Tinnitus worse -which Medications can reduce loudness?

[surviveT]

I have neurological type of tinnitus . Using sound therapy and masking is very difficult and doesnt seem to work. I need to try medication at the moment , My tinnitus is much worse at present and I need some sort of medication . Do you tinnitus sufferers out there know of medications which can reduce the volume of the tinnitus. I am getting desperate now. I know in US and other parts of world , certain medications are prescribed , but not so much here in UK it seems. Thanks for any help on this .

[doglover1973]

I'm sorry surviveT I don't think there are any meds out there. If it's any consolation I know how you feel. Tinnitus is enough to make anyone desperate at times. The best thing to do is talk to your GP again. They may be able to prescribe a sedative to soothe your nerves in the short term. In the long term it's a question of acceptance however loud it is. Talking therapies are the best way to go in my experience.

[surviveT in reply to doglover1973]

it is so so loud after being out in car for 30 mins, even with ear defenders -it has got louder over past few weeks . I really dont know how i cam going to live with this level of loudness

[doglover1973 in reply to surviveT]

I understand. I didn't think I would ever live with my T at this volume but I do. The brain is amazing. It can adjust to anything - even troublesome tinnitus. Hang in there. The T may not get quieter but you'll learn to cope with it better . Try & stay as calm as possible. I know this is much easier said then done. I used to set myself targets to get thru the day . It might be worth a try.

[surviveT in reply to doglover1973]

hi - did u find that your tinnitus got louder and louder over time?.

How long have you had bothersome tinnitus ?

Also can you mask it and do sound therapies? , because i cant

thanks dl73 - 3 questions there

[doglover1973 in reply to surviveT]

Yes. My T got gradually louder over a decade as my hearing got worse. Then all of sudden in July 2020 I couldn't cope with it anymore. So that's two years of bothersome T . I can't mask or use sound therapy in my deaf ear . I rely on my good ear to distract me. In spite of all this I've got to a place where I can cope again. I believe you will too. It just takes time.

[surviveT in reply to doglover1973]

Thank you dl73 - I hope i can cope with it ,soon hopefully , but at moment its horrendous and both sides

[carolbrit in reply to surviveT]

Hi, yes my T has got worse over the years. It started when I was 19, I'm now 71 and I've noticed the intensity over the last five years, or so. It can be pretty depressing because it robs you of silence but I live with it, grudgingly!

[Ana20]

Hi! First of all, I don’t know what neurological T is. I have had T for almost 17 years, but it got worse 5 years ago.

I live in România. I was in USA at a specialist in T. No medication prescribed. Nothing to be done.

In my country I was given Betaserc(your Serc, betahistine), 2x24 mg daily.

I search internet and that’s what I do:

1. Recently I take Acouphenol alternately with Betaserc ,each other day.

2. I take care of my blood pressure.

3. Take care of my diet.

4. I do my hobbies(reading, painting)

5. I have walks almost every day

6. Go to the swimmimg-pool

7. Take supplements with Complex B and Magnesium, periodically.

Don’t give up! You will cope! Good health!

[AldoArgentina in reply to Ana20]

Hello. Have you heard about Carbamazepine?

[Ana20 in reply to AldoArgentina]

Hi! I’ve never heard of it. We can find it here, but without the doctor’s prescrption I don’t take anything.Good health!

[daverussell]

1. Seek professional treatment/medication for other ailments.

2. Find time to relax, and prioritise staying healthy and make exercise part of your routine.

3. Use BTA website tinnitus.org.uk to understand what is tinnitus and to identify and understand your tinnitus.

4. Speak to family and close friends.

[bantams]

Hi surviveT, recently I went 3 months when my T did not bother me, it was still there but it did not seem loud and I thought that`s it I have "learn`t to live with it" but No, for no reason back it came and very loud. Now back to using my hearing aids and slowly having more good days than bad days. I would advise you to do everything that doglover as said and hopefully it improves living with your T. Good Luck.

[Covenette1]

Hi - my T got so bad after chemotherapy that, like you, I was in a very dark place but like DL73 I came through it. I found acceptance is the key. Just getting on with your life will, after time, help your T fade into the background, it will still be there but not so intrusive. Hang on in there - you can do this 👍 Kim x

[surviveT in reply to Covenette1]

hi Covenette - thanks for your reply - do you hear yourr tinnitus all the time?

