Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) for Tinnitus

[SarahMLFlemmer]

I use ALA 1,200mg daily for neuropathy in my legs and it definitely helps that. I just started it back up again, so I'm interested to see if it helps with my new friend, tinnitus.

 

[just1morething]

I have quite bad neuropathy in both feet. I think some of it comes from my back. The podiatrist I've seen recommended ALA and B-Complex vitamins I believe. I also use Lyrica when my feet act up. My tinnitus hasn't been too bad lately but waking up in the morning can be tough to endure.

 

[Nick47]

It could be the placebo effect but the combo used in the study is what I've used since the end of January. It's the best period I've had since February 2022. Early March, after a year off, I started going back into the gym. For me I have had fewer "debilitating" days. Many days are still moderate-severe but the ALA might be doing something with regards to reduction (10-15%) in my tinnitus severity. I use the supplements from the company that supplied them for the study (Lamberts) and made sure the multivitamin/mineral is also the same (Over 50s) as used in the study.

I'm also using a table top sound enrichment speaker at home and using hearing aids (which don't really help) all day.

 

[ErikaS]

Did anyone experience a spike when introducing ALA at first? I happened to have some in my drawer, not expired, 600 mg capsules by Superior Labs. I tried a capsule 2 or 3 nights ago, and man was my tinnitus aggravated and just more electric sounding when I went to bed. I didn't put it together until when I took it again this evening with dinner, and my tinnitus seems to be ramping up again.

 

[Nick47]

Did anyone experience a spike when introducing ALA at first? I happened to have some in my drawer, not expired, 600 mg capsules by Superior Labs. I tried a capsule 2 or 3 nights ago, and man was my tinnitus aggravated and just more electric sounding when I went to bed. I didn't put it together until when I took it again this evening with dinner, and my tinnitus seems to be ramping up again.

@ErikaS, ALA should not spike you. It took about 6 weeks for me to notice a slight benefit. The study was 90 days.

 

[Stayinghopeful]

It could be the placebo effect but the combo used in the study is what I've used since the end of January. It's the best period I've had since February 2022. Early March, after a year off, I started going back into the gym. For me I have had fewer "debilitating" days. Many days are still moderate-severe but the ALA might be doing something with regards to reduction (10-15%) in my tinnitus severity. I use the supplements from the company that supplied them for the study (Lamberts) and made sure the multivitamin/mineral is also the same (Over 50s) as used in the study.

I'm also using a table top sound enrichment speaker at home and using hearing aids (which don't really help) all day.

I read on your profile that your tinnitus dropped again to a 3-4/10. Do you feel ALA has mainly contributed to that or is there something else you feel helped?

 

[Nick47]

I read on your profile that your tinnitus dropped again to a 3-4/10. Do you feel ALA has mainly contributed to that or is there something else you feel helped?

It's a 8 at the moment. It's unstable and sound reactive. 3-4 is occasional. It's usually 5-8. There are very few 9-10 days though now. It could be time or habituating a bit. I have used a table top sound machine since January, so maybe the combination of that and the supplement combo has helped. It's a small improvement though.

 

[Nick47]

@Óscar PP, @Tim123, read the study protocol.

• Company: Lamberts UK.
• ALA 2 x 300mg on an EMPTY stomach.
• Over 50s multivitamin/mineral 1x WITH food.

 

[Nick47]

I came off ALA about 3-4 weeks ago. My tinnitus has been worse the last week. Go figure.

 

[MrChips13]

I think I will try A-lipoic acid and multivitamin. Quite good results here:

The Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation in Patients with Tinnitus and Normal Hearing or Hearing Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial

Anyone tried? Any side effects?

I've been on this antioxidant supplementation program for several months, which includes 1200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). I think I've had some success in reducing the volume of my tinnitus. However, I keep hearing mixed messages about ALA, and I'm starting to have doubts about it.

I came off ALA about 3-4 weeks ago. My tinnitus has been worse the last week. Go figure.

Interesting. I've been off my supplements for 10 days as an experiment, and my tinnitus seems to be getting worse—but that's just today. It wasn't as noticeable yesterday. I think I'll give it more time before making a judgment call about whether to abandon it or resume it.

I've been taking it for years. Only because it's supposed to be a powerful anti-oxidant. I currently take 100 mg. I've also used several different brands. It's never had any effect on my tinnitus.

Well, 100 mg is not very much. Try 600 mg (or more).

 

[MrChips13]

I wish I could find something definitive about ALA. I'm continuing with all the other antioxidants, but ALA is powerful, and I want to feel confident about taking it. I know it helps with neuropathy, as I had foot surgery 18 months ago, and I think it has done wonders for my foot. But can it help with tinnitus? Or could it make it worse?

In fact, I started taking ALA after my foot surgery 18 months ago, and my tinnitus began 13 months ago. Could ALA have caused it? I've always thought it was due to the ototoxicity of a medication I was on, but who knows?