The Link Between Tinnitus and Cannabinoids

HEARING TIPS

Researcher examining leaves of cannabinoids that have been linked to tinnitus.

Public opinion about marijuana and cannabinoids has changed remarkably over the past several decades. Many states now allow the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal purposes. The idea that some states (fewer) even allow the recreational usage of pot would have been hard to imagine a decade ago.

Cannabinoids are any substances produced by the cannabis plant (essentially, the marijuana plant). And we’re still discovering new things about cannabis despite the fact that it’s recently been legalized in a number of states. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing attributes. There have been contradictory studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research suggests there may also be negative effects like a strong connection between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.

Numerous forms of cannabinoids

There are many varieties of cannabinoids that can be consumed today. Whatever name you want to give it, pot or weed is not the only form. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in pill form, as inhaled mists, as topical spreads, and more.

The forms of cannabinoids available will vary state by state, and many of those forms are still actually federally illegal if the THC content is over 0.3%. That’s why most people tend to be quite careful about cannabinoids.

The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the problem. A good example is some new research into how your hearing is affected by cannabinoid use.

Studies About cannabinoids and hearing

Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been connected with improving a wide range of medical conditions. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the conditions that cannabinoids can benefit. So the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help manage tinnitus, too.

But what they found was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be triggered by the use of cannabinoids. Ringing in the ears was documented, according to the study, by 20% of the participants who used cannabinoids. And that’s in individuals who had never experienced tinnitus before. Furthermore, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.

Further studies suggested that marijuana use may worsen ear-ringing symptoms in those who already suffer from tinnitus. In other words, there’s some fairly compelling evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.

The research isn’t clear as to how the cannabinoids were consumed but it should be mentioned that smoking has also been connected to tinnitus symptoms.

Unclear causes of tinnitus

Just because this connection has been discovered doesn’t automatically mean the underlying causes are all that well understood. That cannabinoids can have an influence on the middle ear and on tinnitus is rather obvious. But it’s a lot less evident what’s causing that impact.

Research, obviously, will carry on. Cannabinoids today come in so many selections and forms that comprehending the fundamental connection between these substances and tinnitus could help individuals make wiser choices.

Don’t fall for miracle cures

In recent years, there has been lots of marketing publicity around cannabinoids. That’s in part because perceptions surrounding cannabinoids are swiftly changing (this also shows a growing wish to get away from the use of opioids). But this new research clearly demonstrates that cannabinoids can and do produce some negative effects, especially if you’re uneasy about your hearing.

You’ll never be capable of avoiding all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts and devotees in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been particularly aggressive lately.

But a strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely implied by this research. So no matter how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should avoid cannabinoids if you’re concerned about tinnitus. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is unclear at best, so it’s worth exercising some caution.

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855477/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaohnsf/82180

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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