My Investigation of Lipo-Flavonoid for Tinnitus
by Henry Hound on April 19, 2010
Today’s Target: The Lipo-flavonoid Tinnitus Treatment
Lipo-flavonoid is an over-the-counter herbal supplement being marketed as a relief aid for those of us who suffer from tinnitus.
The instructions state to take 6 caplets a day (two at each meal) for 2 months and then one caplet three times a day after meals thereafter for “maintenance”. That sounds expensive.
So the big question… does it really work?
The short answer is yes, it can work… if you suffer from Meniere’s disease… which unfortunately accounts for a very small number of tinnitus cases.
You see, years ago, a study showed that lipo-flavonoid was able to calm the symptoms of some people who suffered from Meniere’s disease, which is a rare disease that involves the swelling of the small fluid-filled chambers of the inner ear. This causes vertigo, loss of hearing, loss of balance and tinnitus.
Now, one might make the assumption that if lipo-flavonoid can help calm tinnitus in people with Meniere’s, then it must also calm tinnitus that has other causes beyond Meniere’s. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this simply isn’t true.
Here’s the skinny…
While lipo-flavonoid may help those with Meniere’s, it has not been proven to help people with other causes of tinnitus (noise-induced damage, medications). In fact, one study showed that subjects with hearing problems with other causes (noise, age, undetermined) had NO improvement when given a component of Lipo-flavonoid that was 4x’s the strength of the recommended dosage.
This is likely because Meniere’s disease may has something to do with a type of allergic reaction in which histamines cause the inflammation of the inner ear. The bioflavonoids in Lipo-flavonoid have an anti-histamine reaction in the body, which relieves some cases of Meniere’s. Time to break out the Benadryl?
On the other hand, most cases of tinnitus are caused by “free radical damage” in the ear that interferes with proper noise signaling. The brain then sends noise signals (in the form of buzzing and ringing) to try to compensate for this damage.
So, What’s The Verdict?
My problem with LipoFlavonoid is the fact that it’s being marketed as a Tinnitus treatment when in fact it’s only a treatment for Meniere’s Disease which is one of the lesser causes of tinnitus. Most who suffer from tinnitus do so because of noise-induced damage or exposure to certain medications. For this reason I would only recommend folks try Lipo-Flavonoid if they have been diagnosed with Meniere’s.
There is a great alternative to Lipo Flavonoid that my pack loves. Unlike Lipo-Flavonoid, these methods work with all causes of tinnitus and it’s a more permanent fix rather than being a temporary relief. It’s a 100% free report I’ve put together that teaches you several proven methods to eliminate your tinnitus compiled from some of the best sources. In the Health Hound’s opinion, I would say that it’s a no-brainer not to at least give this free report a try.
Click Here To Read The Health Hound’s Tinnitus Report!
jay says:
March 17, 2013 AT 5:11 amI bought lipo flavanoid cuz i had read it helps and i was at thr drug store and they had it on sale from 31 to 24 and i stupidly bought it... well two pills later i read the pamphlet that came with it (thank god) and it said (this is djrectly from the paper that came in the box) "many patients on tapering the dose after a few months, have the begginning of symptom recurrence, however, when they step up the dose, they improve again" i think i felt worse after taking them.... i immediately threw the rest away. Even if it helps i would be stuck on it. My ringing got worse a week of work i ate bad got lil to no sleep and drank codffee or red bull alot. Then i read somewherrbout stress and fatigue and eating bad make it worse... the next week i decided to change back to tge healthy lifeatyle After some pilates sleeping more and no fatty foods and no caffeeine i was much better. Their right dont focus on it or it will get worse. Change ur life and it will grt better. Dont stress either. It starts a viciois cycle. Hope this helps!
ReplyMarcia R Stroup RN says:
November 25, 2012 AT 6:38 pmFather-in-law has suffered from tinnitus since approx 1990. His is an occupational related case (18 years hard rock mining with jackleg drill and explosives followed by 30 years in cabinet building). His healthcare provider advised he start using Lipo on August 17, 2012. It is now 3 months of use AS TOLERATED. He tried the "by the label" instructions but the pills made him puke. He cut back to 2 pills twice a day. But to no real surprise after reading comments here, and after reading NIH study on carotid stenosis signs/symptoms, he has had no relief. He will no longer take these pills. He is on a fixed income and these things are expensive. Packaging says money back guarantee, so that is my next step. Always look for underlying causes. p.s. He quite smoking in 1965. Mother-in-law died in 2005, she was a smoker but had quit smoking in the house. I don't smoke in the house. No help to his ears. I have Menieres. Only thing that helps is Antivert (meclizine). Which is prescription only medication.
