- Oct 31, 2020
- 1,254
- Tinnitus Since
- 9-17-2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- turning everything up to 11
In the middle of the night it did seem a bit louder, but by morning it would be normal. Mine changes day to day so never can find a pattern.
I was not taking anything else with it. I was on it from May through August last year and stopped since I couldn't get up to a therapeutic dose.In the middle of the night it did seem a bit louder, but by morning it would be normal. Mine changes day to day so never can find a pattern.
Are you taking anything else with the Nortriptyline?
No discernible influence on my tinnitus as far as I know...
This happens to me every once in a while. If I wake up 3 hours after falling asleep, I notice my tinnitus has elevated in volume. When I return back to sleep and wake up in the morning, it's back to a baseline.In the middle of the night it did seem a bit louder, but by morning it would be normal.
I put on about 20 pounds. But I had dropped 20 pounds from stress and anxiety of getting tinnitus and hyperacusis.It seems the tricyclic antidepressant of choice for hyperacusis and tinnitus is Mirtazapine so when I finally have my neuropsych appointment I may opt for this. I've never responded well to antidepressants but it's sadly the route that's being pushed and I have to behave for my SSDI claim.
I wanted to ask if people had any issues with weight gain on it, since that's a known side effect. My current living situation doesn't allow me to really walk much day to day and exercise spikes my tinnitus pretty badly. I am worried about potentially coming out of this with more health issues attributed to overweight and inactivity on top of my ear issues.
That's unfortunate to hear but I'm glad it at least evened out with you. My weight has been up and down but mostly because I've lost most of my muscle and gained a bunch of fat. Not looking forward to it.I put on about 20 pounds. But I had dropped 20 pounds from stress and anxiety of getting tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Honestly the first week I took it, my tinnitus and hyperacusis dropped by 50%. But I reinjured my ears from driving without earplugs. So I'm at 16 months of hyperacusis. Now recently a few things have happened; slamming doors and high frequency hearing aids have got me down. As before externalsounds would hurt my ears, now they hurt from nothing.That's unfortunate to hear but I'm glad it at least evened out with you. My weight has been up and down but mostly because I've lost most of my muscle and gained a bunch of fat. Not looking forward to it.
I take it even with diet and exercise it doesn't counter it that much? I remember being on lithium years ago while working out 4 days a week for several hours, counting all my calories, and I would not lose a single pound. One of those "I need to work out excessively just to maintain my weight" deals. I assume it's the same. Drat.
More importantly though, did it do anything for you?
I started Nortriptyline in early August 2021 and I've gained 10 pounds since then. My diet has been shit the last month or so and I haven't exercised well enough, but I believe I've mitigated the weight gain through 18/6 intermittent fasting. 12:30 pm-6:30 pm is my eating window. On May 15th, I'm going to return to my pre tinnitus intensive workout regimen,to see what kind of results I'm able to achieve while on Nortriptyline.I wanted to ask if people had any issues with weight gain on it, since that's a known side effect. My current living situation doesn't allow me to really walk much day to day and exercise spikes my tinnitus pretty badly. I am worried about potentially coming out of this with more health issues attributed to overweight and inactivity on top of my ear issues.
Good to know. I've started 20/4 up again in preparation because my diet has been shit lately as well and I gained a ridiculous amount of weight in a short time, probably because of my awful metabolism w/o exercise. Hopefully that can do something. Good to hear you'll be able to work out again and I hope it doesn't spike anything. I miss doing high impact stuff.I started Nortriptyline in early August 2021 and I've gained 10 pounds since then. My diet has been shit the last month or so and I haven't exercised well enough, but I believe I've mitigated the weight gain through 18/6 intermittent fasting. 12:30 pm-6:30 pm is my eating window. On May 15th, I'm going to return to my pre tinnitus intensive workout regimen,to see what kind of results I'm able to achieve while on Nortriptyline.
I do feel like Nortriptyline has helped a lot with my mental state, but it took a while to get there (approx. 2-3 months). It's also possible it may have helped hyperacusis to a degree, but I'm not totally sure. I wrote about my experience with the drug a few pages back here. You can also write Nortriptyline with my name in the search engine and you'll find some extra stuff there if you want.Good to know. I've started 20/4 up again in preparation because my diet has been shit lately as well and I gained a ridiculous amount of weight in a short time, probably because of my awful metabolism w/o exercise. Hopefully that can do something. Good to hear you'll be able to work out again and I hope it doesn't spike anything. I miss doing high impact stuff.
Did Nortriptyline work well enough for you? I'm not sure which drug I should ask for when the time comes.
Also, I'm assuming taking TCAs has to be a lifelong thing and you can't just take them for a bit, see improvements, and then stop without hyperacusis/tinnitus going back to bad levels? I hate being reliant on medication but... so be it I guess.
Hi @Nesty, sorry to hear that you are having a hard time at the moment. It is hard to suggest a particular antidepressant, though there is anecdotal evidence on here about certain ADs, as you will have seen.Hi all,
I am going through a rough time at the moment, not just tinnitus, but something else.
I think I might have to give in to the antidepressants route, as things are not improving. I have never been on antidepressants previously.
I want to view this as short term, but if I did get them prescribed, unsure how long to be on them.
A friend of mine who is on Prozac (Fluoxetine) said it helped her immensely & couldn't do without it now.
Any suggestions?
