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July 25, 2005
Quinine can cause tinnitus
I have just developed a hissing sound in my ears. The onset was very rapid. The doctor diagnosed it as tinnitus, but would give me no reason for the problem. He said there wasn't anything I could do. I've noticed that some days it is less disturbing than others, but some nights it awakens me because it has become so loud.
I was drinking large quantities of tonic water, which contains quinine, when this started. Do you have any suggestions?
Stop the tonic water. Quinine can cause tinnitus, especially at high doses. The hissing sound might gradually go away once the quinine is out of your system.
Which is safer to take every other day: milk of magnesia or tea with senna leaf?
No one should use a laxative for more than a week at a time without medical supervision. If we had to choose between the two, however, we'd pick milk of magnesia. Magnesium hydroxide is less likely to irritate the digestive tract than a stimulant laxative such as senna.
I have heard you mention angostura bitters as a treatment for flatulence. What's the dose? Or should I just have an old-fashioned every morning?
Skip the old-fashioned (which contains bourbon as well as bitters). According to the angostura-bitters label, the dose for flatulence is 1 to 4 teaspoonfuls after meals. You could put it in water.
By Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon
Posted by 4HL on July 25, 2005 12:44 PM
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