David, let us know how things go.

Will do, MrsD. Do you have a recommended regimen? I believe you said morning. Should I take it with the B12, which I take in the morning on an empty stomach or with breakfast? How do you take it? Thanks.

During the onset of my full body neuropathy, I suffered from an onset of tinnitus and disequilibrium. A few months into my illness, I experienced hyperacusis, which luckily only lasted a few day. By the time I saw my first neurologist, but eyes were not tracking properly.

My tinnitus went away about 1 year into my medical problem, but my disequilibrium remains. I'm working with a vestibular rehab PT who does both neurology and balance work. Even though my ENG testing was negative, the PT thinks my ear was damaged since I get wet/warm/hot sensations in my left ear canal.

My PT says that in these neurological diseases, it is common to develop strange ear and balance issues that are not understood very well.

David, and others, I take my taurine in the morning. If I forget it, then around lunch time. I have no side effects, or problems with it.

This link seems to suggest at maximum of 3 grams a day.
It also goes into more detail about the studies of taurine supplementation.

Taurine - Scientific Review on Usage, Dosage, Side Effects | Examine.com

I didn't get obvious results on my tinnitus at 500mg a day.
I used that dose in monthly pulses daily when I had gall bladder symptoms. But at 1000mg a day, within a week there was a marked reduction in tinnitus.

I do think you need to take it everyday, or risk sliding back to what you had before the taurine.

I am not finding definitive advice about taking it with food.
Since it doesn't seem to bother me I do take it on an empty stomach or a light meal.

Thanks so much MrsD. Can you tell me if taking Taurine would conflict with any other medications? My present list is: Levothyroxine 125mcg, Losartan 50mg, Lansoperazole (would happily dump this again if the Taurine works!) and Senna plus for constipation, AdCal D3 and B12 (Jarrow, Methyl) and Acidophilus plus. I'm always concerned about supplementing as I already do with B12 and Acidophilus - without telling my doctors.

But this sounds so great and I hate the tinitus so much that I'm willing to give Taurine a go without bothering to ask a doctor first. I'd be really grateful for your advice on the conflicting medications issue though. My worst symptoms, apart from the SFN and ganglionopathy, are a foul taste that is constant and nothing yet has dimmed. Should I take it and the Acidophilus (Holland & Barrett ultra maximum 20 billion plus - friendly bacteria) or could these conflict/ do harm?

Taurine Effectiveness, How It Works, and Drug Interactions on eMedicineHealth - Are there any interactions with medications?

This link suggests that taurine may lower blood pressure in those with hypertension. When this happens your BP drugs may become too strong for you. (I have this result from magnesium supplements). I have seen one link that suggests in some people taurine may increase stomach acid.

Taurine is a nutrient and not a drug. It normalizes processes that use it for keeping the body working well.

I doubt that many mainstream doctors know anything about it.

Stay under the 3 grams a day dose, daily. I'd start at 500mg a day and perhaps raise to 1 gram later on. You may find that fixing a deficiency leads you to no longer need the drugs you already take or that you could get by with lowered doses. This is not an interaction per se, but a situation where your original conditions are being fixed. So you should monitor your blood pressure, and thyroid functions to see if they change.

Taking a nutrient like this does not work quickly like potent drugs do. It took me about a week to notice my tinnitus was down considerably--about 80%. There are times during the day it bounces back some, usually at night. So I am adding in 500mg more during the late afternoon now.

There is alot more information available now on the net about taurine compared to what was there only 5 yrs ago. So keep your eyes on the net about it. Medical information is very fluid and changeable...about everything!

Thanks very much MrsD. I started it today at 500mg. Fingers tightly crossed!