Hi @ZFire -- I'm also into intermittent fasting, and average about 18 hours/day. I've read several times there are advantages to working out after the fasting, and before eating. I was wondering what your schedule is, and whether you also work out before eating. BTW, I think intermittent fasting is very important my my physical and mental/emotional health and well being.On May 15th, I'm going to return to my pre tinnitus intensive workout regimen,to see what kind of results I'm able to achieve while on Nortriptyline.
I would say that a general SSRI is a good starting point. They are very safe and been around for a long time. Some doctors prescribe benzos alongside because the first few weeks could be rough. Try to avoid benzos if you can. With SSRIs, it can be 2-3 weeks where you actually feel worse. Try to pull through. Do not take too low a dose either. A higher dose will make sure that you get a good effect.I am going through a rough time at the moment, not just tinnitus, but something else.
I think I might have to give in to the antidepressants route, as things are not improving. I have never been on antidepressants previously.
I want to view this as short term, but if I did get them prescribed, unsure how long to be on them.
A friend of mine who is on Prozac (Fluoxetine) said it helped her immensely & couldn't do without it now.
Any suggestions?
Same situation for me, tinnitus plus something else.Hi all,
I am going through a rough time at the moment, not just tinnitus, but something else.
I think I might have to give in to the antidepressants route, as things are not improving. I have never been on antidepressants previously.
I want to view this as short term, but if I did get them prescribed, unsure how long to be on them.
A friend of mine who is on Prozac (Fluoxetine) said it helped her immensely & couldn't do without it now.
Any suggestions?
Fasting is crucial for me as well.Hi @ZFire -- I'm also into intermittent fasting, and average about 18 hours/day. I've read several times there are advantages to working out after the fasting, and before eating. I was wondering what your schedule is, and whether you also work out before eating. BTW, I think intermittent fasting is very important my my physical and mental/emotional health and well being.
I'm on Flupentixol 0.5mg and Doxepin 10 mg - 10 mg - 25 mg since August last year, it's the best period for me since tinnitus onset in 2015.Same situation for me, tinnitus plus something else.
I talked to a friend who said being put on SSRI really helped her in like 2 weeks.
I had never used an antidepressant before but just started Fluoxetine 2 days ago. I was told that the usual course is to take it ~10 months to hopefully establish long term changes. The psychiatrist also said that Fluoxetine doesn't have to be tapered as it has a super long half life.
I'm not sure about that @AfroSnowman. I thought that weaning off an AD was not so much about removing it from your system as it was about general mood, rebound anxiety/depression and adjusting to altered biochemistry in the brain.The psychiatrist also said that Fluoxetine doesn't have to be tapered as it has a super long half life.
Well he was suggesting that if I wanted, I could stop cold turkey as Fluoxetine stays in your system for some crazy amount of time, like 3 or 4 weeks, so it was self tapering so to speak. He also suggested either to drop it in about 8 weeks if/when my current environmental situation with some crazy problems comes to an end or to go for a 10-12 month course to hopefully establish long term good vibes.I'm not sure about that @AfroSnowman. I thought that weaning off an AD was not so much about removing it from your system as it was about general mood, rebound anxiety/depression and adjusting to altered biochemistry in the brain.
I have never heard that it is a good idea to stop ADs cold turkey if you have been on them for any prolonged period of time.
I've read that Nortriptyline, Amitriptyline and Cymbalta can help with nerve pain. Plus some anticonvulsants can possibly help too.Hi guys! Can anyone here please tell me if ADs can help calm down the cranial nerves when they became overactive due to prolonged inflammation?
For example, chronic inflammation in the middle ear and ear canal can affect facial and trigeminal nerves.
I know ADs can mess with your serotonin levels and make your tinnitus worse. I'm so confused!
I have no nerve pain. But crazy fizzing sizzling tinnitus in the head, caused by that inflammation. Cranial nerves go in the middle ear and ear canal. I never thought medications could help, but maybe there are some that could help with overactive brain nerves? I have always been afraid to try any medications. I already take 0.5 mg Rivotril (Clonazepam) for sleeping and am worried about it.I've read that Nortriptyline, Amitriptyline and Cymbalta can help with nerve pain. Plus some anticonvulsants can possibly help too.
I don't have experience with benzos. I do know Nortriptyline really helped with my headaches. But I couldn't sleep with it.I have no nerve pain. But crazy fizzing sizzling tinnitus in the head, caused by that inflammation. Cranial nerves go in the middle ear and ear canal. I never thought medications could help, but maybe there are some that could help with overactive brain nerves? I have always been afraid to try any medications. I already take 0.5 mg Rivotril (Clonazepam) for sleeping and am worried about it.
In the beginning it would put my head noise down. Not anymore. I'm probably in tolerance. But to get better, I would need to keep increasing the dosage? You don't always hit tolerance with benzos?
There's a good chance it is. Some nights it would wake me up. I'd almost feel like a panic attack was brewing. Sweaty, arms felt like I just got done lifting weights. Not fun.I went back on Nortriptyline a few days ago since my depression has been building back up, but I've been having horrible premature ventricular and atrial contractions since starting. I didn't have this problem last time I was on it, but I did have a fast heart-rate. I've had issues with PVCs and PACs in the past - had to wear a Holter monitor for a month to get a diagnosis. They last for hours and I get out of breath, dizzy, and tired.
I'm going to stop and see if they stop happening. It could all be coincidence, after all. I am under a huge amount of stress at the moment.
Didn't raise or lower it.
It raised mine, which is why I could never get to even a moderate dose. It went back down after discontinuing. I have seen someone post that it did lower their tinnitus though, so it's just something you have to try to find out.