Ask Barry Questions on Tinnitus

Dear Sue,

B vitamins in general are very good in regulating stress, energy and mood. And since stress is the number one agravator of tinnitus, they can be very helpful in mitigating the attendant stress that often accompanies ear ringing.

It has been shown that most people who suffer from tinnitus are deficient in B-12 and taking supplements helps them. It has recently been learned that Vitamin B-12, in the form of methylcobalamin form, protects against glutamate damage to the neurons in the auditory nerve. We wrote an article on the benefits of B-Complex vitamins which could be of help to you.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Stephanie,

There are many people with tinnitus. In the USA there are over 50 million people with the condition and 15 million per year visit their doctor seeking help. I’m sure you will meet many people with tinnitus now that you know what you have and begin learning more about it. There are now numerous tinnitus support groups and I would encourage you to do an Internet search in your area.

It may be that the microscopic embolism (blood clot) that traveled to your ear could be blocking circulation in one of the small capillaries that feed the inner ear. It seems to me that medications could dissolve this and open up the capillary in which it’s lodged. However, I’m not a doctor and perhaps medications that dissolve clots aren’t effective in small capillaries. Please visit your physician and ask that question.

I see you purchased three bottles of Arches Tinnitus Formula (ATF) recently. This may help to reduce the blockage of the clot. Ginkgo Max 26/7, the ginkgo biloba in ATF increases circulation and thins the blood, among other effects. Hopefully, this might help your ear return to its previous balance and improve circulation in the inner ear. We recommend you use it for three months, which requires four bottles.

In the meantime, diet is very important in managing tinnitus. It is most important to avoid salt, which constricts blood vessels and reduces circulation. Many people notice a reduction in tinnitus once salt is lowered. Other food items to avoid are processed sugar foods, high fat foods, especially trans-fats, nicotine, caffeine and alcohol, other than in moderation. Also avoid processed and pre-packaged foods, especially junk food. These foods are loaded with salt and flavor enhancers like MSG and aspartame, which are neurotoxic and cause or worsen tinnitus. We published an article on Diet and Tinnitus: What to eat, what to avoid.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Bob,

Orange juice does not cause or worsen tinnitus except as it consists of a high amount of simple sugars. These sugars metabolize almost immediately and cause a sugar rush. Researchers have found that most people who have tinnitus also have a sugar metabolism dysfunction called hyperinsulinemia, which is a reduced ability by the body to respond to insulin. When these people were placed on a diet suitable for diabetics, most of them improved over several years.

Diet certainly can and does affect tinnitus. Individuals with tinnitus should restrict themselves to a healthy diet and reduce or eliminate intake of high fat foods, simple sugars (as found in orange juice), salt, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. I refer you to an article on Diet and Tinnitus in our Tinnitus Libray.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Sam,

I would go ahead with the nose spray and hearing test. The fact that he is giving you a nasal spray indicates he thinks you have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) where the Eustachian tube is inflamed and plugged. This will definitely cause tinnitus and becoming unplugged will help relieve it.

We published an article on hearing loss which discusses the difference between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss, of which ETD is a part. It also shows how an audiogram (hearing test) can show the difference between the two and discusses treatment for ETD.

Regarding your taking Arches Tinnitus Formula it can up to 12 weeks (4 bottles) to determine total efficacy, so I advise you to continue complete the recommended 100 day protocol.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Molly,

I am a big fan of NAC. It is a powerful antioxidant and I take it every day.

The US Navy has done research indicating that NAC can prevent hearing loss and tinnitus if given before or immediately after noise exposure. It does not however seem to help in reducing established tinnitus. But, it is very potent in preventing hearing loss and by extension, tinnitus from worsening.

NAC is a precursor to glutathione, the body’s primary antioxidant and disease fighter. NAC protects the liver from poisoning and is given to people in emergency rooms who present with acute liver poisoning. It is a wonderful supplement and can be safely taken with Arches Tinnitus Formula.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Heather,

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medication that is extremely addicting. It potentiates the effectiveness of GABA in the brain. GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter and is responsible for feelings of calm and well-being. When the brain sees there is plenty of GABA, or existing GABA is working well, it shuts down production of the neurotransmitter. Then, when withdrawal occurs, there is no GABA in the brain to counteract the excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate and the brain goes into a hyper-excitatory state. The results of this state can lead to tinnitus, anxiety, panic and many other symptoms.

