Did you continue to take it? Did it go back to baseline when you stopped?My tinnitus got much worse with Lexapro.
Does anyone have any success on Lithium?
Interesting. I've tried Cymbalta, and that made things worse. I would be surprised if Lithium helps since it increases serotonin, which is implicated in tinnitus. If my problem ends up somehow not being autoimmune, I have to start exploring some creative angles.@Zugzug -- I've taken lithium for many years. In the beginning, I noticed it seemed to have a calming effect, but I think my body has gotten so used to it, I don't consciously notice anything these days. I continue to take it however, because of its apparent ability to "mop up" excessive glutamate, the excitatory neurotransmittor that can be very bad for people with tinnitus. I've also heard it has a remarkable ability to "detoxify the brain".
A good friend of mine suffered from clinical depression for many years, and finally decided to try to prescription lithium carbonate. The side effects were so bad, he had to quit taking it. When he tried 50 mcg of OTC lithium orotate, he said his depression lifted within an hourm and it felt like his brain came alive again. He's done well since making this discovery.
Does anyone understand why Mirtazapine isn't known to increase tinnitus?
Does anyone understand why Mirtazapine isn't known to increase tinnitus? I thought the main reason why anti-depressants aggravate tinnitus is because of serotonin activity in the DCN. Why would a tetracyclic anti-depressant be different from an SSRI? Thinking of trying Mirtazapine for sleep.
Hi @all to gain,I'm stilling cutting antidepressants out of my life. I'm now down form 60 of fluoxetine last June to 12.5 now. This last 12.5 will take a number of years to get rid of though. Who knows, maybe I will always have to keep on a very small dose? But a much smaller dose has got to be better than a big one, hopefully.
I've been on Fluoxetine for 23 years or so, except for little gaps here and there and a very unsuccessful attempt to come off of it 2 years ago, which ended with me getting tinnitus among other things. My main reason for wanting to come off of it is that it has changed my personality, especially in regard to my moral values, and that I feel the longer I keep on it the more long-term damage I am doing to myself. After 23 years it's all a bit late in the day, I know, but I'm determined to get off of this crap. As well as being one cause of my tinnitus, SSRIs are known to make tinnitus worse, so there's another reason I want to come off.Hi @all to gain,
If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been on SSRIs for and what are your reasons for wanting to get off?
I've been on Citalopram for 8 or 9 years and I've been considering coming off. I've had tinnitus for 5 months so I don't know if I can blame the SSRI this long down the line.
Do you feel any different being on a lower dose?
Mirtazapine does have sedating effects for a vast majority of people and doctors will often prescribe it for this reason. Some people have put on in excess of 10 kilos in a four week period with this drug, it is well known for causing weight gain and is often ceased for this very reason alone.Does anyone understand why Mirtazapine isn't known to increase tinnitus? I thought the main reason why anti-depressants aggravate tinnitus is because of serotonin activity in the DCN. Why would a tetracyclic anti-depressant be different from an SSRI? Thinking of trying Mirtazapine for sleep.
Slow is the way to go, and it sounds like you have a good plan in place to aid the process. You have done remarkedly well to get down to 12.5mg, like you said there is no rush, slow and steady wins the raceI've been on Fluoxetine for 23 years or so, except for little gaps here and there and a very unsuccessful attempt to come off of it 2 years ago, which ended with me getting tinnitus among other things. My main reason for wanting to come off of it is that it has changed my personality, especially in regard to my moral values, and that I feel the longer I keep on it the more long-term damage I am doing to myself. After 23 years it's all a bit late in the day, I know, but I'm determined to get off of this crap. As well as being one cause of my tinnitus, SSRIs are known to make tinnitus worse, so there's another reason I want to come off.
Yes, I do feel a little different, ie more edgy. I am lowering at a very slow pace to allow my brain and nervous system to get used to the lower doses so I don't suffer from brain zaps etc. Although it seems like I am almost there, ie down to 12.5 mg, this is where things get more difficult, and I need to lower further in very smal doses of 0.5-1 mg. I will do this my using liquid Fluoxetine and will do it over the next 3 or so years. No rush.
I am putting in place as many other things as possible to help with the process. Now it is the end of the summer I will start using a special light one hour every morning to simulate sunlight, I will possibly add vitamin D3 to my diet, I am doing daily cardio exercise, I may add fish oil etc.
In the end, I am doing this for my own self worth. I've always been wary of drugs and rue the day i ever allowed myself to go onto antidepressants.
Thank you for the in depth response, I also rue the day I started them.I've been on Fluoxetine for 23 years or so, except for little gaps here and there and a very unsuccessful attempt to come off of it 2 years ago, which ended with me getting tinnitus among other things. My main reason for wanting to come off of it is that it has changed my personality, especially in regard to my moral values, and that I feel the longer I keep on it the more long-term damage I am doing to myself. After 23 years it's all a bit late in the day, I know, but I'm determined to get off of this crap. As well as being one cause of my tinnitus, SSRIs are known to make tinnitus worse, so there's another reason I want to come off.
