OTC Tinnitus Treatment
OTC Tinnitus Treatment. Tinnitus, or “ringing of the ears”, can be described as an annoying or debilitating noise in your ears that has no external source. Tinnitus may produce sounds such as ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, buzzing or humming that seem out of place and can even affect how well you hear. It can become bothersome and even debilitating.
Certain medications can cause tinnitus as a side effect, while there are dietary supplements which claim to alleviate it – although these products have yet to be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
No medications have yet been proven to reverse the neural hyperactivity that causes tinnitus; however, there are pharmacological options that may ease its negative distress and reduce stress levels. While drugs cannot treat tinnitus directly, several medications exist that can ease its symptoms and provide some form of relief – this includes providing relief to those experiencing hearing loss due to it.
Many individuals suffering from tinnitus turn to over-the-counter (OTC) remedies as an attempt at relieving their symptoms. Unfortunately, most pills, powders, herbs, and drops advertised as cures are neither safe nor effective; some even increase symptoms worsened by tinnitus.
Dr. Daniel Curhan recently conducted a study which demonstrated the connection between regular use of OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin and increased risks of chronic tinnitus – with those taking these medicines two to three times weekly having an up to 20 percent greater chance of experiencing the ringing in their ears condition than those not using these OTC medications.
Tinnitus can be caused by several factors, including exposure to loud noises and certain medications. Sleep deprivation, anxiety and fatigue can worsen its effects; to combat this symptoms can be managed using earplugs or earmuffs against loud sounds while getting enough restful restful sleep at night.
Antidepressant or anxiety medicines may also help alleviate stress-induced tinnitus symptoms and make sleeping easier, making tinnitus less noticeable. Some of these drugs can even assist with sleeping aid, making treatment even less noticeable.
There are over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may help to lower blood pressure, making tinnitus less bothersome. Loop diuretics like Lasix (furosemide), Bumex (bumetanide) and Demadex (torsemide) may help. These drugs are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure, fluid retention due to liver or kidney issues or other medical issues that prevent water retention within the body – including conditions causing kidney disease or liver dysfunction that prevent water retention – while interfering with ionic composition of fluids within our bodies which could worsen tinnitus or balance issues as a side-effect.
OTC Supplements
OTC supplements on the market promise to cure or reduce tinnitus symptoms; however, little scientific proof exists for such claims. Dietary supplements are not subject to FDA scrutiny like prescription drugs; manufacturers can make any claim they like on product labels without incurring rigorous FDA scrutiny due to Dietary Supplement Health Education Act of 1994 regulations that allow this loophole. Such supplements come in pill, powder and liquid form for your convenience as well as sprays, teas or tinctures being advertised by their makers.
These OTC treatments for tinnitus typically use supplements like melatonin, Ginkgo Biloba or zinc to address symptoms of tinnitus; however, most have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and some even cause headaches and dizziness for some individuals. Furthermore, in 2014 the Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation issued a clinical practice guideline which discouraged their use because there wasn’t sufficient evidence supporting their efficacy (Drew & Davies 2001).
Other OTC treatments for tinnitus focus on masking or suppressing it through background noises. While this therapy will not cure your condition, it can help reduce noise in the ears and mind, improve sleep and focus, as well as elevate mood. These sounds can be played through mobile phone apps, devices that produce white noise or music or any source neutral sounds such as nature sounds.
Counseling sessions provide another treatment method that assists people in changing their reactions to tinnitus and adapting to it, often known as habituation tinnitus treatment (TRT). This technique draws upon one’s natural ability to “habituate” signals that cause tinnitus so they do not reach conscious perception, such as air conditioners, refrigerators or raindrops – so as not to reach conscious perception at all. People have become used to listening out for certain noises (such as air conditioners), such as air conditioners and refrigerators, etc – even over time and adapt accordingly.
OTC treatments that contain ingredients such as hawthorn berry, guarana and cinko pear to promote hearing health and treat tinnitus include Silencil which was developed by a team of medical professionals, otolaryngologists and herbalists using natural ingredients; other natural solutions include Renew Hearing Support Ring Stop Tinnifree among many others.
OTC Hearing Aids
OTC hearing aids are intended to assist adults who suffer from mild-to-moderate hearing loss who could benefit from some level of amplification in certain listening situations. OTC devices offer lower costs and easier purchase processes than their prescription-based counterparts, yet lack customization features and technologies available through professional audiologists’ evaluations.
Many members of the hearing health industry fear this new category could open Pandora’s Box and lead consumers to buy hearing devices without first consulting with an audiologist for evaluation, risking damaging their ears through overamplification or not attaining positive results and giving up searching altogether.
Concerns have also been expressed that OTC hearing aids’ limited customization may limit their ability to relieve tinnitus effectively. Tinnitus often stems from an underlying medical condition which can be managed via medication or treating its cause such as earwax buildup or high blood pressure; until these issues are dealt with, however, the tinnitus could remain persistently bothersome.
If you are considering OTC hearing aids, look for a company with at least 30 days return policy – this allows you to test out the device thoroughly and return it if it doesn’t help your hearing or tinnitus. Also make sure they offer a warranty covering the duration of purchase.
OTC hearing aids may offer relief, but should never replace seeing an experienced hearing professional for treatment of tinnitus. A hearing specialist who knows their way around treating the condition could potentially identify its root cause – and be the key to developing personalized solutions such as prescription-based hearing aids or therapy plans that address it effectively.
If you are suffering from tinnitus but have yet to visit a licensed audiologist for evaluation, it would be in your best interests to arrange an appointment immediately. Tinnitus symptoms can often be alleviated with simple measures like prescribing medications specifically targeted to treating it or making minor modifications in your medication regime.
OTC Therapy
Pharma companies are currently developing treatments to address tinnitus; however, its availability remains uncertain at this point. Patients can meanwhile rely on over-the-counter tinnitus treatments to manage their symptoms in the meantime.
Tinnitus often has a detrimental impact on people’s emotional or psychological state, and can have adverse side-effects that negatively influence these areas of functioning. Psychoactive drugs like antidepressants and antianxiety medications may provide temporary relief by alleviating pressure and anxiety related to it, providing some sufferers some respite. Unfortunately, however, these medicines don’t directly reduce tinnitus directly and have limited effectiveness with patients without mental health problems.
Animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Neramexane and Vestipitant to combat noise-induced and tinnitus-induced hearing loss (45). These drugs work to block GABAergic neurotransmission by blocking Na-K-2Cl cotransporter activity (238), a transporter which allows sodium, potassium and chloride ions into and out of cells. Furthermore, both have shown inhibitory effects on endolymphatic potentials as well as cochlear responses.
These drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials to suppress tinnitus. Their results should become available sometime around 2021.
Tinnitus is an all-pervasive condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Though there is no known cure, professionally fitted hearing aids may provide relief for tinnitus sufferers. To learn more about tinnitus treatment options available to you, schedule an appointment with one of our hearing experts now!
Many tinnitus sufferers turn to natural and herbal treatments in search of relief. Balanced Foods Katy and other supplement stores carry numerous pills, powders, herbs and drops that promise relief; these otc products, however, lack scientific backing and may pose potential dangers to health.
Tinnitus remains poorly understood in terms of both its source and treatment methods, but many sufferers have found relief through over-the-counter ear drops that loosen wax build-up in their ear canal. Products containing carbamide peroxide have proven successful at providing relief for their symptoms.
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