We all know tinnitus and anxiety is a vicious and perpetuating circle. Add insomnia as tinnitus keeps you awake, as it's most prevalent at night. I've suffered since 1994. For my anxiety, I was prescribed Diazepam 5mg x 3 a day for anxiety and it doesn't take the tinnitus away, but it significantly reduces the focus on it; thus relieving the anxiety and allowing sleep. I have Otosclerosis (reduced hearing) in both ears. After the surgeon couldn't perform another Stapedectomy, I had a prosthetic implant in my right ear. It made my tinnitus worse, like sheet metal waved at my ear constantly. If I'd known this would happen, I'd never allowed the operation. So there's no harm in suggesting Diazepam to your doctor. They use antihistamines for insomnia, to rely on the sleepiness side effect, so the same can apply to a benzodiazepine.
Taking the focus off your excruciating tinnitus. - Tinnitus UK
Taking the focus off your excruciating tinnitus.
I agree. Diazepam was of immense value in the early days of my T.
I had an accident and did cervical damage which triggered the T suddenly so I was in shock and horror at it. I felt I was going to lose my mind. The hospital I was in gave me Diazepam and I stayed on it for about a month solid. I then switched over to Sertraline and Phenergan for sleep. Between these two they've had my back since then. I don't use the Phenergan for sleep anymore and I haven't had to hit the ejector seat with Diazepam for months but I know it's there if I need it. Just that knowledge gives me some of the risilliance I need to cope.
Certainly in those horrific early days and weeks I feel it was the only thing keeping me from insanity and I will always be grateful for it.
I simply do not understand GP's being so reluctant to prescribe this highly effective drug that seems custom-made to help with early T habituation.
you’ve certainly been through a lot, thank you for your post.
please please anyone reading this be VERY careful if taking diazepam. It is highly addictive and is horrendous to come off after a period of time. Even a relatively short period of time and small dosage. This was not explained to my partner who was using it to manage T and yes it helped massively but also the crash when the GP would no longer prescribe was awful and took to him to a very dark place and he had a breakdown as a result. Hence the black market for the drug and high addiction issues with it especially in the USA. My partner is very strong willed and had no idea how reliant he would become on it before he found it an issue. I don’t want to scare people but please do not that this drug thinking it’s ’safe And and ok’ because a GP gave it to me. We thought it was pretty harmless and through experience we now know it is not. Use with caution. Best wishes.
Thank you for this. After reading, I was seriously considering taking it, even after hearing so many horror stories. You brought me back to reality. There has to be a better way to help lessen the T and/or make it go away.
I totally agree with other comments regarding it can help BUT it is also too easy to then fall into the trap of relying on it for that help. We had no idea how addictive it could be I suppose as society won’t don’t associate benzo medication as the same potential addiction /withdrawal to the likes of heroine etc best wishes on your journey. I would suggest going to a tinnitus meet up group (online) I went and I feel they can really help sufferers connect and not feel totally isolated.
Thanks, I'm going to give that a try.
Thanks Nathalie - that sounds like a very tough time. I should have reinforced in my post how very important doseage and period of use is with this remarkably effective but potentially very hazradous drug.
So my use was this.
Initally - when the T "hit" after my accident (just over nine months ago now) resulting in deep cervical trauma I was placed on about 6-10 mg of Dia /day. This remained my doseage - initally administerd by hospital and then, when home subsequently administered by a family member. This went on for the first four weeks of my new affliction. It provided much needed "cover" from the horror of severe Tinnitus coming in to my life from nowhere.
After four weeks I transferred on to Sertraline and began a regimented taper of the Dia according to my GP's reduction taper plan. Four weeks of continuous use is not much and certainly not enough for most people to get hooked to any deep extent so the two-week taper was easy to manage and at no time did I have any ill effects.
For the next three months I was able to request a short course of Dia to help with spikes and difficult times. What my GP and I referred to as "Hitting the ejector seat" - to grab some sleep and time away from the T. My GP would prescribe 4/5 days of 4mg/ day. Often I would not complete the course. This happened three or four times. Last time I had Dia for this was about four months ago with no plans to ever use it again though the phychological awareness that I have some 'if needed' often provides sufficient bolstering of my resolve and strengthening of my habituation.
I sympathise with your experience and that of your partner but I reiterate my former remarks that if used correctly and in strict supervision Diazepam can be a very powerful ally in our initial / ongoing conflict with Tinnitus - providing relief from the Tinnitus/ the anxiety and stress and helping us to sleep and just feel better about things than we did. This in turn provides an excellent environment for us to really get stuck in to working on our long-term habituation to the T.
I'm nine months in to my T journey and those early days that were make or break - I'm glad I had Diazepam there with me but was always aware of just how hazardous it could be. That's why a family member would be in charge of them and then administer to me on a daily basis.
On the subject of addiction my GP did make me account for myself when I requested Dia and he would often state that he was concerned about me becoming hooked and the fact that prolonged use of it can lead to a dropping off of efficacy. I once told him that it was like "I am in the water, drowning with this Tinnitus and any minute now I'm going to sink below the surface and it's like you, the doctor are on the deck of a ship near by wondering whether to throw me a life-ring because you're worried I'll get hooked on it."
Dramatic? yes but I felt at the time that I was in such a godawful place that I needed to be anywhere than where I was - getting hooked to something in the process was a moot point.
I remain eternally grateful to that GP and we often talk about how we managed my eary Tinnitus with gratitude and awe. Talking to others here I'm also aware that I was extremely lucky to have that GP at the time.
Sounds like you had a very good GP that managed it with you which my partner should have had and didn’t. Thank you for sharing your experience too.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I wish I had a good GP. I just got through my first 6 months and I'm exhausted. I feel like I been around the world and am still back at square one. I've seen so many Drs and had a multitude of tests and all I keep hearing is that the tests don't show anything and I just have to live with it. Hopefully the next 6 months will send me a better way to cope. Your story is inspiring.
Just as a closing note from me; GP's WILL default to not prescribing it - that's what NICE has told them to do.
However, an appeal by you - a firm statement that you are in such a bad place that ANY alternative state of mind is preferable - will usually sway the GP in to prescribing a short course - a few days - to get you out of the pothole/ over the Spike, etc. This is one of the conditions they are allowed to prescribe it for. This should not happen more frequently than every couple of months and should not be on-going for longer than six months. Habituation - at least partial habituation should have time enough to set itself in place and help you go forward without Diazepam.
If you find yourself making this demand more frequently than this then the drug's calling the shots not you and you need to look closely at that.
As I said, in the context of correct doseage and administration Dia is a very powerful ally in early Tinnitus management and I will always advocate for its use as well as remain very grateful it was there.
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