Can Melatonin Stop Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)?

In a rigorous study, researchers have found that taking melatonin 3mg nightly for 1 month did significantly help with patients suffering from chronic tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Of course, the caveats are that melatonin significantly helped in patients with these specific characteristics:

• Male
• No history of depression
• Tinnitus has been present for a long time
• History of loud noise exposure
• Tinnitus is severe and on both sides

Given melatonin is a relatively benign supplement that can be purchased over-the-counter, it can't hurt to give it a try!

BTW... what did I mean by rigorous study above? It means that it was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. That's pretty much as good a study as one can reasonably achieve!


Reference:
Melatonin: can it stop the ringing? Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011 Jul;120(7):433-40.