Case Report: Metformin Treated Long COVID Tinnitus

[Nick47]

Repurposing metformin to manage idiopathic or long COVID Tinnitus: self-report adopting a pathophysiological and pharmacological approach

Chronic tinnitus is a common neurological disorder that affects millions of patients globally with no available successful pharmacotherapy. It can be extremely bothersome to some patients to the extent that it occasionally qualifies as a disability that can hinder them from leading a normal life. In this short communication, the author discusses how he suffered from idiopathic tinnitus and how he managed to adopt a combined pathophysiological and pharmacological approach to the reason for the first time in the medical literature that low-dose metformin might be safely and effectively repurposed to manage at least a subset of tinnitus patients while discussing the potential role of adenosine receptor agonists as potential future tinnitus therapeutics.

 

[StoneInFocus]

Repurposing metformin to manage idiopathic or long COVID Tinnitus: self-report adopting a pathophysiological and pharmacological approach

I have read the short article but there is not much of interest here. Unfortunately the author does not explain how Metformin, or adenosine receptor agonists in general, could help treating tinnitus.

I am a bit surprised papers like this end up being published in scientific journals.

Anyway, in another article, it says that "the effect of metformin on tinnitus remains elusive. Metformin users might exhibit reduced vestibular schwannoma growth, while some studies reported tinnitus and auditory symptoms as potential side effects of metformin."

I have attached the article as a PDF, so everyone can judge for themselves:

 

[dd314]

Interesting, I would love to hear from any members that take Metformin. It's one of the few drugs that has been shown to reduce the chance of getting long Covid. A 40% decreased chance, IIRC.

 

[ErikaS]

Before I got tinnitus, I was deep in the IVF world, trying to build a family. My IVF clinic actually used Metformin with a lot of patients to help lower overall inflammation as well as control blood sugar. When I first got tinnitus in September 2022, I connected with another woman in the IVF world who sent me this message:

I'm sorry you're going through this. I dealt with very similar symptoms, but it was only in one ear and I did have mild hearing loss at the time. The ringing was soo frustrating. I couldn't sleep sometimes because it was so bad. It was way worse with loud sounds, TV, people talking. Prior to my ear issue I would sleep with a fan on for white noise, but once the tinnitus was constant I remember crying one night because I thought the fan would drown it out but the fan made it so much worse. It was more a humming or static sound. I vaguely remember it being different from time to time. It wasn't really a high pitched "ringing" sound. I started wearing an ear plug at night and then I wore it all day bc it helped drown out the ringing. I went to a few different doctors and had all different tests done including vestibular testing and an MRI and never got a cause. Then when I started going through the infertility testing and I was diagnosed with PCOS and was put on something called Metformin, it completely went away within 2-3 weeks. Despite my suspicions prior to that diagnosis, I was always told it wasn't hormonal but I really think it was linked to that because once my hormones were regulated, it was gone. I don't know if that's really helpful but I wanted to share.

I wanted to share this anecdotal story given then use of Metformin and that she clearly had reactive tinnitus on one ear with some mild hearing loss.

 

[Nick47]

This is a guy I followed on X (formerly Twitter) and what his experience was with Long Covid induced tinnitus and Metformin.

Was on metformin (when could get it) & found it slightly reduced pitch of my #LongCovid tinnitus. Convinced myself it was probably coincidence. I then see case study on metformin subjectively reducing post-Covid tinnitus in another person... Shows how I'm even gaslighting myself!

I first came across Metformin a few years ago in the longevity field.

 

[Stayinghopeful]

I'm starting 500 mg of Metformin once a day for a week and 500 mg twice a day the week after. I'll report back my results.

 

[IYIiKe]

Kind of an odd case study. Not sure how it was published to begin with. There are even some grammatical issues, but apparently the individual felt it beneficial enough to likely pay to have it published.

 

[AverageJoe12]

I'm starting 500 mg of Metformin once a day for a week and 500 mg twice a day the week after. I'll report back my results.

Good luck man! Do let us know how you make out.

 

[Stayinghopeful]

Kind of an odd case study. Not sure how it was published to begin with. There are even some grammatical issues, but apparently the individual felt it beneficial enough to likely pay to have it published.

I'm glad they did publish it. It could potentially benefit a lot of people.

 

[Nick47]

I will add that a friend in the UK with post COVID-19 vaccine exasperated tinnitus was recommended Metformin as part of a cocktail option from Professor Dirk De Ridder.

 

[Stayinghopeful]

Good luck man! Do let us know how you make out.

Will do brother!

 

[Cmspgran]

I will add that a friend in the UK with post COVID-19 vaccine exasperated tinnitus was recommended Metformin as part of a cocktail option from Professor Dirk De Ridder.

View attachment 56423

That's a mental concoction of stuff to be taking. I sometimes wonder if he's just stabbing in the dark and experimenting on people in real time.

I'd imagine being on the bog for half the day with that list.

 

[chinup]

My tinnitus was manageable until the vaccine so I'm extremely interested in this.

I will add that a friend in the UK with post COVID-19 vaccine exasperated tinnitus was recommended Metformin as part of a cocktail option from Professor Dirk De Ridder.

View attachment 56423

Have you spoken to this friend since they began the cocktail? Any update on whether it's working?

 

[kingsfan]

I will add that a friend in the UK with post COVID-19 vaccine exasperated tinnitus was recommended Metformin as part of a cocktail option from Professor Dirk De Ridder.

