Key takeaways:
There are a few over-the-counter (OTC) supplements sold for tinnitus (ear ringing). But none are FDA approved to treat this symptom. And research suggests they don’t work for everyone.
OTC ear-ringing medicines may have one ingredient or a combination of vitamins and herbs. Common ingredients include ginkgo biloba, zinc, and vitamin B12.
The most effective tinnitus treatments are non-medicinal. Cognitive behavioral therapy, sound masking, and certain medical devices can be helpful for some people.
Are you experiencing ringing in the ears? If so, you might have tinnitus. Like many symptoms, tinnitus has a few over-the-counter (OTC) remedies on the market. But which ear-ringing medicines work, and which don’t?
What is tinnitus?
People often define tinnitus as a ringing sound in their ears. But it might also be described as a buzzing, clicking, or other sounds in the ear. Tinnitus can happen to one ear or both ears. It can also be an early sign of hearing loss for some older adults.
Tinnitus is very common, affecting as much as 25% of adults in the U.S. And for some people, tinnitus can become chronic and interfere with their daily lives.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus isn’t considered a health condition on its own. It could be a symptom of a problem with a part of the auditory (hearing) system. The auditory system includes certain parts of the ear, nerves around the ear, and the sound-processing center of the brain. Researchers still aren’t clear on what in the brain actually causes these sounds. But we do know several things that can lead to tinnitus.
Some possible causes of tinnitus include:
Age-related hearing loss
Exposure to loud noises, such as constant machine sounds in factories or an explosion
Blockages in the middle ear, such as earwax buildup or congestion
Head or neck injuries
Jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Certain health conditions, such as Meniere’s disease or thyroid conditions
Hormonal changes in women
Some medications, including aspirin, benzodiazepines, and certain antibiotics
However, tinnitus doesn’t always have a clear cause.
What OTC medications are available for tinnitus (ear ringing)?
There are some OTC dietary supplements that are sold with the claim that they may help with tinnitus.
Examples of brand-name pills for tinnitus relief include:
Sonidox
ClearTone Hearing Relief
TiniClear 50+
Keep in mind that no OTC tinnitus supplements have been reviewed by the FDA. This means that they haven’t been extensively tested for safety or for how well they work.
What ingredients do tinnitus pills contain?
Some OTC pills for tinnitus have a combination of ingredients, such as vitamins and herbs. Some of the common ingredients include:
Ginkgo biloba
Zinc
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Melatonin
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Can supplements and natural remedies relieve tinnitus?
There are many OTC medications marketed for relief of tinnitus. But none have been shown to work consistently in clinical trials. Below are details on common OTC ear-ringing supplements and what the research says about them.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba is a Chinese herb that is most often marketed for memory enhancement. But it’s also been studied for treatment of tinnitus. Some people think ginkgo biloba may relieve tinnitus by improving blood flow.
A small amount of evidence suggests there may be a benefit to taking ginkgo biloba for tinnitus relief. But the majority of research has not found this to be true.
Ginkgo biloba can raise your risk of bleeding. So you should discuss taking it with a healthcare professional if you take blood thinners or other medications that can cause bleeding. Ginkgo biloba can also raise the risk of seizures for people taking other medications that have this side effect, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin XL).
Zinc
Zinc is a nutrient that may play a role in sound processing by helping to keep nerves healthy. So researchers have studied whether taking zinc supplements may improve tinnitus. However, there isn’t much research available on zinc as a tinnitus pill. In a review of three small studies of adults with tinnitus, zinc didn’t improve tinnitus.
Zinc supplements have few side effects, particularly if you’re taking too much. They may cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Zinc can interact with certain medications, such as quinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and tetracycline antibiotics like doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea). You should take zinc at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after these medications.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps the nervous system work well. And it helps with the formation of healthy red blood cells. A vitamin B12 supplement may be needed if you have low vitamin B12 levels. It may also be recommended if you have certain health conditions, such as anemia or tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
Sometimes, people with tinnitus have low levels of vitamin B12. A small study of 40 people evaluated giving vitamin B12 injections to people experiencing tinnitus. About half of the people had low vitamin B12, and the other half didn’t. Researchers found that vitamin B12 injections improved tinnitus symptoms for people who had low vitamin B12 levels. Participants who had normal levels didn’t see the same benefit.