ReplyMIchelle says:
May 6, 2013 AT 9:12 pmMeclizine 25mg is an over the counter drug. You can purchase it without a prescription in the US. I have Meniere's too. It is almost the same as dramamine- less drowsiness.
ReplyRon says:
November 13, 2012 AT 4:20 pmRon back . . .After three months of lipo and no smoking still the hiss . . . Has anyone tried castor oil in the ear before going to bed ? Anyone with tinnitus knows what I'm going through. It's hard to explain to someone that doesn't have it. Trying castor oil now . . . Back later . . .
ReplyLucy Spencer says:
July 30, 2012 AT 5:08 pmI have had ringing in my left ear for about 15 yrs. It is something I have just learned to live with. I do NOT have Meniére’s. I saw TV commercials on Lypo and decided it could not hurt to try. I purchased the first bottle thinking, like others, that it was expensive considering how many you have to take each day. I took for first month without results...but my husband suggested I give it another month before I gave up. After second month and now $50 out of my pocket, still no results. Will not continue use.
ReplyDon R says:
July 27, 2012 AT 4:40 pmI asked my doctor about anything for tinnitus relief and he told me hearing aids on both ears that emit white noise that will alleviate the ringing.
ReplyTom Locashio says:
November 13, 2012 AT 2:47 amRon, I do not have Meniére's disease (although my Father did), but I have had intense Tinnitus in both ears since 1980. It started very suddenly and has not let up since, although it fluctuates from mild to "just shoot me" (about 80 decibels). During the very, very loud phases, I use White noise to drown it out. White noise does not make the Tinnitus any quieter but covers it up and helps sooth. I used hearing aid type white noise generators from Sharkey during the early years (cost about $800 each ear back then) but they did not put out loud enough white noise to compensate. I found a source of white noise that plays on a headset with an MP3 player and it works much better than the hearing aid devices. one can control the volume of the white noise. An inexpensive portable MP3 player costs well under $100 so save yourself some money and try it. Do a Google on "free white noise" and check it out. White noise does not make the Tinnitus any quieter but covers it up and helps sooth. Also, If you live where medical Cannabis is legal, give it a try. It won’t quiet it down but helps me cope. Good luck! I wouldn’t wish intense Tinnitus on my worst enemy!
ReplyRon says:
June 11, 2012 AT 1:35 pmI've got tinnitus in both ears for approx 1 year now. I have gone to EN&T specialist only to find out what I already knew. I have tried 6 sessions of accupuncture - nothing changed. I will try anything to stop the buzzing/hissing and get a good nights sleep without pills. Now I'm trying Lipo-Flavonoid for about a month now, I do notice a change, a very low hiss - tollerable. One thing for sure . . . when I lay off the cigarettes for a couple of days it is very very low - YES its working, then I have a smoke - back it comes. We smokers all know - kicking the habit is hard . . . asking myself . . .do I really need that smoke which makes the buzzing worse . . . Its a NO Brainer ! ! ! Damn smokes I'll quit next week! getting back to Lipo-Flavonoid - I beleive they work. I will report back in couple of months. Good-Luck to all ! ! !
ReplySandy says:
June 6, 2012 AT 11:31 amI've been on Lipo-Flavonoid for about 6 weeks and I see NO results. My MD told me if I didn't see results in a week to discontinue. Since reading your comments, I decided not to purchase it again.
ReplyMel says:
June 5, 2012 AT 3:30 pmI've read that caffeine can make tinnitus worse, so I'm wondering if the people who have had bad results with L-F drink high amounts of caffeine. My husband has suffered from this for almost 20 yrs due to a Dr. driving a rod in his ear & doing some sort of damage. He won't let anyone touch his ears, but has seen this advertised & wants to try it, I'm hoping it works, but after seeing all the negative comments am not very positive about it.
ReplyDon says:
June 5, 2012 AT 8:49 amUsing it for a short time. No effect on ringing but I sleep a lot better. Anyone experience this?
ReplyFelicity says:
May 23, 2012 AT 11:59 amHello I also have Tinnitus in my left ear. I get massage for it and it usually hepps relieve symptoms and some times it does go away. I just have trouble finding a therapist that can go deep enough into my scalene, trap and occiput muscles. Deep stretches of these muscles has helped releive symtoms too. I am not sure if it is an allergy to something or if my tinnitus was caused by the anti depressants I was on at one time I did not realize that there is a whole gammit of meds than can cause this. I keep experimenting and so far deep massage into my neck muscles and traps as well as trigger pionts in my jaw help too. I hope this helps for some. I am going to return the lipo flavonoids now though. Thanks for all the feed back.