View attachment 56423

Did it help your friend? I'm thinking about @Travis Henry and if it could help him even a tiny bit.

 

[Nick47]

My tinnitus was manageable until the vaccine so I'm extremely interested in this.

Have you spoken to this friend since they began the cocktail? Any update on whether it's working?

Did it help your friend? I'm thinking about @Travis Henry and if it could help him even a tiny bit.

Metformin helped him whilst he was on it. He managed to get hold of some without going the normal route. He put the improvement down to coincidence until he saw the case report published.

That's a mental concoction of stuff to be taking. I sometimes wonder if he's just stabbing in the dark and experimenting on people in real time.

I'd imagine being on the bog for half the day with that list.

Nope. You can start with the supplements, choose 3 and take them 3 times a week.

Then move to the 2nd lot if the supplements were no good and take that cocktail.

If that doesn't work, you're left with Deanxit, Aripiprazole, Clonazepam +/- LDN +/- Cyclobenzaprine.

A stepwise approach really.

This patient from the UK had mild tinnitus that turned severe, unstable, reactive, with pain. He is on here but did not try any. He had a normal audiogram.

 

[Fields]

After researching Metformin, I noticed it's often used to regulate blood sugar levels.

Prof. Dirk de Ridder also pointed towards a supplement called Dahlia 4, which apparently serves the same purpose. Several members here are currently on it for testing purposes.

Reading the above stories about Metformin, I also might give Dahlia 4 a try.

 

[momus]

Anyone considering taking Metformin should have their labs done first. It's known to be a big problem for people w/ low kidney function or other pre-existing health issues. When I asked my neighbor, who is on dialysis, what happened w/ her kidneys, she said a doctor had put her on Metformin for her diabetes. After being on it for 2 years she had to go to the ER. The kidney specialist told her that Metformin was what had ruined her kidneys, and someone w/ diabetes should never have been put on it in the first place. She just got on a transplant waitlist a few weeks ago.

 

[ErikaS]

I'm starting 500 mg of Metformin once a day for a week and 500 mg twice a day the week after. I'll report back my results.

I was on Metformin during IVF procedure for a little, way before I got tinnitus. A reason they start at lowest dose and increase weekly is because it can cause GI upset, which it really did for me at first but then it subsided. I thought to just share that with you in case you experience that!

 

[Nick47]

The kidney specialist told her that Metformin was what had ruined her kidneys, and someone w/ diabetes should never have been put on it in the first place.

Diabetes often causes kidney failure and many with diabetes are on Metformin.

A very recent study with a very large cohort:

The Long-term Effects of Metformin on Patients With Type 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease

CONCLUSIONS
In the present retrospective study, metformin usage in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially those with CKD 3B, decreased the risk of all-cause mortality and incident ESRD. Additionally, metformin did not increase the risk of lactic acidosis. However, considering the remaining biases even after PSM, further randomized controlled trials are needed to change real-world practice.

 

[Utdmad89]

I've been recently diagnosed with diabetes and put on Metformin. I think it doesn't affect my tinnitus, but I do think it's made my ears hurt more.

Will do brother!

How are you getting on?

 

[El BUZZ]

I have a theory about COVID-19 related tinnitus.

Three nights ago I had a really severe coughing episode which lasted 5 minutes. I was almost choking out of breath because a grain of salt went the wrong way down. After coughing I felt my head buzzing LOUDLY. It has remained that way since. I think COVID-19 related tinnitus may be related to loud coughing.

 

[StoneInFocus]

I will add that a friend in the UK with post COVID-19 vaccine exasperated tinnitus was recommended Metformin as part of a cocktail option from Professor Dirk De Ridder.

View attachment 56423

I know this thread isn't about Dr. De Ridder, but has anyone had success with his cocktails?

He recently prescribed me a couple of drugs, but I'm thinking about quitting and going to the GP instead.

 

[HighleyTall]

None of these cocktails work. Well, maybe a little. Thus, you start acting 'normal' again, talk at 'normal' levels, and expose yourself to more sound just a bit. Then it backfires, and you get smacked on the floor.

And that is because the root cause isn't solved. The burning nerve(s), which can occur despite how good or bad your audiogram is...

 

[AverageJoe12]

I know this thread isn't about Dr. De Ridder, but has anyone had success with his cocktails?

He recently prescribed me a couple of drugs, but I'm thinking about quitting and going to the GP instead.

Would you mind detailing what he prescribed and for what conditions?

 

[Nick47]

Would you mind detailing what he prescribed and for what conditions?

I've answered @StoneInFocus on the Deanxit thread. Take the discussion over there as this thread is about Metformin.

You know what it's like as a new member to go to a thread and then see it descending into babble off-topic between people having personal chats.

 

[StoneInFocus]

None of these cocktails work. Well, maybe a little. Thus, you start acting 'normal' again, talk at 'normal' levels, and expose yourself to more sound just a bit. Then it backfires, and you get smacked on the floor.

And that is because the root cause isn't solved. The burning nerve(s), which can occur despite how good or bad your audiogram is...

You can't possibly know if no one has ever had success with these cocktails.

Would you mind detailing what he prescribed and for what conditions?

I won't share that here for now as I don't want the doctor to possibly identify me, but if I have any success, I will be sure to share it.