NAC May Have Helped My Hearing Loss, Although It Definitely Gave Me High-Frequency Tinnitus

[TemporaryTHope]

It wasn't until I took NAC that my high-frequency reactive tinnitus started, though I wasn't completely sure at first since I had taken a few other supplements at the same time.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, OP. I'm ten months post-NAC use, and unfortunately, I haven't improved. I truly hope things turn out better for you, as everyone's body reacts differently. I also read so many positive stories about NAC here, and that's why I tried it—but it ended up destroying my life. I guess it really was the NAC after all.

A few months before I developed tinnitus, I was cleaning out my vitamin cabinet and almost threw out the NAC, but for some reason, I didn't. I really wish I had.

Let me get this straight. You didn't take NAC for an already existing case of tinnitus that later got worse, but instead you actually developed tinnitus after taking NAC?

If that's the case, how much NAC did you take, for how long, and what was the reason for taking it in the first place, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[another_person]

Let me get this straight. You didn't take NAC for an already existing case of tinnitus that later got worse, but instead you actually developed tinnitus after taking NAC?

If that's the case, how much NAC did you take, for how long, and what was the reason for taking it in the first place, if you don't mind me asking?

No, I took NAC during the early onset of my tinnitus from acoustic trauma, and it gave me high-frequency reactive tinnitus, which has been absolute hell on earth.

 

[Sonia554]

It wasn't until I took NAC that my high-frequency reactive tinnitus started, though I wasn't completely sure at first since I had taken a few other supplements at the same time.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, OP. I'm ten months post-NAC use, and unfortunately, I haven't improved. I truly hope things turn out better for you, as everyone's body reacts differently. I also read so many positive stories about NAC here, and that's why I tried it—but it ended up destroying my life. I guess it really was the NAC after all.

A few months before I developed tinnitus, I was cleaning out my vitamin cabinet and almost threw out the NAC, but for some reason, I didn't. I really wish I had.

I read your original post, and I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It sounds like your case is exceptionally severe. Can I gently suggest that you still have time to improve, and that your condition isn't necessarily permanent? It seems you've had tinnitus for about the same amount of time as I have. I was injured in late January or early February 2025. I'm improving, although slowly. Your auditory system is in overdrive right now and needs time to recalibrate. Most people with acoustic trauma find that their systems calm significantly between six and eighteen months with the right support.

From my own experience, and from others on this board, the best remedy really is time, calm, and rest. If you're still using supplements, I suggest stopping everything except Magnesium and B vitamins. No heavy doses, just regular ones. Your system needs consistency. If you keep introducing new things, you're constantly forcing it to readjust to biochemical changes.

I'd also recommend avoiding tinnitus apps that try to help you find your frequency. Gentle, consistent sound is all you need. When my tinnitus was at its worst, I used a ten-hour cricket video from Treble Health and layered it with a twenty-four-hour soft jazz channel on YouTube. When it softened, I switched to fountains, rivers, and birds.

I also have a coat made of crinkly material that I place on my shoulder near my worse ear to give it more input. I scratch it lightly with my thumb so it makes a soft noise. I even take it to bed and rub my thumb on it until I fall asleep.

Earbuds were another important part of my therapy. I played the cricket sounds through them at the lowest possible volume on my phone. I used the cuff style and over-ear style so nothing went directly into my ear canal. Sometimes I just held the earbud near my worse ear. I noticed the first softening within days of doing this. I eventually had to stop because my hearing reached a point where even the lowest setting was too loud—not from hyperacusis, but because my system had calmed down and started focusing on what was coming through the earbuds instead of the noise in my head.

I know it's hard, but you also need to practice calm and relaxation. Relax your muscles, clear your mind, and spend time outside in the sunshine. Stress hormones can make tinnitus worse.

When it comes to treating tinnitus, less really is best. Build your routine around consistency and calm, and give it time. You're not hopeless. I hope you put your MAID plans on hold for a while and give your system time to find its balance. I told @TemporaryTHope this, and I remind myself of it all the time: this is your "right now," not your "forever." When you're healthy, it's hard to imagine being sick, and when you're sick, it's hard to imagine being well again. But your brain is constantly adapting and readjusting. It's not too late for you.

