I wish I could cheer you up but unfortunately this is not a particularly happy post. I recently started suffering from pulsatile, tonal tinnitus , aural fullness and sound distortion in very quick succession. While the hearing test doesn’t show much change from previous ones, I am sure there is some damage somewhere to warrant all these problems. I find myself with no choice but to resort to some medication for depression . Can I ask if any of you has had positive experiences with the likes of setraline, escitalopram or other? I am terrified that medication will make my 24/7 tinnitus even louder than it is now…
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DanielaHobbs_
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Thanks Graham-E . My gp was supportive too on prescribing it. I agree that the brain can increase central sensitisation /become hypersensitive to some stimuli. If the brain calms down , symptoms should become more manageable. I wish I could do it with CBT but I am not “there” at the moment. Thank you for responding and I wish you well!
I’ve also had many sessions of CBT but only one specific to T. I actually find that with the replacement my inner self feels more calm. I feel less likely to jump to immediate ‘anger’ that hurt my chest so much. A real physical pain. Since the meds it’s only happened once and that is better. I actually feel a little more in control of my thoughts. That didn’t happen immediately but after many months of taking them. I’ve actually found mindfulness easier than my frustrated former self. Absolutely I want to come off them but the benefits outweigh my old fashioned thoughts on such medication.
I only have one side effect and that is manageable. Happy to talk in more details if anyone wants to, send me a message.
I wish you well and hope any tech like sound pillows and apps are useful for you.
Be kind to yourself first because this is one heck of a think to deal with when no one can feel your pain and frustrations.
Hi Daniel. I couldn’t take Sertraline but what I do find helps me is Diazepam. I don’t take it regularly and it is only a low dose 2mg. However if I get a few really bad days it does help me, sometimes I wonder if just knowing I have them helps!! I think we are all different in what works for us. x
Hi Beesmac I totally appreciate what you are saying. And yes, we are indeed all different. thank you for taking the time to respond and I hope that your tinnitus will bother you less and less moving forwards.
My Doctor wasn't really keen on giving me some Diazepam, I don't think he likes it that much. How does it work for you, is the tinnitus quieter or does it calm the brain down, so there is less focus on it, any side effects from taking it ? I could maybe ask him for a lower dose to try and see what happens. I was thinking on taking it in the Morning when I wake up, as often it seems louder and my brain needs to calm down & relax.
Hi - It works in a strange way for me. It does calm me down which helps but calms my tinnitus down more the next day! I know this sounds bizarre but at least I know tomorrow will be better! You can but try. x
Mirtazapine 30mg, which helps me sleep a bit better, although I might be getting used to it and it is wearing off and it may calm my brain down a little bit, but, the tinnitus is the same loudness. - Duloxetine 30mg, which sent my brain into paranoia with serious mental health thoughts and the tinnitus was screaming away a lot louder, but, my blood pressure was really high at 190-200 whilst on it. When I was taking Duloxetine, I could feel like cold and hot fluid running around my brain and body and like hallucinations & really bad thoughts, so I stopped taking it after 2 days. But, it may work for you, as it works for some people & not for others. I hope to try 'Nortriptyline' soon, to see what that does. People react different to each meds, so some may work & some not. Mirtazapine 30mg seems a safe drug without bad side effects, you do get a lot of hunger pains thou for some reason, so you may eat more. I think it calms my brain down a little bit, but, some other depressants are Stronger or act more powerful in different ways. Duloxetine is pretty powerful for some people, if you have ever had suicidal or paranoia thoughts in the past, it might not work, it seems to create more alertness to some parts of the brain, but, in other people it works. You need to chat to the Doctor to see what they advise. I think I had Setraline many years ago and it gave me similar bad thoughts & body shakes, for some reason my Doctors don't recommend it sometimes. It often makes some people worse for the first few weeks until your body adjusts to it. Again, everyone is different. Ask your Doctor about trying some Mirtazapine 30mg. Also check you Blood Pressure Daily, as if it is high, it might be aggravating any spikes and they can give some Meds for that to bring it down.
Hi Dazza2024 thank you for the explanation! Lots for me to research . I had never heard of these medications before. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this information!
I do advise you not to start taking this sort of medication, if only it’s strictly necessary. I’ve had many tough periods in relation to my T in the last 17 years. I take only 1/2 pill of Imovane when because of the noises at night I can’t fall asleep.
You can try alternative medication: relaxing tea, Sedatif PC from Boieron, homeopathy, reflexo therapy, yoga, walks.
And I been on it since 2018 and my tinnitus has been mild, before I started this medication I was very depressed and anti social could not go to family occasions
Weddings parties cause of the loud noises and conversations. I became a hermit.
But this medication has helped my tinnitus
And my social living 🙏🏻 but don’t take
Immediate release it will not work and you will be taking 4-6 a day !!!
Just wanted to add what helped me be myself again 😊🙏🏻
Hi dsh2358 thank you for sharing your experience. It is very kind and I am happy to hear that Apazolam has helped you! If there are things that can give us some support , why not use them. I have both a train track (pulsation/heartbeat/pulsatile tinnitus) and a steam engine (normal tinnitus) in my right ear. At the moment i have no idea what Apazolam is but am jumping into an internet search to educate myself on this.
Hi! I Also contracted Pulsatile Tinnitus but 3 years ago. I have found that 10mg of Citalopram has been of great help. No obvious side effects. Obviously contact your medical practitioner who may provide any necessary prescription. Best wishes, keep in touch to see how you are doing. The dose does not have any effect on PT, time will let you cope better. Also in the day try Shokz headphones to play music from your phone through your cheekbones! Good because you can still hear all necessary sounds and converse compared to headphones covering your ears which normally meant obliterating most everything else.
hi, I started out with sertraline, but found it made my T worse. GP switched me to mirtazapine (15mg) which helped with sleep and general calming so the T wasn’t as stressful. I’d been in constant fight or flight mode and unable to sleep before that. Good luck!
I can tell you something about hearing test I went to this Doctor because I got depressed and I had a floating spell and I knew it was my nurse but everybody just kept on so I went to the air Doctor and he blew air in myeah he said it would go away within 24 hours with 2 weeks later my ear whistled like a tea kettle and it popped which was the air trapped, I went to Another ear Doctor it took his thumb and started pumping in my ear trying to make me dizzy and I might I stop to him, Well I had already took a hearing test from the first Doctor so the last one may be an stressed out and depressed and you do things you shouldn't do taught me into type in the second hearing test within 2 months apart that night both my ears was ringing off the wall and I mean it did it for like over a week and then finally the right 1 stopped and the damaged ear on the left that they damaged kept on for a while and then finally after time went by it's got subsided And now when I get real stressed out and over exert myself it comes back but it sounds like it's more in my heand of course I got Prayed for several times and it was gone and that's when I went back and took the next hearing
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