[Covenette1 in reply to surviveT]

I do - it’s just part of me now, I try to take as little notice of it as I can and just let it fade into the background. If I do pay attention to it - the volume cranks up. Stress plays a big part of T so keeping calm helps a lot - sending positive wishes your way. Kim x

[surviveT in reply to Covenette1]

My tinnitus goes up after being in car- which is a big problem to me . Does your tinnitus react like this to car travel or other noise

[bournville in reply to surviveT]

Hi so sorry you are struggling - the raised tinnitus in car journeys made me think as I used to experience that too, but less so now. I have reactive tinnitus ( tinnitus that increases in volume with everyday noise exposure ) that may be linked to hyperacusis. One school of thought is that if the hyperacusis is treated the reactive tinnitus recedes & mine has definitely improved. If you are very sensitive to sound perhaps take a look on hyperacusis.net - a specialist site and forum on hyperacusis. Treatment options are shown on the site. I don’t want to send you down a rabbit hole so if possible perhaps discuss with an audiologist and see what they think about this.

[Covenette1 in reply to surviveT]

Hi - no, I would try using noise defusers …. I use mine a lot if I’m out to the cinema (why they have such loud sound effects etc I’ll never know 🤷‍♀️) but car noises don’t unduly effect my T.

[TurboTrace]

I've been using Betahistine although it's not recommended

[camino9 in reply to TurboTrace]

Hi Turbo. How are you feeling taking Betahistine? Is this medication not recommended because of the side effects? It seems that it does not reduce tinnitus from what I have read...but the studies seem inconclusive. Can you please give an indication of how you are faring? All the very best...

[TurboTrace in reply to camino9]

Hi. I can only take one tablet a day, atnight which helps sleep. Anymore makes me feel unwell.

[Tanney]

Hello. Here in the US, ENT doctors very often prescribe Ativan (0.5mg) applied under the tongue (quicker reacting) for loud episodes of tinnitus. It works very well for me. I have bilateral Meniere's Disease that includes tinnitus in both ears. When the tinnitus gets unusually loud (too much salt, liqueur, anxiety, etc) one or two Ativan will often calm things down within the hour. Caution: only use the Ativan when tinnitus episodes are unusually loud because at long term use/higher doses it can become addictive and can have adverse effects on your vestibular (balance function) system. I've found that Ativan used on special occasions is fine without side effects. I've used it for at least 15 years.

I wish you good luck!

[surviveT in reply to Tanney]

Thanks Tanney - I think these meds can be helpful for very severe tinnitus episodes ,like you describe - can I ask , how often do you need to use the Ativan?

[Tanney in reply to surviveT]

once or twice a week.

[surviveT in reply to Tanney]

thanks Tanney , its just as I thought - people with extreme severe tinnitus in US and other countries can obtain certain meds to help with intense, severe times, and in the UK we are just left to suffer

[surviveT in reply to Tanney]

thanks Tanney - how long do the effects of 0.5mg Ativan last , on the tinnitus. Thnx

[Tanney in reply to surviveT]

in my case the Ativan reduces the extraordinarily loud tinnitus in about a half hour to an hour after applying it under my tongue. This usually lasts the whole day. Hopefully thereafter whatever caused the louder tinnitus is out of my body (sodium, anxiety, etc.). Note: allergies can cause tinnitus flairups. It is best to manage the allergies (especially nasal allergies) and see if that reduces your tinnitus.

[surviveT in reply to Tanney]

many thanks Tanney -

[Fridays_Child_62]

First of all, I sympathise with your situation, surviveT. I know that tinnitus can be almost like torture at times. I'm afraid I'm not aware of any medications available in the UK that work to reduce tinnitus but I wanted to pick up on a couple of points.

You say that car journeys aggravate your tinnitus. Do you wear any kind of ear defenders? I bought some to wear on train journeys but found them useless, as they don't block out the dominant low frequencies from the engine. However, I found noise-cancelling headphones to be much better for this, as they work well in reducing low-frequency continuous noise.

You also say that sound therapy and masking don't work for you. I have found that some masking/distraction sounds help and some don't. Is your tinnitus high-frequency? For some reason, continuous noise often provokes my tinnitus but sharp, high-frequency sounds can help reduce it. I have a sound generator and find the birdsong programme to be particularly effective in this, although it only provides temporary relief, of course.

I know that everyone is different and techniques that work for some people don't work for others, but thought I would throw in my two-pennies' worth.

[surviveT in reply to Fridays_Child_62]

many thanks , your message is very informative - which nc headphones would you recommend?

[CalleLaurel]

Hi, sound therapy’s didn’t work for me, it seems I have Hyperacusis as well ☹️ I have had tinnitus for 3 years nonstop now, some days I reall struggle others not so bad, as previously said it does get better with time, you learn to live with it. I just didn’t want to carry on in the beginning. I hope you find ways of coping soon.

[AldoArgentina]

Hello. Have you heard about Carbamazepine?

[surviveT]

hi sorry for late reply - i havent heard of Carbamazepine - does it have en effect on the T