Salicylates and Tinnitus

[Tweaker]

My T went to suicidal levels last night and I was wondering if it could have been down to what I ate yesterday. I ate loads of dried fruit which apparently has high levels of salicylates. Aspirin, being a salicylate is known to cause tinnitus, so there is some science behind it. Has anyone else experienced this or perhaps my T is just doing what it likes no matter what. It was so loud I felt disorientated when I got up at 3am to go to the toilet. I ended up taking a clonazepam but it hasn't really hepled.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Tweaker
Sorry to hear about your tinnitus reaching such high levels, it does happen and hopefully it will calm down soon. We are all different so whose to say that certain foods fruits and beverages don't affect tinnitus?
I experimented many years ago and omitted certain foods, drinks and alcohol from my diet to see whether there was any change in my tinnitus. There wasn't but I did notice the process made me very miserable and was glad to return to my normal eating and drinking in moderation.

Clonazapam does reduce my tinnitus but unfortunately won't do the same for everyone. I take it only when my tinnitus is very severe because of its addictive nature.
Hope you feel better soon.
Michael

 

[Natalie Roberts]

I ate dried pineapple, cranberry and cherries in a trial mix last week. I didn't eat huge amounts but I had a huge increase in t volume shortly after eating it. There's also a lot of sugar in the dried fruit I ate.. So needless to say I won't be eating that again! Although to really confirm it was that specific food you would have to eat it again and see if you had the same reaction.. I'd rather just avoid it lol..

I haven't really been able to pinpoint a trigger food but find myself miserable depriving myself of everything or worrying that every food I eat will cause a flair. As far as I've read spikes from food are usually temporary anyway, but they do make us miserable. I haven't figured out what causes my spikes yet!

 

[Tweaker]

That's interesting Natalie. I know it can be miserable avoiding foods but if I find some culprits I would gladly omit them from my diet to get some relief from this torture. I may experiment for a while with salicylates and see if it makes a difference. Anyone else tried cutting out/down salicylate foods?

 

[Sailboardman]

I drink lot's of red & white wine, which have salicylate's and it doesn't seem to change my T. Sugar though sends my T to the moon, so I have eliminated it. Sodium in high amounts can be a trigger for me also.

 

[Christian78]

I ate dried pineapple, cranberry and cherries in a trial mix last week. I didn't eat huge amounts but I had a huge increase in t volume shortly after eating it. There's also a lot of sugar in the dried fruit I ate.. So needless to say I won't be eating that again! Although to really confirm it was that specific food you would have to eat it again and see if you had the same reaction.. I'd rather just avoid it lol..

I haven't really been able to pinpoint a trigger food but find myself miserable depriving myself of everything or worrying that every food I eat will cause a flair. As far as I've read spikes from food are usually temporary anyway, but they do make us miserable. I haven't figured out what causes my spikes yet!

Insulin goes up after eating any stronger food so that is why you get it. Sugar couse strong insuline spike, fet long...

 

[Natalie Roberts]

That's interesting Natalie. I know it can be miserable avoiding foods but if I find some culprits I would gladly omit them from my diet to get some relief from this torture. I may experiment for a while with salicylates and see if it makes a difference. Anyone else tried cutting out/down salicylate foods?

I agree. If I found something that made my t worse I would gladly give it up.

 

[Fiona Russell]

I have had severe Tinnitus since suffering Sudden Sensorneural Hearing Loss in Feb 2014. The first twelve months were unbearable.
I gradually started to realise that if I had a fasting day, my T became more bearable. I then started to experiment with only eating certain foods on any one day. Although I have always been a very healthy eater, any food that I had not made myself sent my T through the roof, probably due to their preservative content. I also noticed that most vegetables, apart from potato and iceberg lettuce, most fruits and most nuts, also had the same effect. Lentils, beans, seeds, dairy (apart from salty cheese) and meat all seemed fine. I could not understand why these foods affected me so badly. One day I had my usual salad and added some grapes. My head very soon became unbearable.
I looked up on internet, grapes and what they contain. "Very high in salicylates" was the answer. I then realised that all the other foods that make my T worse, all contain salicylates. Those that don't, do not.
This has been a great breakthrough for me. I can now control my T to a bearable level, at least. Interestingly, it has also been proved that people with ADHD are significantly better following a salicylate diet. As it is the activeness in our brains that cause T, this all makes sense although I have spoken to people on other Tinnitus forums about the link with T and salicylates but I think they just think I'm mad!
I wish you all well and a little more peace!