 

[another_person]

I read your original post, and I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It sounds like your case is exceptionally severe. Can I gently suggest that you still have time to improve, and that your condition isn't necessarily permanent? It seems you've had tinnitus for about the same amount of time as I have. I was injured in late January or early February 2025. I'm improving, although slowly. Your auditory system is in overdrive right now and needs time to recalibrate. Most people with acoustic trauma find that their systems calm significantly between six and eighteen months with the right support.

From my own experience, and from others on this board, the best remedy really is time, calm, and rest. If you're still using supplements, I suggest stopping everything except Magnesium and B vitamins. No heavy doses, just regular ones. Your system needs consistency. If you keep introducing new things, you're constantly forcing it to readjust to biochemical changes.

I'd also recommend avoiding tinnitus apps that try to help you find your frequency. Gentle, consistent sound is all you need. When my tinnitus was at its worst, I used a ten-hour cricket video from Treble Health and layered it with a twenty-four-hour soft jazz channel on YouTube. When it softened, I switched to fountains, rivers, and birds.

I also have a coat made of crinkly material that I place on my shoulder near my worse ear to give it more input. I scratch it lightly with my thumb so it makes a soft noise. I even take it to bed and rub my thumb on it until I fall asleep.

Earbuds were another important part of my therapy. I played the cricket sounds through them at the lowest possible volume on my phone. I used the cuff style and over-ear style so nothing went directly into my ear canal. Sometimes I just held the earbud near my worse ear. I noticed the first softening within days of doing this. I eventually had to stop because my hearing reached a point where even the lowest setting was too loud—not from hyperacusis, but because my system had calmed down and started focusing on what was coming through the earbuds instead of the noise in my head.

I know it's hard, but you also need to practice calm and relaxation. Relax your muscles, clear your mind, and spend time outside in the sunshine. Stress hormones can make tinnitus worse.

When it comes to treating tinnitus, less really is best. Build your routine around consistency and calm, and give it time. You're not hopeless. I hope you put your MAID plans on hold for a while and give your system time to find its balance. I told @TemporaryTHope this, and I remind myself of it all the time: this is your "right now," not your "forever." When you're healthy, it's hard to imagine being sick, and when you're sick, it's hard to imagine being well again. But your brain is constantly adapting and readjusting. It's not too late for you.

After my onset of high-frequency reactive tinnitus in January, I stopped trying different supplements and treatments to fix it. The only things I currently take are 4 g of Omega-3, 400 mg of Magnesium Biglycinate, and 1000 IU of Vitamin D3.

I'm no longer trying to find my frequency, as it's beyond what my ears can hear. However, I do use an app to do what you're suggesting—playing sounds to help mask it—along with a Spotify playlist.

 

[TemporaryTHope]

No, I took NAC during the early onset of my tinnitus from acoustic trauma, and it gave me high-frequency reactive tinnitus, which has been absolute hell on earth.

It's crazy how similar your case is to mine. Both of us developed high-frequency tinnitus from sound trauma, and both right after taking NAC.

However, my high-frequency tinnitus went down dramatically after I stopped taking NAC.

I'm now trying Clinical Sublingual Glutathione in the morning and Liposomal Glutathione at night. In theory, they're supposed to offer the same benefits as NAC, but maybe without the side effects. So far, I haven't noticed any new noises, just the same old ones.

 

[LukeYoung]

There's a lot of fluff in many of these responses, and to be honest, I couldn't bear to read them all.

I'll keep it short. Your tinnitus will change in the early days, and it usually won't settle on a baseline for a while. From what I've read, you already had tinnitus before taking NAC, so it's unlikely that it caused it. I don't believe NAC helps or harms, and there's no solid evidence that any supplements work.

