does anybody have advice on effective antidepressants for Tinnitis
Does anybody have advice of effective antidepr... - Tinnitus UK
Does anybody have advice of effective antidepressant to treat Tinnitis
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Tinnitis
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what suits one person might not suit another.
If you haven’t already, have a look at the website of Tinnitus UK.
I had a head injury in 1993 that gave me tinnitus. Between 1996 and 2011 I had numerous surgeries that left me in a financial mess and severely depressed so I ended up going on several different antidepressants during those years. None of them helped the depression but they also had no effect on my tinnitus. So far the only things that really help when it gets bad is very soft instrumental music or when I go to bed I use, again at very low volume, a track of ocean surf or a forest stream. They make it possible for me to relax and distract from the tinnitus so I can sleep.
Antidepressents (Specifically Sertraline) helped me but I think its important to go into it with the right mindset.
Antidepressants are only one part of the management process and is not a magic pill that will make your Tinnitus go away.
For me they helped me gain some objectivity and all of the other things i was doing to help my recovery from Tinnitus Distress including CBT, Functioning at work and at home and learning about the condition.
This can be a devisive subject as peoples experiences are different. For people who experience side effects on them they will describe them as making it worse! For people who approached them hoping they where a magic pill will not give them a good review because they didn't make the Tinnitus go away.... but in my experience they helped me and many others I have spoken to.
I'm on Sertraline which I know is helping my attitude towards my condition. I found out quite how much when I decided (in my own wisdom) to withdraw from it a few months ago. I tapered but still, things went from dark to worse alarmingly fast and I got myself the heck back quickly.
When the T becomes unmanageable I have a sound enough relationship with my GP that I can ask and recieve a few days worth of Diazepam - and do what I call' "Hitting the ejector seat"; phychologically just getting the hell away from the whole shooting match for a couple of days. I know that's a cop-out but if you could hear my T, etc, etc . . .we've all got our hard limits of suffering. I've done this 3 times now since my T journey started 8 months ago. Yes, I know - I'm a new boy to T compared to others here. I'm making up my strategy as I go along.
As others have said - A/Ds, Trancs are not going to make it go away but they will soften it/ take the edge off/ give you a pit-stop and allow your other management techniques and tricks to work more effectively. You are working on other management and coping techniques aern't you? . . . .Meditation, breath work, Nature, background/ ambient noise distractions, CNS Shocking, etc. If not, start now.
Good Luck,
Jim
Its great that you felt strong enough to attempt coming off the medication. I remember how anxious i felt about coming off my own.
Ok it hasn't worked out this time but when the time is right you can have another try.
One exercise I found helpful was to imagine i was coming off the medication (When i really wasn't) and make a note of anything that happened that i may have blamed on the medication reduction.
This way as i was coming off i was able to distinguish between things that may have just been happening naturally and what may have been happening as a result of the medication.
Thanks for this Notreve, very useful advice. It is my planned route to lose the Sertraline and i think what you hint at is accurate. I must have a phychological attachmant to it. I'm going to follow your advice after chatting to my GP about the correct taper regime and have another go. Cheers.
hi i had mirtazipine which really helped me about 6/12 ago with some very loud noises i was getting . but still getting pulsating tinnitis
it may help but mine recently come back
stress def makes it worse
hope this helps
In my 8th month of T and hyperacusis which is horrendous
My doc gave me Mirtazapine but does not help with my anxiety /depression but does help me with sleeping. I think Mirtazapine is actually making my T louder. I am thinking of goin bk to doc to ask abt sertaline.
Hi Annabelle
I no longer take Sertraline but back when i needed to I went all the way up to the max dose and all the way back down again in approx. 18 months.
I felt comfortable to increase because I didn't experience any side effects. I felt i was getting help from them at 50/100/150 so my decision to increase was more about me thinking if there is more help available then lets have it 
We are all different of course and week 3 may be too early to be considering an increase. Keep working on your overall management plan and remember that the medication is only part of the recovery process
What else are you doing alongside the medication?
When i first got tinnitus i couldnt sleep and started taking mirtazapine as prescribed. For the first month it actually muted my tinnitus. The effect then stopped but it still helped me to sleep and have a better acceptance of it.
can I ask what mg of Mirtazapine you were prescribed?
Sorry for the late reply. I took 15mg in the first month. Since i was in a better place by then i started taking 7.5mg.
I have to warn you the first week might be a bit rought but it gets better after.