So, vitamin B12 might be helpful if your tinnitus is a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. But keep in mind that this small study looked at injectable vitamin B12 (a prescription-only medication). OTC pills for tinnitus are taken by mouth and may not provide the same benefits.
Vitamin B12 is unlikely to cause any side effects. But some medications may lower the absorption of vitamin B12, including certain heartburn medications and metformin.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural hormone that promotes normal sleep patterns. As a supplement, it’s often used for insomnia and jet lag. Tinnitus may worsen or disrupt sleep for some people. As such, some research has focused on giving melatonin to see if it helped improve sleep.
As with ginkgo biloba, mixed data exists for melatonin. Some studies suggest that melatonin may improve tinnitus symptoms. Other researchers have found that it may work as well as sertraline (Zoloft), an antidepressant that’s also been studied for tinnitus. However, other studies have not found that melatonin improves tinnitus symptoms.
If you take melatonin, be aware of some of the side effects it can cause. These may include daytime sleepiness and headache. Melatonin can also interact with several other medications, herbs, and supplements. It’s best to review your current medication list with a healthcare professional prior to starting melatonin.
What tinnitus treatments are proven to work?
There are no medications FDA approved for the treatment of tinnitus. And there’s currently no known cure for tinnitus. Many medications have been studied and may be prescribed off-label for this use. But there’s no evidence that any medications work well or consistently for it.
Certain medications may help manage symptoms or conditions that people with tinnitus may also have. These include:
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), for depression
Sertraline for anxiety
Trazodone for sleep difficulties
There are many other medications that have been studied for tinnitus. But research suggests that they don’t work. And some of these medications could actually worsen tinnitus. So it may be better to avoid them if you’re only taking them for tinnitus. These medications include:
Anesthetic medications, such as lidocaine
Antihistamines, such as dexchlorpheniramine (Polmon)
Anti-seizure medications, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), or lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam (Klonopin) or diazepam (Valium)
NMDA receptor antagonists, such as memantine (Namenda)
Diuretics (water pills)
How can you stop the ringing in your ears?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for ringing in the ears. But some people find that certain non-medication strategies are helpful:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT trains your brain to adapt to tinnitus over time. It can help you constructively respond to negative thoughts or behaviors caused by tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): This is a combination of counseling and sound therapy. The goal of TRT is to help you be less aware of tinnitus over time.
Sound masking: Playing soft background noises, such as using a white noise machine, can draw your brain’s attention away from tinnitus sounds.
Bimodal neuromodulation devices: These devices provide a combination of sound therapy and tongue stimulation. Studies suggest they reduce tinnitus over a period of 3 months.
Ear protection: Exposure to loud noises (especially chronic exposure) can cause or worsen tinnitus. Protecting your ears, such as by wearing ear plugs, can help protect your ears from further damage.
Frequently asked questions
Researchers are looking at whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could improve tinnitus for postmenopausal women. Estrogen may play a role in how women perceive sound. But currently, there’s not enough evidence to support using MHT to treat tinnitus.
On its own, tinnitus isn’t dangerous. Leaving it untreated doesn’t typically lead to any life-threatening problems. But it can negatively affect your quality of life. And in severe cases, tinnitus can contribute to anxiety and depression.
You can prevent tinnitus by protecting your ears. Exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus and hearing loss. So if you know you’ll be in a loud environment, such as attending a concert or working around machinery, wear ear plugs or other protective devices.
Hearing aids may be helpful if your tinnitus is caused by hearing loss. Hearing aids can increase the volume of external noise. This may help mask tinnitus for some people.
Researchers are looking at whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could improve tinnitus for postmenopausal women. Estrogen may play a role in how women perceive sound. But currently, there’s not enough evidence to support using MHT to treat tinnitus.
On its own, tinnitus isn’t dangerous. Leaving it untreated doesn’t typically lead to any life-threatening problems. But it can negatively affect your quality of life. And in severe cases, tinnitus can contribute to anxiety and depression.
