Supplements & Tinnitus — What Do You Take? What Should I Take?

I've had tinnitus for like 7 years, and I've experimented with so many supplements. Here's what I can tell you:

Makes tinnitus better:

Definitely Pycnogenol (Pine Bark), it reduces tinnitus by 50% for me by increasing blood flow to the ear. I never go a day without it. Magnesium seems to help as well (or perhaps, Magnesium deficiency** seems to hurt). N-Acetyl-Cysteine seems to help if your tinnitus is spiking from excess Glutamate/stress. Time-released Melatonin definitely helps with sleep, specifically "time-released". It's my experience that "regular" Melatonin makes me wake-up around 4 am and I can't go back to sleep easily.

Makes tinnitus worse:

My tinnitus reboots when I sleep. I wake up with either a "good day" or a "bad day" or something in-between. Having said that, Berberine is the only thing I ever tried that made my tinnitus worse IMMEDIATELY. Also, I recently had a spike that I finally realized was being caused by taking Unisom every night. Benadryl is similar to Unisom, so I cut that out too. Also, weed worsens my tinnitus. As well as caffeine (by increasing blood pressure). I'm not quitting either of these things, but I have to be smart about them (e.g. don't smoke in the evening, limit caffeine to 2 cups a day).

Almost forgot: Vitamin D is a double-edged sword. I had a spike a few years ago. Turns out that I was taking too much Vitamin D.

 

I currently have:

NAC
B-complex
R-Lipoic Acid
Nicotinamide Riboside
Turmeric
Vitamin E
L-Theanine
Thiamine

I’ll try anything.

 

According to this study:

The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation in Patients with Tinnitus and Normal Hearing or Hearing Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial

A multivitamin pill once a day and A-lipoic acid pill twice a day is supposed to help with tinnitus.

(More details here:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...diopathic-tinnitus-preliminary-outcomes.1374/

)

I've been on this for about a week (plus I've added 2 x Krill oil tablets). While my tinnitus did seem to improve early on, there doesn't seem to be much difference now (maybe my earlier experience was due to placebo).

I'm also going to add some astaxanthin once my order arrives.

I HAVE found that a large dose of canned Salmon seems to consistently improve my tinnitus. Salmon is full of B vitamins, Omega-3 oils and astaxanthin (it's the thing that makes Salmon pink). I'm trying to see if I can take whatever is in Salmon in pill form to help. Hopefully I will get something from the astaxanthin.

 

I have tried:

* Ginkgo Biloba
* Magnesium
* Calcium
* Vitamin D3
* Omega3 (Krill Oil)
* Turmeric Curcumin
* GABA
* B12
* B6
* A super expensive shit Pill named "Sonosan"

None of it helped. You're welcome.

 

I am taking Agar-35 for sleep (it miraculously works for me) and Srog-dZin 11 in the morning. Occasionally valerian/Scullcap/passiflora with camomile tea.

Tried all kinds of other supplements, but can't say if anything of that worked.

 

Would you mind my asking what type of tinnitus you have or how you began suffering from it?

Curious to know because I've not seen anyone recommend Pine Bark and I'm hopeful I might benefit from it as you described.

If I recall, Ginkgo biloba is purported to increase blood flow as well so perhaps there is some overlap there?

Thanks.

 

I got slapped in the ear by a wave while surfing like 7 years ago or so. Busted my eardrum, caused immediate hearing loss.

I've tried Ginkgo biloba and it didn't seem to help at all.

I noticed a difference with Pycnogenol within a day or so. It's the only thing I know for sure that REALLY helps (other than getting a great 8 hours of sleep). I've had my supply run out a few times and almost immediately, my tinnitus spikes. I start taking it again, and it's reduced again. Just try it out. It's like 15 bucks for a month's supply. You can also google studies online about Pine Bark Extract and tinnitus. There's actual science behind this.

If you notice no difference within a few days, ah well, at least you tried.

 

I think tinnitus is linked to Salicylates. If you eat vegetables, fruit, some grains, nuts... very healthy food. They all have various levels. Some people simply can't metabolize it.

For chronic tinnitus, Spirulina may help. I'm going to give it a try.

Also, greatly increase the quality of Omega - 3 and greatly reduce Omega 6 in the diet - the sources can be meat, dairy, nuts - again healthy foods.

Omega - 3 helps the body to metabolize Salicylates.

Also can try Cayenne Pepper capsules with meals - it contains Capsicum which makes the Salicylates less bioavailable - this can help to reduce Salicylates in the blood.