Alcohol treats my tinnitus & T Relapse after 4 years of habituation.

[Rob_M_G]

Hi- I've had intermittent tinnittus for 4 years and I noticed alcohol would cure it and give me a few days relief. I had totally habituated but 4 months ago it spiked really badly and now seems permanent. I can't even mask it with noise. Alcohol still helps but only for a short time and comes back with vengeance. I don't want to become an alcoholic but my Tinnitus is so extreme now. If I don't drink the tinnitus comes unbearable.

I'm getting 2-3 hours sleep and am in a pretty dark place right now. Started SRIS and valium thats what I did when it first started and then stopped them after about year.

Lots going on here I know but wonder if anyone has this impact with alcohol and a return or worse louder tinnitus after 3 years of habituation. Not sure can get used to this new extreme tinnitus that can't be masked.

[Happyrosie]

hello Rob. Whilst alcohol might help temporarily, it’s not really the answer, is it!

Can I recommend that you look at the website of Tinnitus UK, specifically at the section regarding masking? You aren’t recommended to totally mask the sound because your brain won’t get get used to the tinnitus if it’s masked.

[WIZARDO26 in reply to Happyrosie]

Yeah you're right but it actually turns it right down and off eventually. Weird. When I first got Tinnitus I tried only to mask at night and it helped me sleep. Now it doesn't mask it anyway however loud. I read that however loud you can habitiate again. I hold out hope for that. Its the lack of sleep that gets me down. Thanks for your reply.

[Philip6 in reply to WIZARDO26]

Maybe give Kirkland sleep aid pills a try. They are basically Benedryl an antihistamine. They work very well for me, I just take a quarter of a pill when I feel I did it. You can get them from Costco or eBay. One of the listed side effects is tinnitus but not for me. One of those pills and you’ll be out like a light.

[Karlos99]

sorry to hear you’re struggling. The good news is your brain can habituate again. It may take a while but will happen. The sleeping is something I really struggle with. I was put on mirtrazapine which initially worked but then stopped. The doctors have tried antihistamine and trazadone which also didn’t work. I went 4 days with not sleeping at all. Was very scary so the doctor had to put me on zopiclone. This works but you don’t want to take it too long. I ended up researching and ended up ordering tryptophan online. This has really helped. Still don’t sleep amazing but at least I can get 4-5 hours now. All the best.

[bournville]

Hi Rob

I’m similar in that alcohol helps calm my Tinnitus. Nice to have something that does that even if temporary but alcohol as a medication is not without problems.

Like you sleep was my main issue. I got back on track with sleep by doing a tinnitus MCBT course with Laurence McKenna at UCLH hosp London. If you can afford it do it - I was super sceptical about the benefits of meditation as a tool before I did it. To put it simply the effect of doing the meditation practice after 8 weeks is like a natural Valium switch or about 5 pints without the hangover 😉

[doglover1973]

Hi Rob. I have every sympathy with you. I've been there too. There's nothing wrong with a drop of alcohol to relax but it's not a solution to T - I'm afraid. You can learn to live with loud T even if you can't mask it. It's not a quick business but it's possible. I used a variety of techniques - including CBT . Sometimes I can't believe I can sleep with my T but I can and you will too.

[Bellyboo]

Hi Rob. I’ve had severe T for 5 yrs now , just to let you know mine also does spike often then one day it’s back to acceptable. I can’t figure it out though I have habituated. Night time is the worst and like you I take a sleeping tablet about twice a week which I look forward to. Alcohol makes me forget it though it’s still there, in the morning after a few whisky’s it is worse. It’s the NOT BEING IN CONTROL that I hate the most. Just know that you’re not alone and 1 in 10 suffer with T. I only now drink on holiday and maybe Xmas.

[Comeonyouspurs]

Ive binge drinked for years and have read that alcohol can destroy the tiny hairs in your middle ear that cant be regenerated.I guess all those years of drinking have come back to haunt us.