Yes, I do feel a little different, ie more edgy. I am lowering at a very slow pace to allow my brain and nervous system to get used to the lower doses so I don't suffer from brain zaps etc. Although it seems like I am almost there, ie down to 12.5 mg, this is where things get more difficult, and I need to lower further in very smal doses of 0.5-1 mg. I will do this my using liquid Fluoxetine and will do it over the next 3 or so years. No rush.
I am putting in place as many other things as possible to help with the process. Now it is the end of the summer I will start using a special light one hour every morning to simulate sunlight, I will possibly add vitamin D3 to my diet, I am doing daily cardio exercise, I may add fish oil etc.
In the end, I am doing this for my own self worth. I've always been wary of drugs and rue the day i ever allowed myself to go onto antidepressants.
I did it over 6 months and ended on 10 mg every other or every third day. This wasn't enough. I should have cut down to 0.5 mg, but instead I was still on roughly 5 mg per day. Fluoxetine stays in the system for months after the last dose, and having been on it for 20+years it would have been in every crack and crevice of my body.Thank you for the in depth response, I also rue the day I started them.
I've also read that tapering slowly is very important. How fast did you taper 2 years ago when it didn't work if you don't mind me asking?
Has this taper been comfortable for you and have you noticed any positive effects of the lower dose yet or do you just feel more on edge?
I started the SSRIs when I was 19 and still regret it but I didn't know any better. I'm sure I would have been fine with adding exercise and maybe some CBT instead of SSRIs.
I'm just hoping that now in my late 20s it hasn't ruined the rest of my life and I have time to come off. I've read so many horror stories of people trying to come off, I wonder if that's the case for everyone. It's quite terrifying reading some of those stories.
@Star64 -- A pretty simple formula I keep in mind is that whatever affects that brain is more than likely going to affect tinnitus. It seems that when it comes to drugs, it's usually the case tinnitus is caused and/or worsens over time.I do not believe there is one class of antidepressant that is safer than an other especially when it comes to knowing if it will aggravate tinnitus or not.
I think your odds of success are actually quite high. So much is being learned these days about supporting the brain, often using novel new approaches. I would encourage you to follow the latest on just about everything pertaining to brain health, from nutritional support, being in nature, devices such as PEMF, etc. Also, avoid things that have the potential to make things worse, such as excessive EMFs from smart meters, wifi routers, etc. -- All the Best...I'm just hoping that now in my late 20s it hasn't ruined the rest of my life and I have time to come off.
[...] whatever affects that brain is more than likely going to affect tinnitus. It seems that when it comes to drugs, it's usually the case tinnitus is caused and/or worsens over time.
Can you back this statement up with some evidence please? How have you arrived at this conclusion?
I doubt there will be much scientific evidence to back up my own thinking, but I believe that's primarily because the medical profession doesn't want people to know how dangerous many of these drugs are.
I hope you won't be offended, but that is my perspective.
I think the evidence is probably out there, but the medical profession and drug companies definitely don't want people knowing about it.Hi @Tanni I doubt there will be much scientific evidence to back up my own thinking, but I believe that's primarily because the medical profession doesn't want people to know how dangerous many of these drugs are.
Could you please tell how much you take and which form, sir?@Zugzug -- I've taken lithium for many years. In the beginning, I noticed it seemed to have a calming effect, but I think my body has gotten so used to it, I don't consciously notice anything these days. I continue to take it however, because of its apparent ability to "mop up" excessive glutamate, the excitatory neurotransmittor that can be very bad for people with tinnitus. I've also heard it has a remarkable ability to "detoxify the brain".
A good friend of mine suffered from clinical depression for many years, and finally decided to try to prescription lithium carbonate. The side effects were so bad, he had to quit taking it. When he tried 50 mcg of OTC lithium orotate, he said his depression lifted within an hourm and it felt like his brain came alive again. He's done well since making this discovery.
I think the evidence is probably out there, but the medical profession and drug companies definitely don't want people knowing about it.
Nah, it's out there. But I'm talking about the dangers of ADs in general and not in relation to tinnitus specifically. But there are numerous studies out there that suggest ADs affect tinnitus - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319077#Serotonin-raises-neuronal-activity-in-the-DCNI'd still need to actually see the evidence rather than assume that it probably exists. Would be very interesting to read if anyone has any links from reputable sources. I can't believe the drug companies are able to silence all independent research into ADs...
It's no secret that pharmaceutical companies influence the medication prescribed by doctors by giving them financial incentives, " BIG PHARMA" funds 90 per cent of research!I'd still need to actually see the evidence rather than assume that it probably exists. Would be very interesting to read if anyone has any links from reputable sources. I can't believe the drug companies are able to silence all independent research into ADs...
Could you please tell how much you take and which form, sir?