ReplyGeorge says:
May 13, 2012 AT 8:19 pmI am a 20 year Meniere's patient. I have been to House Ear Inst, Mayo Clinic, Scripps Hosp. and U C La Jolla plus about 10 other otologists. I would lie on the floor in my bathroom for hours because every time I got up, I threw up. An MD whose wife suffered as I, suggested STUGERON FORTE, which really helped the severe dizzyness.I took that for about 5 years. Then I started taking chewable Dramamine and never left home without it. The symptons GRADUALLY DECREASED over the years. Last year a local otologist suggested Lipoflanoids. My hearing has improved considerabaly, from the good and bad days to almost uninterupted good days, enough so that my wife and friends notice it. It seems to have worked for me. PS: dramiamine is expensive. Costco and Wallmart carry Rugby Travel Sickness pills for about 1/10 the price.
ReplyTom Keys says:
July 11, 2012 AT 9:44 pmI'm 80 and have had Tinnitis for about 40 plus years and traveled on the road for about 55 years. Doctor says constant road noise beating up through the car will damage your hearing, He told me to take a 25 mg tab of Meclizine HCL every morning when i get out of bed and daily. (your Rugby Travel Sickness pills with same label). Rugby is the mfg and located in Duluth Georgia. These cost me slightly over 5 dollars a bottle of 100 tabs. These are "behind the counter" at Krogers with the pharmacist , Walgreens, et al. NO PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED AT ANY STORE.If you buy the out front in the store area you can pay almost $80.00 for a small blister pack. Ask the PHARMACIST FOR Meclizine by name and from behind the counter. They never carry more than 1 or 2 bottles of the 100's and may have to get it in on the next day truck. Never let them charge you more that about $5.00 a 100 tab bottle. Cut down on your coffee (caffeine intake to not more than 1 or 2 cups a day or you are defeating the purpose of the pills and your ears will start screaming again.
Replyjohn says:
April 15, 2012 AT 5:14 amWish I had read this before buying the Lipo. Could have saved myself the trouble and just dropped the $25 in the parking lot. at least someone might have benifited!
ReplyRhonda says:
April 7, 2012 AT 11:59 amMy ENT prescribed Lasik to reduce fluid in the ears/body and Meclizine for nausea and dizziness. Helps somewhat. L-F taken for last few days I really don't notice any difference.
ReplyYanira says:
April 24, 2012 AT 3:51 amtry water pill and b-12 shots. if you have meniere's like me this helps a lot. I have been taking lipoflavonoid, water pills, b-12 shots and vertin for 2 months now. ringing comes and goes but vertigo is gone. I will give it a few more months to see if ringing reduces with lipo... but if not I much rather have the ringing than the horrific vertigo.
ReplyDiane says:
April 4, 2012 AT 5:01 pmI have what is being called "Trauma Induced Meniere's" from a skull fracture in December of 2009. In the last few months the tinnitus has just kept getting louder and louder. I have found that taking Lipo-Flavonoid seems to help the constant nausea and the ringing does quiet down to a level that is tolerable. If I don't take it, the ringing comes back. I actually notice a difference within a few hours of taking 2 of the caplets. I tried buying just Citrus Bioflavonoids at a health food store, but it didn't have the same outcome as taking the Lipo-Flavonoid. Man, it's expensive though - but it sure beats the hell I've been living in lately.
ReplyAddison says:
March 26, 2012 AT 6:45 amHow loud can the ringing in my ears be, it's already loin enough, I am afraid it's gonna get worse!any comments?
ReplyPatricia says:
February 29, 2012 AT 11:01 pmI have had noise in my left ear for close to 25 years. I also had the severe vertigo and nausea that goes along with it. I saw a specialist at Hough Ear Institute and they put me on B-12 injections every day for 2 weeks then lowered the dosage to once a week. I took it for many years till a family doctor would not refill the prescription. So now I just take over the counter B-12 tabs...doesn't stop the ringing...but I haven't had the vertigo for years now. They say once you lose your hearing that part stops. So for those of you that can find a doctor that will prescribe the B-12 serum you might try it. My daughter also had this problem...they had her do the same. Hope this helps some of you...really it is a miracle serum for sure. GOD Bless all of you suffering..it really use to be a terrible way to live. Life is so much better now...
Replyvickie vaughan says:
February 25, 2012 AT 8:07 amI have not tried Lypo yet and probably won't with the comments being left here. I have however, tried Cystex, and it certainly is one of the best products I have ever used as a woman. I learned about it over 30 years ago and have kept it on hand ever since. It may not be a cure, but I use it immediately when upon recognizing a problem and have not been to the doctor with a bladder or kidney infection since I found it. Read the directions as you should with anything and ask check out posted interactions with medications before using. I've never had a problem, however, I use only a few prescibed and over the counter meds.
