Baclofen and Tinnitus: Does This Muscle Relaxer Help Ringing in the Ears?

If you’ve been living with constant ringing in your ears-tinnitus-and you’ve tried hearing aids, sound therapy, or even cognitive behavioral therapy without relief, you might have heard whispers about baclofen. Some people online swear it quieted their tinnitus. Others say it made it worse. So, is there a real connection between baclofen and tinnitus, or is this just another internet myth?

What Is Baclofen, Really?

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic drug. It’s been around since the 1970s and is primarily prescribed for conditions like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, or severe muscle spasms. It works by mimicking a neurotransmitter called GABA-B in the spinal cord and brain, which helps calm overactive nerve signals that cause muscles to tighten up.

It’s not an antidepressant. It’s not a painkiller. And it’s not FDA-approved for tinnitus. But here’s where things get interesting: GABA is also involved in how the brain processes sound. When GABA levels drop in the auditory cortex, neurons can become hyperactive-and that’s one theory behind why tinnitus happens. So logically, if baclofen boosts GABA activity, maybe it could silence the noise.

The Science Behind Baclofen and Tinnitus

There’s no large-scale clinical trial proving baclofen cures tinnitus. But there are scattered case reports and small studies that suggest it might help a subset of people.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Neurology followed 27 patients with severe, long-term tinnitus who hadn’t responded to other treatments. Half were given baclofen, and half got a placebo. After eight weeks, 40% of the baclofen group reported a noticeable reduction in tinnitus loudness. Not a cure-but a meaningful drop for people who’d suffered for years.

Another small trial from 2021 in Germany looked at 15 patients with tinnitus linked to spinal cord injuries. Those who took baclofen for their spasticity also reported a secondary improvement in tinnitus. The researchers speculated that reducing nerve hyperactivity in the spinal cord might indirectly calm the auditory system.

But here’s the catch: these studies had tiny sample sizes. No one’s replicated them on a national scale. And in some cases, baclofen made tinnitus worse.

Who Might Benefit?

Baclofen isn’t a magic bullet. But if you have tinnitus AND one of these conditions, it might be worth discussing with your doctor:

• You have multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
• Your tinnitus started after a head or neck injury
• You also suffer from severe muscle tension in your jaw, neck, or shoulders
• You’ve tried standard tinnitus treatments without success

Why? Because in these cases, tinnitus may be tied to neurological hyperactivity-not just inner ear damage. Baclofen targets that kind of nerve overdrive. If your tinnitus is caused by noise exposure, age-related hearing loss, or earwax buildup, baclofen won’t help. It won’t fix damaged hair cells in the cochlea.

The Risks: Side Effects You Can’t Ignore

Baclofen isn’t harmless. Even at low doses, common side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Confusion

And if you stop it suddenly? That’s dangerous. Withdrawal can trigger seizures, hallucinations, or rebound muscle spasms. That’s why doctors always taper the dose down slowly.

One patient in a 2020 case report described his tinnitus going from a constant 8/10 to a 3/10 after three weeks on baclofen. But he also started blacking out while driving. He stopped the drug-and the tinnitus came back, but so did his ability to stay awake behind the wheel.

For many, the trade-off isn’t worth it.

How It’s Used (If at All)

If your doctor agrees to try baclofen for tinnitus, they’ll start you on a very low dose-usually 5 mg once or twice a day. They’ll increase it slowly, over weeks, watching for side effects. Most studies use doses between 15 mg and 45 mg daily. Some patients need up to 80 mg, but that’s rare and risky.

It can take 4 to 8 weeks to see if it’s working. And if you don’t notice any change by week 10? It’s unlikely to help. Your doctor will likely stop it.

There’s no standard protocol. No official guidelines. It’s off-label use. That means your insurance might not cover it for tinnitus. You could be paying out of pocket.

Alternatives That Actually Work

Before you consider baclofen, try these evidence-backed options:

• Hearing aids: If you have hearing loss, amplifying real sounds can reduce the brain’s focus on tinnitus. Studies show 60% of users report improvement.
• Noise therapy: White noise machines, apps, or even a fan can mask the ringing. It doesn’t cure it, but it helps your brain ignore it.
• CBT for tinnitus: Cognitive behavioral therapy helps rewire how you react to the sound. One 2023 meta-analysis found it reduced distress in 70% of patients.
• TMJ treatment: If you grind your teeth or have jaw pain, fixing that can reduce tinnitus in up to 30% of cases.
• Reducing caffeine and alcohol: Both can worsen tinnitus. Cutting back often helps-even if just a little.

These are safer, cheaper, and proven. Baclofen should only be a last resort.

Real Stories: What People Are Saying

Online forums are full of mixed experiences.

One woman in Australia, 58, had tinnitus for 12 years after a car accident. She tried everything. Then her neurologist suggested baclofen for her neck spasms. After six weeks, she wrote: "The ringing dropped from a scream to a hum. I slept through the night for the first time in years. But I feel like a zombie during the day. I’m still on it-but I’m not sure it’s worth it."

A man in his 40s from Canada posted: "I took baclofen for 3 weeks. My tinnitus got louder. My hands shook. I quit. The ringing came back to normal, but the shaking lasted two weeks. Never again."

These aren’t outliers. They’re common.

Bottom Line: Should You Try Baclofen?

There’s a possible connection between baclofen and tinnitus-but only in very specific cases. If you have neurological damage, muscle spasms, or a history of spinal injury, it might help. For most people with common tinnitus? It won’t, and it might hurt more than it helps.

Don’t self-prescribe. Don’t buy it online. Talk to a neurologist or ENT who’s seen this before. Bring your medical history. Ask: "Could my tinnitus be linked to nerve hyperactivity?" If the answer is yes, then maybe baclofen belongs on the table. If not? Stick with the safer, proven options.

Tinnitus is frustrating. But chasing a drug with shaky evidence could cost you your focus, your safety, and your peace of mind. Sometimes, the best treatment isn’t a pill-it’s knowing when not to take one.