Finding A Tinnitus Treatment That Works   by Sandy Rutherforde

in Health / Diseases and Conditions    (submitted 2012-01-28)

If you suffer from hearing a ringing in your ears, swishing sounds, or other noises that seem to be coming from your ears, you probably have tinnitus. It rarely signifies a serious health problem, but finding a tinnitus treatment is essential for anyone who has to deal with the problem. There are many things that can cause tinnitus, and most often the problem begins when nerve endings in your ear are somehow damaged.

The first thing you should do is talk to your doctor. A physician or medical professional can help you find a treatment that will be safe and work for you. Have a complete physical examination so that other problems with your ears or head can be ruled out. Once you know it is tinnitus, your doctor can help you manage it. There is no cure for tinnitus. Sometimes, it resolves itself and simply goes away. Therefore, your doctor might advise you to simply live with it.

There are drugs and medications that have been tested as potential tinnitus treatment options. Some ear specialists suggest that people who suffer from this condition take niacin. However, if you take niacin, there may be side effects to deal with including skin flushing. Talk to your doctor or an otolaryngologist about the option.

Discuss whether you should try other medications, including gabapentin. In high doses, gabapentin is able to reduce the annoyance of tinnitus in patients who suffer from it. However, it does not make the noise go away. A drug called acamprosate, which is used to treat alcoholism, has also performed well in tests. While the drug is not legal to use in the United States yet, your doctor might have some insight about whether it might work for you.

Other treatments your doctor might recommend include reducing the amount of caffeine you consume as well as managing your salt intake. If you smoke, consider quitting and it might reduce the symptoms of your tinnitus. You might have lower levels of zinc in your system than people who do not hear a ringing noise in their ears, so try taking a zinc supplement. Herbal remedies such as ginkgo biloba have also been effective for some people.

Start your tinnitus treatment by talking to your doctor. If you and your doctor decide drugs and medications will not work for you, take advantage of other remedies to minimize your symptoms. Hopefully, the problem will eventually go away on its own. If it becomes unbearable, talk to a specialist about other health problems that may be contributing to the noise problem in your ears.

About the Author

Are you looking for a Tinnitus Miracle review? Be sure to visit Remedies For Tinnitus Cure for information on tinnitus remedies.