ReplyKen says:
February 8, 2012 AT 12:10 amI've suffered from Meniére's since 2003 and nothing has really worked. I started taking L-P about two weeks ago after seeing an ad for it on daytime TV. I'll try to get back to this blog an report the results (if any) as they evidence themselves. And my sincerest sympathies to all those here who are suffering from non-Meniére's tinnitus. After reading this blog, it seems unlikely that L-P will have much of an effect on tinnitus resulting from nerve damage.
ReplyDebbie says:
January 28, 2012 AT 8:02 pmI used LIPO-FLAVONOID for 6 months taking 6 pills per day. It did not phase the ringing in my ears. This product is way too costly and I was wondering if there is a money back guarantee because it states on the bottle guaranteed to STOP ringing in the ear. I used it as directed for 6 months hoping to reduce the terrible ringing in my ears. It doesn't work so don't waste your money!
ReplyRICH says:
January 19, 2012 AT 8:23 pmI HAVE BEEN ON LIPO-FLAVONOID FOR 7 MONTHS FOR TINNITUS.AFTER 6 MONTHS I DID NOTICE A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE RINGING IN MY RIGHT EAR. I REDUCED THE DOSAGE FROM 6 A DAY DOWN TO 3 A DAY AND THE RINGING SEEMED TO INCREASE.SO I WENT BACK TO TAKING 6 A DAY AND I ALSO TRIED GOING TO A DOCTOR WHO ALSO DOES ACUPUNCTURE.I HAVE HAD 12 TREATMENTS BY HIM. THE RINGING HAS REALLY GOTTEN MUCH MORE QUIET SINCE I HAVE BEEN DOING BOTH.
ReplyTom says:
January 16, 2012 AT 7:01 pmBeen using it for the last three months. If anything, gotten worse.
ReplyHank says:
April 13, 2013 AT 3:35 amI agree. Have take Lipo-Flavonoid for two months and my ringing has actually gotten worse. What a scam for the price. Am going to try the Meclizine.
ReplyJennifer says:
December 29, 2011 AT 6:10 pmI've had tinnitus for about 10 years. It's gotten so bad, I can hardly hear my children when they're talking to me. I'm desperate for a cure. I bought 3 months worth of this supplement but the ringing in my ears have only gotten worse. I take the Lipo-Flavonoid twice a day as well as fish oil. Maybe its the fish oil thats making the ringing so much worse. Either way, I really appreciate this article. I spend a small fortune on trying to find relief and this is just another product that will not work.
ReplyRobin says:
October 1, 2011 AT 12:10 pmI used a whole bottle of lipo-flavonoid (yes, very costly) not knowing the information I have just read. I had no results what so ever, now I know why. I have the noise-induced damage and damage from medications in my early childhood. I also watched the Sensa trial offer this morning and went on line to check it out. I saw your site and checked it first...very happy about that! Thank You.
ReplyLiz says:
August 20, 2011 AT 5:10 pmThis information was helpful. Is there any product that you recommend for ringing of the ears and that really works? I have been to a ENT, and he said that there was no cure for this. I tried a ear ringing product (and used to bottles), it did not work. I appreciate any recommendations that you can make. Thank you.
ReplyPhil West says:
June 12, 2011 AT 5:03 amI FINISHED A BOTTLE & IT DID NOTHING FOR ME.
ReplyPeter Criss...Yes that one says:
April 19, 2011 AT 5:31 pmNothing will cure or make ringing in the ear better...NOTHING.
ReplyLinda says:
April 1, 2011 AT 9:32 amI have Meniere's Disease and have used LipoFlavoids to reduce the roaring sound in my ear. It seemed to help for the first few months. When I stopped using it, the roaring was back but not any worse. I went back on for another round and I may notice a little less "full" feeling. Still searching for that magic pill to "fix" them!
ReplyIvan Funt says:
May 30, 2010 AT 2:17 amMy cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
ReplyCathy says:
May 4, 2010 AT 9:48 pmI have Menieres Disease since 1990. Of course I seek help every day so that I may feel better. i have been taking Lipo-Flavonoid for 2 weeks and I feel a big difference . I dont feel lightheaded and seem to feel less dizzy and. I am back to eating normal again and the motion sickness seems to have disappeared. I hope it was these caplets,because I will continue to buy them and highly recommend them.
ReplyViola S. Duren says:
May 1, 2010 AT 5:10 pmWhat side effects can one get from LIPO-FLAVONOId? I have only taken it one week and I want to sleep all the time. Don't see that it has helped so far.
ReplyDaryl Defilippi says:
April 28, 2010 AT 2:58 pmVery insightful, and educational. I really don't normally make comments, as I am sort of an weblog lurker, but I consideration it deserved a word or two. With thanks for discussing.
Replykaty says:
April 27, 2010 AT 3:23 ami am so pleased with this article u have answered every question i was tying to learn u really are good Keep UP the good work u houndog u!
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