Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears.  Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin.  In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list o

A 2009 Norwegian study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that of 1,402 men treated for testicular cancer, 29 percent reported hearing impairment and 22 percent reported tinnitus.  These were reported  as major symptoms troubling them either quite a bit or very much from between 4 to 21 years after such cancer treatment.  Long-term issues with hearing loss and tinnitus seemed to affect those men who had received high-dose cisplatin-based chemotherapy.  Those who smoked on a daily basis were also more likely to be affected than men in the study who had never smoked.  Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 25, 2009. Reported by Reuters Try Quietum Plus

A reader at the USA Today Health column asked if there's a hearing aid that can filter out the miserable ringing/buzzing in his ears due to heavy tinnitus.  The answer given was thorough: first make sure you see a doctor to check for treatable problems (which range from allergies to ear wax ).  If you have hearing loss, then the sounds in your head might well be a side effect of that condition. It seems that our brains compensate for the loss of sound inputs by creating sounds of their own .  The use of a sound-amplifying hearing aid can not only help you hear better, but it might also reduce your brain's need to make its own noise.  The balance of the column talks about distraction techniques and alternative therapies and notes that although tinnitus varies from case to case, it usually does fade with time and/or becomes "less bothersome." For example, some get relief by incorporating ambient sounds such as wind chimes into their daily routine. These sounds are