You can prevent tinnitus by protecting your ears. Exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus and hearing loss. So if you know you’ll be in a loud environment, such as attending a concert or working around machinery, wear ear plugs or other protective devices.
Hearing aids may be helpful if your tinnitus is caused by hearing loss. Hearing aids can increase the volume of external noise. This may help mask tinnitus for some people.
The bottom line
There are some over-the-counter (OTC) pills sold for tinnitus. Common OTC ear-ringing medicines include ginkgo biloba and zinc. Vitamin B12 and melatonin are other popular tinnitus supplements.
Research suggests that most ingredients in OTC pills are unlikely to help with tinnitus, but more research still needs to be done. Also, some supplements may only work in certain situations, such as in the case of vitamin B12. Medication-free tinnitus treatments, such as sound masking, have some evidence to support their use.
Some OTC tinnitus pills tend to have multiple ingredients. These ingredients have side effects and drug interactions that are important to be aware of. Discuss any OTC medications and supplements you’re considering with a healthcare professional before starting them.
Why trust our experts?
References
Abtahi, S. H., et al. (2017). Comparison of melatonin and sertraline therapies on tinnitus: A randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Preventive Medicine.
American Tinnitus Association. (n.d.). Causes.
American Tinnitus Association. (n.d.). Hearing aids / masking devices.
American Tinnitus Association. (n.d.). Medications.
Awad, M., et al. (2024). Association of sleep characteristics with tinnitus and hearing loss. OTO Open.
Coelho, C. B. (n.d.). The allure of the “magic pill”. American Tinnitus Association.
Dalrymple, S. N., et al. (2021). Tinnitus: Diagnosis and management. American Family Physician.
Henry, J. A. (n.d.). Cognitive behavioral therapy versus tinnitus retraining therapy: Similarities and differences. American Tinnitus Association.
Hurtuk, A., et al, A. (2011). Melatonin: can it stop the ringing?. The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology.
Kim, S. H., et al. (2021). Review of pharmacotherapy for tinnitus. Healthcare (Basel).
Klein, H. E. (2025). Personalizing menopause treatment for uncommon symptoms. AJMC.com.
Li, Z., et al. (2022). The important role of zinc in neurological diseases. Biomolecules.
Liu, D., et al. (2023). Herbal medicines in the treatment of tinnitus: An updated review. Frontiers in Pharmacology.
McMahan, E. E., et al. (2025). Retrospective chart review demonstrating effectiveness of bimodal neuromodulation for tinnitus treatment in a clinical setting. Communications Medicine.
Megwalu, U., C., et al. (2016). The effects of melatonin on tinnitus and sleep. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Miroddi, M., et al. (2015). Clinical pharmacology of melatonin in the treatment of tinnitus: A review. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020). Ginkgo.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2023). Tinnitus.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2025). Noise-induced hearing loss.
NaturalCare. (2026). RingStop- acetylsalicylicum acidum, calcarea carbonica, carbo vegetabilis, chininum sulphuricum, cimicifuga racemosa, cinchona officinalis, coffea cruda, graphites, kali carbonicum, lycopodium clavatum, natrum salicylicum tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2020). Lipo Flavonoid Plus. National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Pure Synapse XT Max. National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2023). Tinnitus 911. National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2023). Vitamin B12. National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2024). Tinnicare. National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2026). Zinc. National Institutes of Health.
Person, O. C., et al. (2016). Zinc supplementation for tinnitus. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Procházková, K., et al. (2018). Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® versus pentoxifylline in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy.
Singh, C., et al. (2016). Therapeutic role of vitamin B12 in patients of chronic tinnitus: A pilot study. Noise & Health.
Swain, S. K., et al. (2016). Tinnitus and its current treatment – Still an enigma in medicine. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.
Wang, T., et al. (2021). Increased incidence of tinnitus following a hyperthyroidism diagnosis: A population-based longitudinal study. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Woods, J. W., et al. (2019). Cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus. American Academy of Audiology.
Yu, J., et al. (2019). Association between menstrual cycle irregularity and tinnitus: A nationwide population-based study. Scientific Reports.
