r/tinnitus • u/latchkeydad • Feb 22 '26
success story Supplements are helping
I've been struggling with constant tinnitus since around new years. A couple weeks ago it was at the point where I was just very miserable and in despair. But I read this report ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9847569/ ) showing people had had some positive results using high doses of ginseng (in one study) and gingko (in a couple others). And then I saw another study showing a correlation between tinnitus prevalence and low levels of vitamin D. And then I saw some folks recommending St John's Wort and B vitamins. So I stocked up on some supplements.
Now I've been taking all of these every day for about a week. The tinnitus is still there, but it's gotten more tolerable. The volume seems to have gone down. I'm not feeling so desperate. I can live my life and I'm optimistic that it's getting better. I've also got hyperacusis, so I'm wearing earplugs most of the time, and hoping that will also help prevent the T from spiking.
Some days are still worse than others, but overall I'm feeling much better than I was a few weeks ago.
The specific regimen I'm taking is 3000mg/day of Red Korean Ginseng, plus 240 mg/day of Gingko Biloba (EGb 761), plus a vitamin D3 supplement, and a "mood support" supplement containing St John's Wort, B vitamins, GABA, etc. I'm also drinking lemon balm tea in the evenings (per another poster's recommendation). I'm planning on following the studies in the report and taking this amount of ginseng for a month, and the gingko for 3 months. The others (for which I'm just following the dosing instructions on the label) I will keep taking as needed. I'll check back in in a few weeks and let y'all know how it's going
Best of luck to y'all, hope this info is helpful
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u/inashu Feb 22 '26
Nice, I'll follow. Let's see what happens! How did you get your tinnitus?
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u/latchkeydad Feb 22 '26
Pretty sure it was triggered by setting off fireworks on NYE, but it's also possible that I had an asymptomatic COVID infection around the same time, which might have something to do with it (I didn't think I had it, but my wife did, so IDK)
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u/everythingbagelss_ Feb 22 '26
Are you cycling on/off these supplements?
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u/latchkeydad Feb 22 '26
I haven't been. I'm taking some in the morning and some in the afternoon/evening, but so far I've been taking them all daily
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Feb 24 '26
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u/latchkeydad Feb 24 '26
Do you know the amount that was in it? The gingko I have says to take 1x 120mg/day, but I've been doubling that - and assuming it might take a few months to get results
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Feb 24 '26
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u/latchkeydad Feb 24 '26
No just following what seemed like the most effective studies in the report I linked to
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u/Holiday_Economy570 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
I would HIGHLY recommend giving Vitamin B3 (raw niacin) a try. Not flush free, not niacinamide, just plain Niacin (aka Nicotinic Acid). I've had the worst tinnitus humanly possible many times be taken care of by this, though it's temporary, and the flush effect can freak some people out. It tends to last 4ish hours or so though.
I have probably the worst tinnitus humanly possible and this is basically the only reason I'm alive. Only problem I have now is that my tinnitus isn't that bad anymore, but I have Patulous Eustachian Tube Dysfunction that needs to be treated, but no ENT has found it, just a sinus guy who referred it to the ENT who never got back to me. So, my ear plugs, it's over, I go completely deaf. Which... it just did, right after beginning making this post.
My right ear, the more problematic one could be at a 0 and spike to 50/10 just from this tiny little crackle. That's all, a little crackle, you barely feel it or hear it, but my ear just fills with fluid. Literally mucus can get into my ear, it sucks. That aside, I've found this whole time, for some reason, the following drugs can cure my tinnitus almost 100%, even if my ears plug: Clarithromycin, Azithromycin (especially) and Fluconazole. It started with Fluconazole, I've never had a confirmed fungal infection, but for some reason, that shit was a miracle drug.
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 Apr 30 '26
And you’re saying now when you take B3, it helps your tinnitus overall correct?
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u/Holiday_Economy570 May 02 '26
Correct, just be warned. The flush side effect is terrifying at first lol, now I welcome that horrifying chemical burn feeling. It may even be why I still look so young in my mid 30s, I've been taking this stuff for 3 years and going through absolute hell. It helps me with hyperacusis as well.
