Can antidepressants and other medications help tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a complex condition that comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. It can be: mild, moderate, severe or extremely severe. Because its intensity can vary considerably, it can be difficult to know what another person is going through. When it is mild or moderate, many people are able to habituate to it and carry on with their life doing everything that they want to and may not always need a referral to ENT or a hearing therapist for treatment.

Tinnitus starts to become a problem when it loud and intrusive. If this level of intensity is sustained for a period of time, life can become a very traumatic experience, especially for someone that is new to the condition.

A person’s once peaceful world has suddenly been invaded by a constant noise and it can seem there is no end to the nightmare that has befallen upon them. Insomnia, stress and anxiety are common conditions affecting such a person, which can often make the tinnitus, seem louder and more intrusive. Stress makes tinnitus worse and tinnitus makes stress worse. So, the more relaxed someone is the less intrusive the tinnitus will appear to be and often making life more tolerable.

If your GP suggests taking an antidepressant or a sleeping draft then I advise you to consider it. However, for various reasons some people are averse to taking medications, and when it comes to antidepressants or sleeping tablets they vehemently oppose the idea and prefer to deal with the problem without assistance from prescription drugs.

Admirable as this might seem, coping with intrusive tinnitus isn’t easy. The usual methods of keeping busy to distract one’s attention from the noise or masking it with another sound so that it can’t be heard often prove unsuccessful and at times exhausting, because tinnitus is quite resilient and will put up a fight.

Contrary to what some people believe, antidepressants or other medications to help cope with tinnitus, don’t have to be taken long term and can act as a safety net, helping to prevent a person becoming too down.

Remember, the less stressed and relaxed we are the less intrusive the tinnitus will appear to be. This can go a long way in helping a person to habituate to the condition with time.

Some medications can make tinnitus more intrusive and this has been said about antidepressants. However, in many cases the effects are usually temporary. As we are all different it wouldn’t be right to say everyone that takes AD will be adversely affected.

My blood pressure medicine is listed as “can cause ringing in the ears”. I haven’t noticed any increase in my tinnitus and I have been taking it for quite some time.

Life can be problematic even at the best of times. With the added pressure of coping with intrusive tinnitus, may advice is to try and make things a easier on yourself. Talk to your doctor and if an antidepressant or other medications is advised then try it and give it time to work, at least six weeks.

Michael

PS: An alternative to prescription antidepressant is St John's Wort. It is herbal and used to treat mild stress and depression and can be quite effective. Not known to make tinnitus worse and has quite a following in some parts of Europe. Many GPs know about it benefits, so do have a word with yours if you decide on trying it. Available online and herbalist shops and chemists.

[ade-the-pade]

Both interesting and helpful.

Thanks

[Seashore22]

Hi Michael,

Thank you very much for sharing this, I like many others I'm sure find your advice very elpful.I have been on antidepressants for quite a long time - Citalopram 20mg as a maintenance dose, however due to this being increased on two recent separate occasions as going through a stressful time with work , I have been experiencing nightmares when I do drop off. Unsure if this is the drug or stressful situation I'm in. GP has advised a change, so I'm about to try Amitriptyline along with Venlafaxine. I have had older drugs in the past and found side effects hard to deal with so tended to find the SSRI group more tolerable so hoping this switch will be ok as like many other desparate for quality sleep. Also thankyou for taking the time to reply to my post, I got an email advising you had replied but it wouldn't let me reply on the thread. I also use a sound oasis machine through the night and at times in the day and hope eventually to be off meds and get by with just using the machine.

Best Wishes

[NicBTA Partner]

Hi Michael - that's very helpful, thank you for your time with this.

I just need to make everyone aware - if they aren't already - that this information comes from Michael's personal experience. Like me, he isn't medically qualified and as he suggests, always discuss anything you read here with an appropriate medical professional.

This isn't intended to denigrate Michael's post in any way - it's just we have to make the point here that this forum is purely people who are experts by means of their experience!