Magnesium Dramatically Reduced My Lamictal / Ibuprofen-Induced Tinnitus

[Gary Goodson]

About three months ago I developed tinnitus after taking Lamictal and Ibuprofen. The tinnitus was at about 4/10 with spikes going higher - sometimes getting really loud and shrill. Mostly a "sssssssss" sound that tested at about 8,000 Hz. It was worse in my left ear. I followed directions for getting off of the medications as I had read that NSAIDs can cause tinnitus, and that Lamictal can (rarely cause it too). I also started to reduce the stress by listening to tinnitus masking audio recordings on YouTube. I am very grateful as this gave me some immediate relief and a sense of control. Meditation and mindfulness are also good - I believe that we are not our thoughts and we are not our tinnitus.

Later, I'd read on Tinnitus Talk about trying an Epsom Salt bath (Magnesium sulfate). I sat in the tub for about 1/2 an hour and noticed that the tinnitus was reduced about 40%! I was REALLY surprised. Now the sound was at a higher pitch - and quieter by about 50-60% I was really encouraged by this improvement.

I then moved on to taking Magnesium supplements about three weeks ago - There are so many brands but I take Nature Made 400 mg Extra Strength. One gel cap a day. I also continued the meditation as it lessened the stress.

Currently my tinnitus is down by 90%. I can hear but it is not really that bothersome.

Anyway, I posted this in the hopes that it might help others.

 

[BILZER]

I have been taking Magnesium plus Melatonin every night before bed. I am going on 1 year of tinnitus with hyperacusis in June and am interested if you think that the baths are helping?

 

[MindOverMatter]

@BILZER, for your information, Magnesium/Epsom salt baths make my ears way more sensitive/spikes me. Several others have reported the same. But that doesn't mean that it couldn't work for you.

 

[Lukee]

@BILZER, for your information, Magnesium/Epsom salt baths make my ears way more sensitive/spikes me. Several others have reported the same. But that doesn't mean that it couldn't work for you.

Now that you say this I might have noticed the same. I can't put a finger on it but my hyperacusis comes and goes, almost completely some days. I am going to start tracking my magnesium intake and see if it correlates to that.

 

[Gary Goodson]

I'm sorry to hear that the Epsom salt baths made your tinnitus worse/spiked.

I can't say for certain that the Epsom salt baths helped me, but will say that from the day I tried this treatment I noticed significantly decreased tinnitus sound levels. From a "4/10" level "ssssssssss" sound in my left ear to maybe a "1-1/2".

Additionally, my tinnitus further dramatically - and consistently decreased - two weeks into a very low carb/no sugar/no dairy diet.

The other thing I did, that everyone here already knows to do, is that I stopped taking any NSAIDs - absolutely none since March of this year with the onset of my tinnitus.

My tinnitus had started immediately after stopping use of the prescription drug Lamictal. Maybe my tinnitus would have faded no matter what I did - but I like to think that these changes helped.

Today my tinnitus is barely noticeable - I don't mean habituation - I mean it is 95% gone.

 

[ajc]

Today my tinnitus is barely noticeable - I don't mean habituation - I mean it is 95% gone.

So happy for you!

 

[Ben H]

I'm in a similar boat with NSAID induced tinnitus. I'll have to try an Epsom salt bath. I've not given Magnesium a fair shot either.

 

[MindOverMatter]

Epsom Salt bath spikes my tinnitus - but for others it may be good. Especially if you are low in Magnesium (which I am not).

 

[Sandra Menzie]

Wow. I also take generic Lamictal and have been for over 20 years due to a seizure I had. I was taking Ibuprofen also. I stopped the Ibuprofen. The doctor says to still take Lamictal.

 

[DebInAustralia]

@BILZER, for your information, Magnesium/Epsom salt baths make my ears way more sensitive/spikes me. Several others have reported the same. But that doesn't mean that it couldn't work for you.

Could it be the type of Magnesium you have taken that might be an issue. I religiously take Magnesium Threonate and never had an issue with it, but have read to stay away from citric and aspartate forms of Magnesium, as they may be neuro excitatory.

I did also read on this forum that Magnesium can potentially drive down cortisol. Not sure if that would have an effect?

 

[MindOverMatter]

Could it be the type of Magnesium you have taken that might be an issue. I religiously take Magnesium Threonate and never had an issue with it, but have read to stay away from citric and aspartate forms of Magnesium, as they may be neuro excitatory.

