TINNITUS RELIEF - PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS? HERBAL REMEDIES?

It is generally agreed that conventional medication cannot provide a cure for tinnitus - so why do our professional medical advisors continue to prescribe dihydrocodeine 30mg po polsku manufactured drugs for tinnitus relief?

You can find as many people who believe in herbal remedies for tinnitus relief as those who think it is a lot of bunkum - so if it is 50/50 for and against herbs who should we listen to?

In an effort to clear this up for you thought I it would be useful to take a closer look at some of the published information on prescribed medication and then look further into the views of the herbalists.

I shall go into some detail but generally I think we should accept that some prescribed drugs do provide a degree of tinnitus relief though they are more likely to produce side effects than accepted herbal remedies.

That fact alone is important to many of us but it is not that simple, because each of our bodies and our circulatory and nervous systems are different. So it is perfectly possible that the drug that gives me a dry mouth may give you no side effects at all, or may even make you sleepy whilst I remain wide awake all day.

Let us all remember the warnings about taking prescribed drugs - always read the leaflet on use and possible side effects, and if you experience any side effects whatsoever stop taking the drug and refer back to the doctor who prescribed it to you. Do this even if it appears to be relieving your tinnitus symptoms and giving you some tinnitus relief because the side symptoms could be far more dangerous to you than your tinnitus.

So what about prescription drugs?

A family of prescribed drugs known as benzodiazepine includes Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax. These are commonly prescribed by doctors for tinnitus relief and reports suggest they are effective and also act as a sleep aid but can cause unpleasant side effects such as a dry mouth and fuzzy vision. Worryingly they can also be addictive, especially valium which for this reason is less commonly prescribed.

Perversely Xanax is often prescribed for use in tinnitus therapy but in almost 10% of cases studied rather than ease tinnitus Xanax has be recorded as causing tinnitus.

Antidepressants such as amtriptyline, and migraine medications Neurotin and Campral are also listed as useful for tinnitus relief and so is a muscle relaxant called Baclofen.

So it seems to me that because there is no known prescription drug cure for tinnitus we are being offered drugs that have been designed for other uses and may as a consequence, also offer us a degree of tinnitus relief. Whilst this may not be entirely satisfactory if your doctor prescribes a drug that effectively reduces your tinnitus sounds without any side effects or risk of addiction it would be a shame to stop using it. At least until you find an effective alternative.

What about herbal remedies?

Broadly speaking we are looking for tinnitus relief using herbal remedies and compounds that can help us by improving our circulation, our nervous systems and cardiovascular systems and thus improve our whole body system which in turn offers us tinnitus relief. Here are just a few with a brief description of benefits they offer a tinnitus sufferer.

Ginkgo biloba; includes antioxidants which strengthen blood vessels and improve blood circulation. Strong claims that this reduces tinnitus noise by improving blood flow through damaged nerve endings.

• Avena sativa; made from wild oats and claimed to reduce cholesterol levels so improving blood circulation.

• Magnesium phosphate; a nerve and muscle relaxant often used as a cure for stress headaches.

• Rosemary; an anti inflammatory and antioxidant, said to relieve depression and stress.

Ferrum phosphoricum; a biochemical compound which helps keep our organs and body tissues supplied with oxygen. Of particular help when we are feeling tired or short tempered.

I suppose we must accept that herbs are a more dihydrocodeine 30mg po polsku natural way of dealing with any illness or condition and that they are far less likely to be harmful. But remember - if you experience any side effects stop taking them immediately.

Well I hope this has been useful and helps you place prescribed medications and herbal remedies in context as part of your tinnitus relief therapy.