Can Niacin (Vitamin B3) Cure Tinnitus?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A man wrote:
Several years ago at a hearing clinic, I told the young lady that I had ringing in my ears. She asked me if I had ever taken Niacin, and I hadn’t. She said it helps some people. I took Niacin pills for a good while, and it seemed to rid me of the ringing in the ears. I did get a flushing from taking Niacin. She suggested Niacinamide, and that seemed to help the flushing.
For one reason or another, I have not had ringing in my ears for a lot of years, so I no longer take Niacin or Niacinamide.
I would like your thoughts about taking Niacin or Niacinamide for ringing in the ears. Do you know of a connection here, or was it helping me a fluke?
Niacin (Niacinamide) or Vitamin B3 helps some people with tinnitus because it increases blood flow to the peripherals which includes the inner ears (hence the flushing—it shows it is doing its job).
If your tinnitus was caused by a lack of blood to your inner ears, then taking Niacin really can work—its not a fluke. However, Niacin does not work for everyone—only for those with circulation problems to their inner ears. For example, nothing I’ve tried has helped my tinnitus because mine is probably the result of my severe hearing loss, not lack of blood flow to my inner ears.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:08 am
I have ringing in the ears. I went to the doctor and he prescribed Niacin as well.
But after looking on the internet, I see some sites say Niacin can cause Tinnitus.
I am all for using Niacin, but sure do not want to
make it worse than it is.
Can you answer this?
October 30th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I could only find 2 anecdotal reports of people whose tinnitus got worse from taking niacin. So it does appear that in some people taking niacin can increase their tinnitus. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that it seems in both cases when they stopped the niacin, their tinnitus went back to its usual level. Thus the increased tinnitus is temporary.
Therefore, if you try niacin and your tinnitus gets worse, just stop it and your tinnitus should return to its old level in a few hours or days. However, I think the vast majority of people that take niacin do not have any increase in their tinnitus, and for some it does reduce their tinnitus.
Neil
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Niacin unfortunately increased my noise level.
What now?
Did you ever hear about T-Gone. Some swear by it?
April 30th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I am in UK
NIACIN CAN make ear pros Much worse
May apply cony to some people
and not just tinnitus but pain and throbbing
Keep off it
October 6th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
I have a closed head injury and have had tinnitus every since (a month ago). I read niacin can help with tinnitus will this help from the result of a closed head injury?
January 15th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I went to a doctor at the VETERANS ADMIN AND HE SAID THAT NIACIN CAUSED TENNITUS. SO I do not know, there seems to be pros and cons about it.
I do not like going to dentist but I soon will go, question is. If I have 2 or 3 bad teeth, upper right (ringing in right ear only) one embedded in gum, WILL THAT STOP THE RINGING?
THANK YOU
kennn945@hotmail.com
January 25th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I had tinnitus over 25 years ago as a teen went to the doctor she prescribe niacin ant it went away now I have it again I tried neuromonics for a year spent $ 5,250,and a year has gone by and it’s not helping me much, after the first few months it was helping me fall asleep but it’s been a year now and this neuromonics stuff supposed to have been the best thing out, it’s FDA approved and everything but it has not really done the job. Maybe because I like to drink on weekends and I was told to only have 1 or 2 drinks and would Go over that on fridays, might be the difference but I still feel a little cheated I just started taking lipo flavonoid it’s been a week only I have gotten a good few nights of sleep with it but I think I’m going to my doctor for they can prescribe me niacin!
January 30th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Hi Ken:
Your doctor is correct. Too much Niacin can cause tinnitus, but as far as I know, the effect is only temporary–fortunately. So if Niacin makes your tinnitus worse, stop taking it.
As to your bad teeth causing tinnitus, that could be very possible. You’ll know when you get them all fixed. If your tinnitus goes away or reduces in volume, then you can blame your bad teeth. If there is no change, then likely something else is causing your tinnitus.
Regards
Neil