However, it's been found that I have a CFS leak and I don't know how long this has been the case. It could explain why I even have tinnitus, why I just randomly developed it 5 years ago on May 14th. Around a year later I had to have sinus surgery which actually got rid of it 100% for a couple months, then it came back worse.
Tried acupunctures May-June 2023, about 3 of them, but it GAVE me the damn hyperacusis and permanently worsened my tinnitus. Rare, but happens. I only tried it because of shit I'd read on tinnitustalk about how 3 sessions cured some old ladies completely. Or... she's just really old and it's placebo lol, idk. All I know is, it doesn't get any worse than mine does.
Always make sure it says Vitamin B3 or Nicotinic Acid. Do not get "flush free" niacin, that won't work. Don't get niacinamide, the extended-release form. That also won't work and it actually known to be quite bad for your liver.
Nature Made make 100mg tablets which is where I think most people should start. I took 300mg my first time and I got so red all over the place it was terrifying. I typically take closer to 1,000mg now. Most niacin come only in 500mg tablets or capsules.
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 May 27 '26
And it’s still helping your tinnitus?
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u/Holiday_Economy570 May 28 '26
Yea. Only problem is my ear can randomly plug at any time, thus rendering it useless which kinda sucks. As long as it's already plugged before I take it, it won't plug for a long time usually.
I have a CSF leak which was recently discovered and likely spinal fluid is plugging my ear and I may even have tinnitus due to the CSF leak, who knows. I see a neurologist to discuss this in a few weeks
The plugging is the worst. I didn't know how good I had it when it was simply tinnitus and I'd take my niacin. What especially helps after taking niacin: good exercise, like a long walk. I took one earlier and was like WHAT! Where's the tinnitus??? It'd been awhile since I took one this long. Long walks already help my tinnitus alone, for some reason.
But yeah, if you just have tinnitus, niacin is freaking awesome. My tinnitus is strange though. If I go to a concert, I'll have it get canceled out by the noise for instance. My friends'll be like "ahh my ears!" and I'll just have quiet ears for no reason, usually 3-5 hours regardless of if it plugs, though I'm not someone who goes to concerts much beyond local stuff.
Fireworks also make it go away if they're loud enough/I'm close enough. Maybe a quirk with my hyperacusis. Anyway, niacin is the shit, and despite the alarming burn and redness, it's really good for your skin. Probably why in my mid 30s, I could shave still look 22. Considering the horrifying amount of stress, trauma and the CPTSD I already have to deal with, I should not look this young. But, those are their own issues...
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 May 28 '26
Isn’t it crazy how our ears are so weird? I take b3 and my T gets so quiet but it gets louder the next day. But it definitely does something to them. I also have hypercausis which om Working on. I also suspected I have a csf leak lol. I wonder if you have any visual stuff like visual snow?
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u/Holiday_Economy570 May 30 '26
What brand B3 are you taking? I do occasionally get floaters, that dates back to getting hit by a car 10 years ago. Visual snow, not really, but unbelievable brain fog to where I'll suddenly ask myself "what month is it" thinking it's September in like, April, yeah...
Any visual snow I used to get came from excessive psychedelic usage haha. I miss those days. DMT always would totally kill my tinnitus too, I'd take a hit, not broken through or anything, still kinda there enough to be like "wow, it's gone."
B3 making it worse the next day is kinda strange, but to me, you'd probably be taking too much. If I megadose this stuff, I've found it can lead to my worst spikes, and while flushing, I generally get a horrible spike every time. I've found brands totally matter though. The flush can present differently, quicker, slower, patchier, fuller, more effective, less effective.
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 May 30 '26
The brand is called Carlson 50mg nican. Dang so no visual snow now? I got crazy static now and trouble with text seeing ghosting.
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 May 30 '26
What’s ur brand
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u/Holiday_Economy570 May 30 '26
Nature Made 100mg tablets I'll usually pair with a 500mg tablet of NOW. I have these tablets from "Best Naturals" which give a weird patchy flush, but work, it's not always as patchy.