Sound therapy is probably the best initial approach. It helped me a lot in the beginning, but it shouldn't be too loud. The sound should be close to the volume of your tinnitus. I used a fan and rain sounds early on, and since I was already used to sleeping with a fan, it wasn't a big change.

Many people will say tinnitus can go away, and sometimes it does. But more often, you'll find that it becomes less bothersome once your stress and anxiety calm down.

It's a tough road, but it can and does get better for most people. In the meantime, avoid loud sounds—anything over about 80 dB is considered loud if you're exposed for long periods. Let your ears rest as much as you can, and listen to gentle music instead of heavy or harsh sounds.

 

[TemporaryTHope]

There's a lot of fluff in many of these responses, and to be honest, I couldn't bear to read them all.

I'll keep it short. Your tinnitus will change in the early days, and it usually won't settle on a baseline for a while. From what I've read, you already had tinnitus before taking NAC, so it's unlikely that it caused it. I don't believe NAC helps or harms, and there's no solid evidence that any supplements work.

Sound therapy is probably the best initial approach. It helped me a lot in the beginning, but it shouldn't be too loud. The sound should be close to the volume of your tinnitus. I used a fan and rain sounds early on, and since I was already used to sleeping with a fan, it wasn't a big change.

Many people will say tinnitus can go away, and sometimes it does. But more often, you'll find that it becomes less bothersome once your stress and anxiety calm down.

It's a tough road, but it can and does get better for most people. In the meantime, avoid loud sounds—anything over about 80 dB is considered loud if you're exposed for long periods. Let your ears rest as much as you can, and listen to gentle music instead of heavy or harsh sounds.

I agree with you that tinnitus changes over time, but I disagree that NAC didn't cause some of those changes.

On three different occasions, I noticed that just two to three hours after taking NAC, I would get high-frequency sounds that came and went. These only appeared after taking NAC and lasted between 15 and 30 seconds.

About a week after taking NAC, one of those sounds became chronic, meaning it didn't go away. After I stopped taking NAC, that chronic high-frequency sound eventually disappeared, but it took nearly two weeks.

There's definitely an interaction between NAC and tinnitus—that much is certain to me. Even the NAC bottle itself must list "tinnitus" among its possible side effects (in Germany, this labeling is mandatory).

It did improve my hearing, so there's that. Still, I don't think it's healthy to deny the clearly noticeable effect that NAC can have on tinnitus. People taking NAC because it's recommended by others on these forums should be aware of its possible side effects.

Besides, NAC is treated as more of a drug than a supplement in most countries outside the United States.

 

[LukeYoung]

I agree with you that tinnitus changes over time, but I disagree that NAC didn't cause some of those changes.

On three different occasions, I noticed that just two to three hours after taking NAC, I would get high-frequency sounds that came and went. These only appeared after taking NAC and lasted between 15 and 30 seconds.

About a week after taking NAC, one of those sounds became chronic, meaning it didn't go away. After I stopped taking NAC, that chronic high-frequency sound eventually disappeared, but it took nearly two weeks.

There's definitely an interaction between NAC and tinnitus—that much is certain to me. Even the NAC bottle itself must list "tinnitus" among its possible side effects (in Germany, this labeling is mandatory).

It did improve my hearing, so there's that. Still, I don't think it's healthy to deny the clearly noticeable effect that NAC can have on tinnitus. People taking NAC because it's recommended by others on these forums should be aware of its possible side effects.

Besides, NAC is treated as more of a drug than a supplement in most countries outside the United States.

Interesting. I've never tried it myself. I never found any evidence that it helps, so I never bothered.

 

[R3vtune]

I wonder if NAC can help with severe hearing loss like mine. I had a steroid shot in my eardrum two days ago, and it was incredibly painful. I don't want to get a cochlear implant because it's expensive, and I don't want to lose my natural hearing. Most people probably wouldn't understand why I choose natural hearing over a cochlear implant or hearing aids. If NAC makes my tinnitus worse, then so be it. I've adapted to tinnitus when it gets worse, and it doesn't bother me anymore. That doesn't mean I don't want it gone, though—I still do.