I did also read on this forum that Magnesium can potentially drive down cortisol. Not sure if that would have an effect?

May be, I'm not sure - but I've tried many forms (also Threonate), and they all make tinnitus/hyperacusis somewhat more shrill. I guess it get more than enough magnesium through my diet as well.

Cortisol might be a key factor here as you mention - keeping the cortisol levels balanced.

 

[Lan2021!]

Hi Gary! My tinnitus started about three months ago as well as a result of accidentally allowing a nurse to give me an injection of 30 mg of Toradol (Ketorolac) medication.

My tinnitus has always been relatively mild in comparison, but rather bothersome. I've improved quite a bit in the past few months and it seems as if the sound has definitely died down.

I will try taking some Magnesium too because I believe I am a bit low on that.

I was wondering seven months later if your tinnitus is still there and was also wondering how much Ibuprofen you took in the past?

Hoping this is not a permanent case for us NSAID induced tinnitus sufferers!

 

[LeoCat]

I have been taking Magnesium plus Melatonin every night before bed. I am going on 1 year of tinnitus with hyperacusis in June and am interested if you think that the baths are helping?

I am one month in from post Doxycycline tinnitus in one ear. I am curious if yours got any better?

 

[Jackson Brady]

Magnesium has worked wonders for my Pregabalin induced tinnitus too. It's a game changer, it reduced my tones and my hyperacusis is like 70% better.

 

[Blackbird1016]

Magnesium has worked wonders for my Pregabalin induced tinnitus too. It's a game changer, it reduced my tones and my hyperacusis is like 70% better.

What type of Magnesium are you taking? Currently I've been taking Glycinate but I'm wondering if another version is better.

 

[Jackson Brady]

What type of Magnesium are you taking? Currently I've been taking Glycinate but I'm wondering if another version is better.

I first tried a combined Magnesium supplement of Citrate + Lactate + Aspartate. That helped a lot. Then I went on to Malate for some time, which was not so helpful but I had slight improvements. Then I switched back to the combined one and my recovery boosted again. Currently my hyperacusis is like 85% better, I can tolerate most things but still not able to tolerate my hair dresser's clipping machine, haha.

 

[Forever hopeful]

I am one month in from post Doxycycline tinnitus in one ear. I am curious if yours got any better?

Are you sure your tinnitus is medication related? Per two ENTs I've seen, medication induced tinnitus is typically bilateral.

 

[hopefuldede]

I first tried a combined Magnesium supplement of Citrate + Lactate + Aspartate. That helped a lot. Then I went on to Malate for some time, which was not so helpful but I had slight improvements. Then I switched back to the combined one and my recovery boosted again. Currently my hyperacusis is like 85% better, I can tolerate most things but still not able to tolerate my hair dresser's clipping machine, haha.

Can you link the Magnesium you got? I can't seem to find that combination. Perhaps it's not available in the UK (for me).

 

[LeoCat]

Are you sure your tinnitus is medication related? Per two ENTs I've seen, medication induced tinnitus is typically bilateral.

I just figured it was, since I have read Doxycycline can cause tinnitus. I was on 100 mg a day for 4 months straight. I got off of it at the end of February, so a couple of months ago. I am 40 years old and have never had any ear issues, save for the occasional ear pop after blowing nose when I have bad allergies. As much as I try not to obsess over it, the idea of it eventually going away is like a fantasy. I am also not so optimistic about going to a doctor yet. Almost every ENT story I have read or heard about is basically a useless journey. I don't even have health insurance so I'm just trying to live with it. It's depressing. I can't even exercise anymore because my tinnitus rages after that.

 

[Jackson Brady]

Can you link the Magnesium you got? I can't seem to find that combination. Perhaps it's not available in the UK (for me).

It's from GNC brand. Not marketing anything, only telling because you asked. It's called Super Magnesium.

 

[rv123]

I am one month in from post Doxycycline tinnitus in one ear. I am curious if yours got any better?

Hi LeoCat,

Has your tinnitus improved yet? I'm in the same situation as you. I developed tinnitus in my right ear after a course of doxycycline, and it's been a month now. I would love to hear from you!

 

[Nick47]

About three months ago I developed tinnitus after taking Lamictal and Ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is a known ototoxic medication, while Lamictal is not.