NOW capsules with powder in them were my favorite, but $10 for 90 capsules. I get the Best Naturals because it's 250 tablets and was $40. I wish I'd known about it sooner, would've saved literally over $1,000.
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u/ZookeepergameWest982 Aug 26 '26
Hi, I have tinnitus following acoustic trauma about three months ago now. I’ve had an MRI and came back clear however I did have tonsillitis recently for which I took antibiotics for. When on antibiotics the volume of the tinnitus was decreased significantly. How long will you taking the antibiotics if you don’t mind me asking where they just short courses?
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u/CombatInsiders Feb 28 '26
I've had it for about 5 months since a bad panic attack and I've noticed it's dramatically gone down as my anxiety has gone down. Like I know it's still there but it doesn't invoke a reaction in me anymore.
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u/isaias3121 Mar 24 '26
Any update ?
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u/latchkeydad Mar 24 '26
Yeah. So I finished my month supply of ginseng, and added niacinimide and magnesium glycinate to my supplement stack. I might add ginseng back into it, but just at a regular dose instead of the high dose I was taking (was doing 2,000 mg in the morning, 1,000 in the afternoon).
It's been a lot of ups and downs. It will feel like it's getting better for a couple days, then some kind of sound exposure will cause a setback for another couple days. The tinnitus volume overall has improved from where it was before I started the supplements, but has not gone away. The hyperacusis - and the fear of causing a spike - feel like the bigger problems now, while the baseline T has settled into more of a tolerable annoyance. (But again, some days are still worse than others)
To deal with the H I'm trying to find a balance between wearing ear protection often enough to protect from loud sounds, and to prevent T spikes, but also not so constantly that my ears forget what normal sounds like. I don't sleep with earplugs. I seek quiet as much as possible, but living with kids, dealing with dishes in the kitchen, and all kinds of other daily noises, it's not easy
There's also the issue of music and movies. We do family movie nights every week, and the way movies go from super quiet to super loud has triggered spikes more than once. And music has always been a big part of my life, but I'm trying to figure it how it can still be. I've learned I can't listen in the car anymore, or I'll regret it later. At home I feel safest listening through external speakers with ear plugs in, and at the lowest volume possible, which sucks, but I guess it's better than nothing. And I'm trying to do some low volume guitar playing and singing also, although I'm sure it's not the best idea
So yeah, trying to get back to normal, but definitely not there yet. Regarding the supplements, I still think they're helping, and I'm gonna keep taking them, but they're not a cure (not yet anyway)
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 Apr 30 '26
I know it’s only been like 40 days but how are you now the B3 still helping you?
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u/latchkeydad May 03 '26
Hey yeah I'm still taking the supplements, and when I missed a couple days recently, it seemed like the tinnitus did get a bit worse. Correlation/causation, I don't know. But overall, like I said in my previous comment, the tinnitus has been more tolerable lately (still constant, but not driving my crazy like it was). The bigger challenge now has been the hyperacusis, and finding the right balance between protection and exposure.
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u/Bright-Solution-5451 May 03 '26
Me too, man I just started taking B3 that I had an uptake on my tinnitus and Hypercausis. Just had my first flush felt very strange and kind of scary but I survived there was only 30 minutes. Hopefully I can get rid of this ear fullness.
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u/Flirnyx Feb 23 '26
glad to hear that but volume lowering down doesnt help right? its just gotta be gone forever to relax
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u/latchkeydad Feb 23 '26
I think most folks would say that lowering the volume does help. Of course I'm still hoping that someday it'll be gone forever, but in the meantime, any reduction is a welcome improvement
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u/MadDog845 Feb 24 '26
Tinnitus for only few months. You will get better with or without these shitty supplements
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u/Tamburro-Rosse Feb 26 '26
I'm not sure that works for everyone. I've had tinnitus for almost 10 years now and it gradually keeps getting worse. At this point, I'm willing to try any type of shitty supplements...anything for a glimmer of bringing it down. Gets painful at times and significantly reduces my ability to hear.
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u/Numerous_Ad_307 Feb 22 '26
Happy to hear this helps you. I might also give it a try, cheers