Tinnitus treatments
We check tinnitus treatments to see if they are safe and effective for those living with tinnitus
Here we provide a regularly updated list of tinnitus treatments and summarise the latest research to provide a verdict on safety and efficacy.
The ratings are as follows:
Safety - whether the treatment will do you any harm
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Limited or unlikely potential for significant harm
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Evidence of risk of significant harm
Efficacy - whether the treatment works for tinnitus
- Robust evidence that it is effective against a placebo or sham treatment
- Clear evidence that it is effective compared to no treatment
- Limited evidence that it is effective
- No evidence that it is effective
- Evidence that it is not effective
If you hear of a treatment that isn’t listed here, please call the Helpline 0800 018 0527 or send an email to: [email protected]
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Acupuncture
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
Read more
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Osteopathy
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Hearing aids
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Clear evidence that it is effective compared to no treatment
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Craniosacral therapy
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Antidepressants
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Essential oils
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Aromatherapy
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Hyperbaric oxygen
- Evidence of risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
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EMDR (Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Limited evidence that it is effective
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Clear evidence that it is effective compared to no treatment
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Betahistine
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
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A treatment not listed here?
Please let us know what treatment you would like more information about and we’ll get to work learning more about it.
Let us knowCan’t find what you’re looking for?
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2025 Recap
A recap of 2025 for Tinnitus UK
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Helpline over the Christmas Period
Updated helpline hours for Christmas and New Years
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New research targets accessible treatment for tinnitus
Evidence grows for at-home, self-administered treatments which could help millions access treatments over the next few years.
Read more