have daily. My physicians already know and track all of my medicines since I am a high risk for falling with the hearing loss, hyperacusis, and osteoporosis. What is your story? It all has some relationship....with each other. Eloise

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Sorry am lost in all the various tinnitus talks... many years ago i first had tinnitus, before i even had a computer, just a few taps and such and it went away. All new to me. Then had been going to a physio almost for the year with steroid shots , about 5?, to my painful right shoulder but it was not until his son home for Christmas and maybe learning that the son put my neck in traction. didn't hurt but that night or rather 3am next day woke up to loud noise in both ears - I mentioned it to the doctor and he was upset and said that (traction) had nothing to do with it.. it lasted every day/night for a month and finally stopped; although every now and then it would give a bit of a tap or whine out of the blue - at least I thought it was random but now 25yrs later realize it could have been some meds I was on each time. As well, over 120 vancomycin 2018 C.Diff, and on and off tinnitus again; but since 2020 it has been persistent, like a rambling rumbling noise and to boot I self diagnosed myself with hyperacusus as sounds like even a plastic jug thumped down, or toilet flushing seems too loud. However, today I wanted to mention that I was given an antibiotic for uti and started it couple of weeks ago on a Friday and woke up Monday morning with definite tinnitus tapping or knocking in right ear and it has been every day mostly when resting on bed, awakening etc., and some times in left ear but as i type now its in right ear, almost a pattern of tapping/clicking. Like morse code. The medication was Trimethoprim 100 mg x 14 pills. The uti seems to have gone but I have them (uti's) freuently and when on them , any antibiotic, cannot take Imodium for my fecal incontinence/ibs-d. Separately this doesn't seem like a major life altering issue but I have other things to cope with like narrow angle glaucoma; p.n.; ocular migraines; chronic painful dry eyes; sinus issues/eustachian pain, and so on... not life threatening but life altering - peppered with some anxiety, depression and ageing. So cant blame the doctor, she gave me what she thought was ok, but now what? What about the next uti and there will be one, have gone through the list of antibiotics and all cause issues, side effects and I know its not only me, but I feel so down every so often and since this extra clicking started am now under a rock. How others cope with their more painful, more urgent, more life threatening issues is beyond me... bless them. Just venting but really, what do I do, i like your list of things to avoid , like sugar, and will reread in morning... but i have NO choice when have urine infection as have to take antibiotic. My spouse is on 20 meds daily and we both have had cancer so this household is not the happy place it used to be. More to my story but not uncommon on here , J.

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Stop taking any antibiotics - that is what is 'messing up your GI track' (microbiome) and also putting a damper on your recovery mode. Restart with a new frame of mind. The tinnitus comes from the past - it is a reminder of what injuries have been done to your inner ear/brain and results in a 'noise' that will always be there. You will just have to ignore it. Use different sounds to keep it from annoying you by training you brain to listen to other noises and sound that are more pleasant to hear. NEXT: use daily cranberry pills to stabilize your bladder so that you don't get UTI's. Change your diet by drinking - first thing in the morning green juice. Either celery or cucumber juice which is alkaline and NOT acid. This always needs to be done along with drinking a glass or cup of water. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE is what you need. Eat oatmeal, dark colored fruits and veggies, NO SODA at any time. NONE. NO alcohol at any time either. You may have a few bites of dark cocoa - 85% twice a week only. ALWAYS add GINGER to your food - this is the root ginger that you peel and cut up and put into your green juice, tea and water all day long. Ginger will heal your gut. If you eat bread - only sourdough is what you can consume. Both of you can benefit from eating this since I have been doing this for 4 years to keep my C.diff gut under control through the COVID, FLU and RSV season. If you want a better guide for what else to do...check out "Life Changing Foods" by Anthony Williams. This book will give you plenty information to help you on your new Journey in 2023. Don't be discouraged or dismayed. Doctors can only do so much. Learn, experiment, discover, journal, trust your instincts and give this a try. Let me know how you are doing. We can stay in touch or you can move forward as this will take time...since I have been doing this since 1986.... Eloise

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Hugs go a long way and smiles. Keep your shoulders down and your chin up. Look your journey in the face and march forward. It will be well worth the steps you are taking. We all are behind you and have your back!

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