6 years of Tinnitus and now it's changed.

[Sonoisey]

I've had Tinnitus for 6 years,it started as a side effect of taking the antidepressant Sertraline, I had got used to it and sometimes even forgot I had it, but 9 weeks ago I suddenly got a really loud ringing in my left ear and also pain,I've seen my Doctor 4 times and been told I had neuralgia,then TMD and now they say I have a Retracted Eardrum, the pain is bad at times so it's something more than just T but the ringing is so loud I'm convinced I'm going to have to get used to this new sound,anyone else had a Retracted Eardrum and the T has subsided once it has got better?

[Karlos99]

wow, your story is very similar to mine. Had mild Tinnitus 6 years but I woke up with chronic tinnitus at the end of January. Also had eye pain migraine numbness and burning sensations. After a few months they said I had occipital neuralgia. Was put on pregabalin and that helped a bit but still got pain at the back of my head. My tinnitus is also now somatic which changes pitch and loudness with jaw and neck movements. Tinnitus has eventually calmed down a bit but have massive spikes every day. All the best.

[Karlos99 in reply to Karlos99]

forgot to mention I was on Maximum dose of sertraline for 23 years but came off them entirely by November last year.

[Sonoisey in reply to Karlos99]

Hello, it's so annoying when you think you've got used to the Tinnitus, it hadn't changed in all that time and now it's awful, my Doctor seems to be more interested in the pain, I've told her the pain is secondary to me, the noise in my ear is driving my mental health down so much, I really think they are just guessing and wish they would just refer me to ENT, they could have done that weeks ago. I stopped taking the Sertraline when I realised it was to blame, they are only now saying, yes it's a side effect.

[Karlos99 in reply to Sonoisey]

I get exactly what you mean my friend. When my tinnitus went chronic the start of this year I went through a really bad time. Lack of sleep was the main culprit I think. Thankfully it’s eased and I’ve habituated quite well. Good luck

[LyraLilly]

Hello , interesting what you say about Sertraline and Tinnitus, I have been on Sertraline - low dose 50mg for about 2.5 years and since about November last year I have pulsing tinnitus ( waiting for an ENT appointment to see if it is anything worrisome) but I hadn;t hear of tinnitus as a side effect of Sertraline, is it just that drug specifically or could be any anti-depressant? Is there any evidence that stopping ( safely) might mean my T could reduce?

Sorry to hear you are feeling in such pain, I am being driven to distraction by my T and wish I could make it stop. All the best and hope things improve

LL