 

[FilmRebelLA]

I have had this happen accompanied by chest pain and swollen tongue... turn out I am allergic to Sulfites. Since a lot of dried fruit is preserved with Sulphur Dioxide which is a king sulfite... I stay away from dried fruit now.

 

[Fiona Russell]

I let my husband make my salad yesterday. It was delicious but he included a large chopped tomato. Been awake since 4.30 with those piercing loud screams in my head again.
It's ridiculous how, after a few good days of being really careful what you eat, you forget just how bad this T can get. I start to believe that I'm beginning to habituate. Then I treat myself to something like a tomato and WHAM!
I'd love to know why salicylates cause such torment!

 

[Quiet please]

Disclaimer: This is my personal salicyclate experience; I'm sure not everyone will react to it like me.
I seem to be sensitive to salicyclates; aspirin causes the T to spike very high for me and will stay screeching high for at least 24 hrs. So, I did a 12-day experiment with salicyclate containing foods & drinks. I downloaded a listing of high & very high salicyclate food & beverages. Of course, almost all my favorites were on it! Vegetables: Broccoli, cucumber, eggplant, spinach, squash (especially butternut), sweet peppers & zucchini. Fruits: Avocado, red & purple grape, peach, all berries, cantaloupe, orange & pineapple. Nuts: almonds, macadamia, pistachio & peanuts. Drinks: Liqueurs, port, rum, white & red wine, tea & my absolutely favorite herbal tea; peppermint!

I consumed one or two of high or very high items at each meal for 1 day. The T went absolutely through the roof! I went off for 2 days; T went way down. Repeated 3 times with different selections and the same exact thing happened. I did not add any salt or sugar.

It's not a cure for me, but its a "Hold the T Spike Down" diet. There are plenty of healthy alternative foods & drinks to consume. I'm not a rummy, just like an occasional drink with family & friends. Now I drink vodka (potatoes are ok) with club soda & lemon. Orange juice & Tonic water are out.

Its been about 6 weeks now and the T has been very low. I am better able to ignore than ever before. I still have T of course, but its more manageable for me. Hope this helps someone.

 

[click]

My T went to suicidal levels last night and I was wondering if it could have been down to what I ate yesterday. I ate loads of dried fruit which apparently has high levels of salicylates. Aspirin, being a salicylate is known to cause tinnitus, so there is some science behind it. Has anyone else experienced this or perhaps my T is just doing what it likes no matter what. It was so loud I felt disorientated when I got up at 3am to go to the toilet. I ended up taking a clonazepam but it hasn't really hepled.

I used bonjela on a sore tooth and my t also went to a suicidal level. Only later did I discover that bonjela consists of salicylate and one other ingredient. Tried a low salicylate diet which didn't work... but thinking of trying again. Trouble is, it's very complex - eg. unless you grow everything yourself then you really don't know how 'old' food is etc. etc.

If you need a solution when your t goes through the roof because of sals then try an Epsom salt foot bath. It eliminates the sals from your body but also other nutrients so not something to do too frequently.

 

[jeanoroid]

Aspirin makes me spike for an hour or so.
I always felt it personally not a huge trigger.

 

[click]

Aspirin makes me spike for an hour or so.
I always felt it personally not a huge trigger.

I think it may be a 'build up' for me. I can eat sweet potatoes (sal high) for 3 days and & maybe have three quiet days and screech on the 4th. It's the same with salt - it's doesn't necessarily have an immediate effect - it builds up and then makes the T screech - usually the next day with salt. I absolutely know that there is a link between diet and T for me.

Almost everything has sals in it. Finding a toothpaste is a nightmare. Even aloe vera is high. Kindof makes you sad at all the things that have to be eliminated. But T makes me sadder so it's worth another try.

 

[DebInAustralia]

I let my husband make my salad yesterday. It was delicious but he included a large chopped tomato. Been awake since 4.30 with those piercing loud screams in my head again.
It's ridiculous how, after a few good days of being really careful what you eat, you forget just how bad this T can get. I start to believe that I'm beginning to habituate. Then I treat myself to something like a tomato and WHAM!
I'd love to know why salicylates cause such torment!

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/9/3944