We published an article on Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome and Tinnitus. Dr. Heather Ashton, a British Neurologist  developed the slow withdrawal schedule from benzodiazepine medications. The slow withdrawal method is an attempt to minimize withdrawal symptoms by spreading it over a long period. Many professionals, however, feel the Ashton Method is still too fast and should be extended much longer than she prescribes.

Since you have been off Clonazepam, it’s too late to extend withdrawal.  The withdrawal symptoms will pass, though I can’t say how long it will be. One helpful tactic may be to take GABA as a dietary supplement to start building it back up in the brain. GABA is inexpensive and found in most health food stores. I recommend taking 750-1,000 mg twice daily. It will take a while but this should shorten the time for recovery. GABA can act like a tranquilizer itself so be very careful driving or operating equipment until you know how it affects you.

I hope this is helpful for you.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Jane,

I’m very sorry this happened. Tinnitus is a common side effect of SSRI antidepressants like citalopram. Many doctors are unaware of this. Fortunately mirtazaphine (Remeron) doesn’t cause tinnitus.

I don’t recommend any SSRI antidepressants because of this and numerous other side effects they have. Remeron is the one I normally go to. You should discuss dosage with your physician.

SSRI antidepressants keep serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, from breaking down so it is more available. So do tricyclic antidepressants, like Remeron. They do not create serotonin. The only way to create this is through the use of L-Tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin. L-Tryptophan should not be combined with antidepressants. Please read our article about this.

Arches Tinnitus Formula (ATF) with Ginkgo Max 26/7 may be helpful in reducing your tinnitus sounds. It has been shown to be helpful for the majority of people who use it and it can be combined with antidepressants. It takes up to three months to get the full benefit of ATF so we recommend Arches Starter Kit, a full three-month supply.

I hope this is helpful and you can reduce your tinnitus.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Irene,

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a brain neurotransmitter that inhibits electrical activity and can help some reduce tinnitus and other conditions, such as anxiety, depression and epileptic seizure. While GABA can pass the blood-brain barrier it is not very efficient in doing so. Consequently, a high amount must be taken to get the benefits from it.

L-Theanine is an extract of green tea that is a precursor to GABA. This crosses the blood-brain barrier easily. Once in the brain it converts to GABA and provides a state of alert calmness that helps reduce stress.

The L-Theanine we like best is a patented product called Suntheanine®, which is used by many manufacturers who market L-Theanine.

You can achieve the benefits using either product but must take much more GABA than L-Theanine to get there. Typical dosage for GABA is 600-750 mg two or three times daily. Typical dosage for L-Theanine is 200 mg taken two or three times daily. So you must use about 3 times the amount of GABA to achieve the same amount of stress reduction. L-Theanine is quite a bit more expensive than GABA, which offsets the lower dosage.

Wishing you quiet times,

Barry Keate

Dear Pat,

Bioflavonoids are excellent supplements for good health. They are found in fruits and nuts and help maintain a healthy heart, reduce inflammation and fight allergies. However, they don’t do anything directly to reduce tinnitus.

Citrus bioflavonoids were used in the 1960’s in the product Lipo-Flavonoid. They were designed to reduce vertigo due to Meniere’s disease. In this regard they act as antihistamines, which are helpful in reducing vertigo and dizziness. Afterward, many ear doctors started recommending them for tinnitus because, at the time, they didn’t have anything else that was helpful. The company also changed its marketing approach to sell the product for tinnitus. Studies have since shown that Lipo-Flavonoid is helpful for vertigo but doesn’t do anything for most people with tinnitus. Ear doctors familiar with these studies stopped recommending them for tinnitus but some still do.

Arches Tinnitus Formula with Ginkgo Max 26/7 contains our proprietary extract of Ginkgo biloba, which is a more potent extract than other brands. It also has zinc picolinate and deodorized garlic. Both Ginkgo biloba and zinc have been proven in scientific studies to be helpful in reducing tinnitus noise levels for most people who use them. Arches Tinnitus Formula is most helpful for the great majority of people who have tinnitus due to noise exposure, reduced hearing and from toxic medications.

It takes up to three months to get the full benefit of Arches Tinnitus Formula so we recommend Arches Starter Kit, a full three-month supply of four bottles. You can buy them individually but the price of the starter kit is significantly reduced from retail pricing, you save more in shipping costs, and you don’t have to worry about running out during the critical three-month period.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate