Aldosterone—A New Treatment for Hearing Loss and Meniere’s Disease?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
I get some very interesting email at times. A man wrote:
I’m under the care of Dr. Jonathan Wright of the Tahoma Clinic in Renton WA. He’s been working with Professor Dennis Trune (U of OR Hearing Sciences Center) on an aldosterone therapy trial on a human patient. His previous research demonstrated that aldosterone added to mouse drinking water restores damaged hearing. Their first human patient has experienced cessation of further hearing loss plus a total stop of his vertigo (from Meniere’s).
I’ve been on the same treatment—125 mcg twice a day of compounded aldosterone for seven months. (I get the compounded aldosterone from a Canadian pharmacy.) To date, although my balance is still poor, I have recovered 30 dB (at 250Hz) in my nearly-deaf left ear, and about 20 dB each in the rest of the test frequencies. On my still “sort of functioning” right ear, I got back 20 dB across the test frequencies. My discrimination came up to 95% on my right ear (from 70%), while the discrimination in my left ear rose from 20% to 65%. Also, it stopped my serious recruitment!
This is great news for people with hearing loss from AIED (autoimmune inner ear disease), people with Meniere’s disease and people who are losing their hearing as a result of aging (presbycusis)!
Aldosterone is a naturally-occurring hormone (technically a mineralocorticoid [steroid]) made in our adrenal glands. It plays an important part in regulating our sodium and potassium levels—both critical for normal hearing. Unfortunately, as we age (that means you and me brother), not only do our potassium levels drop, but so do our aldosterone levels. This results in some hearing loss. Furthermore, some people have below normal levels of aldosterone in the first place, and thus, they too have hearing problems.
Researchers have discovered there is a direct link between blood levels of aldosterone and our ability to hear normally. Thus, for people with lower than normal aldosterone levels, taking bio-identical aldosterone supplements can help restore their hearing, and even help with related issues (balance, recruitment, discrimination, etc.).
If you want to know more about aldosterone therapy and where you can get bio-identical aldosterone, check out the easy-to-read article “Take Control of Your Hearing Loss Before It’s Too Late” by Dr. Jonathan Wright.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Where can I buy compounded Aldosteron??
I am in Los Angeles, I also live in Europe, Can I get it there?
May 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Hi Bo:
You can get compounded Aldosterone at Canada Global Drugs, in Vancouver, BC, Canada, but you must have your doctor’s prescription before they will fill it.
Phone: 1-877-312-8822
Website: http://www.canadaglobaldrugs.com
Regards
Neil
June 8th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Hello, I am not a Dr. but I have Meniere’s disease. I have been researching this therapy and was finding,please correct me if I’m wrong, that the body regulates the in serum amount of this hormone even when replacement therapy is attempted, which is why they had to engineer a similar but slightly different hormone (like Florinef)which has it’s own side effects. My hearing loss is continuing. But antioxident therapy and a very low sodium diet has compleatly stopped my drop attacks and brain fog i.e. dizzyness for 4 months now. Is this replacement therapy without its own side effects. Please drop me a line and explain further if you can, how your findings contadict the findings of others when searching on the web. I am not not a medical person but I am very interested to see if this is true. I am attemting to schedule an appt to see what my own blood levels are. Thank you and Best Regards Rick Walter
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I took Florinef and my blood pressure went sky high, I was told by my Dr. in LA to take high dose of salt!!!??? is that right? I have not taken it yet. Will Aldosteron stop my dizziness? I have no problem with hearing lose.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I started the aldosterone therapy 8 days ago. I found a progressive Dr who ok’ed the script from Canada. My first couple days were a little scary as my hearing got very much worse(about 24 hours)but then got very much better. My understanding of words has increased a measureable amount and I can now hear the television at the same volume level as my wife while using my hearing aids. Before this I was about 1/5 farther up the volume scale of the television. It has eased my frustration considerably in understanding speech especially in crowded places. I always had a low pulse rate(50′s) and it has increased about 10 beats a minute.My blood pressure has also always been on the low side and I can feel I has risen slightly but not unconfortably. I understand from much research on the internet I will still have to maintain a very low sodium diet as a high salt intake and a high aldosterone level can cause heart disease and edemia.My very bad ear has already drifted into the profound loss range but has been picking up some higher frequency noises I havent heard in a while. I will have a complete hearing test and blood work up at the end of next month and will then be able to include facts as well as feelings. As of right now aldosterone supplimentation has been the only step forward I have experienced since I started loosing ground about 6 years ago and thats a good thing.Thank you Rick Walter
September 16th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
My husband has hearing problems do to loud noise. We have seen many specialists and they say it is the little hairs in the ears that are damaged. Could this be true abd would this therapy work? O rcan you direct us another way. His ears hurt really bad sometimes. Please help thank you.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Hey Rick
How do you think you lost your hearing?
Was it loud noises or do you think its age related?
Would love to here a progress report from you and possibly the name of your doctor.
Peace Ray
September 17th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I am 59 years old and all the above listed is what I would have listed if asked. Except some of my loss is do to loud noises. I have been told I am just out of luck for any repair except for the use of hearing aids. What if anything can you do for me. I live in Washington State on the East side so a visit to your clinic is not out of the question.
Thank you
Mike
September 17th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Im interested in the Aldosterone Research being conducted by Dr. Jonathan Wright of the Tahoma Clinic in Renton WA for hearing improvement. I live in Las Vegas, but fly to SeaTac Airport near Renton, WA about once a month. Are they looking for research subjects. Im 64 and have moderate age relared hearing loss in both ears. I have been wearing aides for about one year, but still have trouble with word recognition at times in my classrooms – esp softer female voices. BTW both my parents wore hearing aides so it may be genetic. – JAY
September 18th, 2008 at 11:59 am
My wife lost her hearing within a coulple of hours after taking the bowel prep Halflytely. Her doctor said her hearing loss had nothing to do with the medication. After reading reading the articles about aldosterone I think it did have something to do with her loss of hearing. Do you think aldosterone might help her. It has been over a year since her hearing loss. Thanks, Steve
September 28th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Where can I find a doctor in the Chicago area that can prescribe aldosterone for me. I am experiencing hearing loss just out of the blue (started last year). I am in my early 50s and am a musician. This is really putting a damper on my career. Any help is greatly appreciated.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Would I have to go to an endocrinologist for the test for Aldosterone. My physician does not seem to know of this test. Do you know a doctor in my area. Area code: 48187 Canton, Michigan
October 12th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
My mother and her two sisters have degenerative hearing loss. My sister and I also have hearing loss and all the symptoms from low aldosterones. I’m relieved to know that there is a cure, for we are healthy otherwise. I’m 63 and hope to continue working until I’m 70.
How do I get started to have prescription written for me?
LA
October 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am
My mother has hearing loss due to age. We are looking for a doctor in the South Florida area that treats this with the aldosterone.
October 26th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Ive been taking the Aldosterone therapy for about 2 months now. I had what I think was a side effect when I was taking two pills a day.Both my ankles became very sore and walking was difficult.This came and went in the first month.My hearing loss came from many things. Much came from loud noise over my lifetime but I came down with Meniere’s about a year ago and the process became greatly accelerated.The aldosterone gave me back clarity of hearing and only a little volume.Make no mistake any improvement is huge with as bad as my ears are. Also the drop attacks and weird dizzyness are compleatly gone.My job involves long hours and high stress wich is a contributing factor. My Dr’s name is Jeffery Dach in Hollywoood Fl. After a 2 week period of overtime I feel like I have lost some more ground.I had my aldosterone levels checked three weeks ago and was shocked to see the level turn up to be only 5. That is while taking two pills a day it is lower than it was to start with. This is so new a proceedure my Dr has no answer for it. You must still maintaing a low sodium diet(If you have Meniere’s). As I found high sodium intake will still bring back a vertigo spell.I was feeling cocky and ate some junk food and I regretted doing it.My blood pressure heart rate have risen slightly with the treatment but not above the normal range. I was always on the low side. I am going to do some more research to find out why my level can be so low.I had to cut back to 1 pill a day because It felt like my blood pressure was way up working the overtime. After I settle down a bit I will try taking two again. Thats all for now.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Greetings.
This is excellant information. I have a cure for menieres disease and many patients come from all over. But was not aware that aldosterone had a role to play.Thanks!!
devan
Dr.Devan.P.P.
Professor and Head,
Div.of otolaryngology
AJ Medical COllege
Mangalroe,India.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Dr Devan, I have contacted Prof.Trune who was working with Dr Wright .His animal research was what prompted the aldosterone supplimintation we are talking about. In a letter I received from him this week states that he thinks what I am experiencing is called “breaking” the body stops producing its own when system levels are high. He wishes to make it absolutly clear that none of his studies have ever dealt with humans and we are on unproven ground here.I am very much interested in hearing about your Meniere’s “Cure”. May I contact you at your College?Best to all Rick
November 28th, 2008 at 11:44 am
were can you get this medicine?
December 1st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
[...] Â by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. In the March, 2008 issue, I reported on an interesting treatment for hearing loss. There has been a fair bit of interest in this treatment as evidenced by the various comments on the HearingLossHelp blog. You can read the original article and comments here. [...]
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
i am in the music industry and over the years i think my mid range hearing has been hurt because i am in front of speakers many hours during the day. do u think aldosterone would b worth trying.
ira antelis
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hi Ira:
It may be worth trying. No guarantees of course. I wouldn’t expect miracles. But what you should be doing is either turn the volume down to a reasonable level (below 80 dB), or wear ear protectors so you don’t continue to damage your ears.
January 18th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Dear Sir,
I tried Aldosterone for hearing loss & I believe my hearing is better but I took a hearing test before & after & there wasn’t a noticeable difference. Is that possible or am I imagining things. However I can have a converstaion with my husband for a long period of time that I couldn’t do before. I’ve been taking it for about 6 weeks & if I continue taking it will my hearing keep improving? Appreciate you thoughts.
Thank you,
Jean Duarte
January 21st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
In response to Jean, I have been taking aldosterone for 5 months.I was taking it 2x a day but reduced to only once due to feelings of higher blood pressure.I only felt my pressure was up, it was not measureably higher. My comprehension of speech has improved dramatically since taking this product. I will be having my hearing checked this week for the first time since taking it.Recognition was the most noticable change but also being a Meniere’s sufferer I have noticed a significant reduction in symptoms,ie foggy brain, anxiety attacks, dizzyness. This treatment has really improved my situation. Although not perfect any improvement is worthwile. I have also been experimenting with raising my good cholesterol level which was always way below normal by drinking 10 oz coconut milk a day.If good cholesterol is the building blocks of all our body’s hormones then when that level is low it can’t be too good.It is claimed coconut milk can increase the good cholesterol level aside from having many other benifits.I plan on continuing the treatment for now.I hope this helps. If your aldosterone level tested very low to begin with I would stick with it for a while. Hope this helps, Rick
January 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I have read, with GREAT interest, about the experimental bio-identical compound aldosterone. (http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/?p=282) I would REALLY like to try this, but do not know what to do next.
Here’s a brief history of my problems. I was diagnosed with Meniere’s in 1991. At the time I was a patient of Dr. Michael Paparella in Minneapolis. He performed three surgeries on me. They were the endolymphatic sac enhancement procedures. Over the course of years, symptoms and problems have returned. I am completely deaf in my right ear (a gamble I took and take responsibility for, I blame no one for this). My left ear usually is 40 to 50 % normal hearing. Again, I can live with that. HOWEVER these times of distorted input (tinny, echoing, lack of discrimination) are the WORST problem for me. I have taken Prednisone for this in the past and had SOME success, but of course, there is a GREAT downside to Prednisone. Because of Prednisone I have had Shingles and now have osteoporosis. Again, I knew the risk and accepted them. But when you have NO quality of life due to ever varying hearing, what more can one do?
Since leaving the Twin Cities area, we relocated to Arizona and I have Dr. Dennis Berry as my ENT, but still communicate with Dr. Paparella. The latest problem began November of 2008. I took high dose Prednisone for about two weeks and the problem began to clear up. I NEVER regained the level of hearing I had, but it was workable. Then January 17, 2009 I noticed diminished hearing and the return of SUBSTANTIAL head noise, which distorts all hearing. I have taken two rounds of Prednisone Therapy, this time and to no or little avail. I am at my wits end here. The poor hearing creates nervousness and anxiety. When I HAVE to go out in public the I physically shake, because it just rattles my nerves to hear NOISE. And in turn this complicates my Meniere’s problems. It’s like a whirling vortex down the drain.
I am asking for your help. Would it be possible to confer with Dr. Paparella, or Dr. Berry to get me started on aldosterone. Dr Berry is reluctant to prescribe it as he does not know enough about it and would not know what dosage to prescribe. He said he would be willing to monitor me if someone would help him prescribe the medication and he would follow-up with future prescriptions on his own, if he could just confer with you. I am volunteering to be a Guinea pig!! Can you help me??
If you CANNOT help me, can you point me to someone who could, here in AZ. My life is not worth much the way the hearing is today, so I have to do SOMETHING.
Thank you in advance for your time and trouble.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hi Wendell:
I cannot help you directly since I am not an MD, but here is what you can do.
First, copy the entire article (1st 5 pages) from the link in the original article in this blog thread (here it is again http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_282/ai_n19170311) and give it to your doctors to read. It contains good information about aldosterone and doses. etc.
Second, I’d have them get in touch with Dr. Jonathan Wright, the author of this article, at his Tahoma Clinic in Renton, WA. The link to his clinic is http://www.tahomaclinic.com/contactus.shtml
Regards
Neil
February 4th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I started bioidentical aldosterone about 3 months ago – no improvement yet. Could aldosterone therapy make hearing worse?
February 13th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I received the results of my hearing test after being on aldosterone therapy for about 5 months. There was no measureable improvement over a test I had taken 18 months earlier as far as DB gain. But speech understanding has improved quite a bit.This is also the first time in 5 years I have not showed further deterioration of my hearing.I was expecting more but am actually glad for any improvement. My tinnitus has abiated in my right ear which was almost at a suicide inducing level 1 year ago.I feel I have received benefits from this aldosterone treatment that have more to do with the other effects of meniere’s such as greatly reduced brain fog, dizziness and much more solid balance. Hell if my hearing just doesn’t get any worse it’s worth the price of admission. It would appear everybody’s loss is different so this treatment won’t work for everyone. Look for a Dr. on the web site: http://www.acamnet.org. There are DR.s in your area that deal with hormone replacement therapys; show them Wrights protocol and many will let you try it after signing a release. Aldosterone is not advisable if you already have high blood pressure. Blood pressure medication actually inhibits aldosterone production.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I have been told that Aldosterone hormone is no longer available in the US. They no longer make it.
Why was it stopped being mnade. I had a test run and it was determined that mine was low, doctor prescribed and the pharmacy was unable to get it. Why did they stop making it? Did the FDA request that it not be dispensed any longer or was there another reason?
Thank you!
Eloise
March 20th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
All of the aldosterone we have been talking about comes from Canada. Please see original article by Dr Wright for pharmacy name and look it up on the net.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Hello,
I have read various comments and articles on this new treatment – aldosterone – and I’m not seeing anything on how it may help hearing loss due to otosclerosis. Does anyone have any comments and experiences they are open to sharing with me on this. I had a stapesdectomy on on ear which has left me with vertigo and inner ear air pressure problems ever since. I can’t fly or take elevators etc due to the vertigo from inner ear air pressure and my hearing loss is creating a life of isolation and poor quality of life. I have lost several employment opportunities and even my relationship is strained with this. I live in Ontario and my doctor has not heard of this treatment. Please help.
Thank you,
Blessings,
Mary
November 18th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Hello to all, this will be my final input on the subject of aldosterone therapy. In conclusion I have been off the treatment for some time now. I truly believe my inital hearing loss and vertigo attacks were brought about by many factors. Stress, temprature where I worked ,poor diet,high anxiety, low blood sugar, were all present for some time before the attacks started. I took the aldosterone and at first it did ,without a doubt, give me better definition and speech understanding. My drop attacks also stopped. But it gave no measureable improvements on my hearing tests. My feet also would swell and become painful. I stopped taking the aldosterone after my short term memory became very noticably worse. This condition has improved to normal since I stopped. It appears the causes of hearing loss are many and this is a hit or miss proposition. I have been on a very high quality vitimin plan and have never had another drop attack.My ability to tolerate sodium has returned to almost normal. My hearing is now stable(lousy but I have adapted). I cannot say if this treatment might help someone else but it sure is worth a try. May all of you find some type of relief. Very Best, Rick Walter
November 24th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I was diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease 2 1/2 years ago after having a horrible dizzy spell, which as most of you know with Meniere’s is completely debilitating when it’s happening. I had three more over the next few months when my doctor said he had tried a new procedure on a patient that seemed to work for him. He injected a series of three cortisone shots directly into the eardrum of my left ear. Very minimal pain due to the numbing drops. I had quite a bit of hearing loss in that ear before the shots in addition to the vertigo spells. My hearing returned to normal within a month of the shots and I haven’t had a vertigo spell since and it will be two years in December. I am not on a low salt diet (by any means) and I do not avoid alcohol or caffeine. I didn’t gain weight from the coritsone because it was localized to the ear. (according to my doctor)
My ENT is Dr. Neil Williams in the Dallas area.
http://www.irvingcoppellent.com/doctors/meetyourdoc.williams.shtml
I am going to ask him about aldesterone when I see him again….although I hope I never need it!
July 11th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
does anyone know of any supplier of Aldosterone in the UK or Europe? Also, is there any influence on hearing from altering Potassium levels?