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
- Evidence of risk of significant harm
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Limited or unlikely potential for significant harm
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
Efficacy - whether the treatment works for tinnitus
- Evidence that it is not effective
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Some evidence that it is effective
- Evidence that it is 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
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Not recommended
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Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
- Not recommended
Read more
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Osteopathy
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Not recommended
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Hearing aids
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Evidence that it is effective
- Speak to your GP
Read more
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Craniosacral therapy
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Not recommended
Read more
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Antidepressants
- Possible risk of significant harm
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Speak to your GP
Read more
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Essential oils
- Possible risk of significant harm
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Not recommended
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Aromatherapy
- Possible risk of significant harm
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Not recommended
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Hyperbaric oxygen
- Evidence of risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
- Not recommended
Read more
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EMDR (Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- No or limited evidence that it is effective
- Speak to your GP
Read more
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Rigorous evidence of safety, or only small risks/minor harms
- Evidence that it is effective
- Recommended
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Betahistine
- Possible risk of significant harm
- Evidence that it is not effective
- Not recommended
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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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News and Updates: August
August has been packed with updates from the tinnitus community, here are a few that caught our eye:
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When the Sound Stays: My Motivation for Tinnitus Research
This month, Newcastle-based researcher Abishek Umashankar tells his story and shares his latest findings that could help uncover the truth behind tinnitus...
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Evidence mounts for increasing rates of tinnitus in the UK
Report highlights shift in tinnitus care
Read more