Best Non-Ototoxic Anxiety Meds?

[SusanGee]

I've got an appointment with the doctor in 2 hours to ask for some anxiety meds and something to help me sleep. So scared of them giving me something that will make this worse or is otoxic. Anyone got any advice please? Thank you

 

[Thongjy]

lexapro? any one any comments on lexapro?

 

[Stink]

valium,ativan (diazepam)
xanax,xanor (alprazolam)
klonopin,rivotril (clonazepam)

all good.

 

[Thongjy]

valium,ativan (diazepam)
xanax,xanor (alprazolam)
klonopin,rivotril (clonazepam)

all good.

Can confirm those you listed are not ototoxic at all?

 

[RaZaH]

Rivotril is essentially what caused my T so ...I guess I would say stay away from that .

 

[1MW]

SSRI SNRI tricyclic tetracyclic benzos are all ototoxic.
All the previous listsings in the post are ototoxic.
There is no anti anxiety drug that is not ototoxic.

Maybe RTG is no ototoxic and helps with anxiety

 

[labrat10687]

Just about every drug on the market is ototoxic. Have taken Xanax,Valium and Clonazepam for sleep. No side effects. What worked the best for sleep was Amitriptyline. You only need a low dose. Worked the first night I took the pill. Best advice is to take it 2 hours before bedtime.

 

[SusanGee]

I've been given propranolol for anxiety and said will hopefully improve sleep. But she didn't give me specific sleep meds for some reason ? Wish I'd asked for amitriptyline. Might have to go back I guess.

 

[Sen]

SSRI SNRI tricyclic tetracyclic benzos are all ototoxic.
All the previous listsings in the post are ototoxic.
There is no anti anxiety drug that is not ototoxic.

Maybe RTG is no ototoxic and helps with anxiety

Just about every drug on the market is ototoxic.

None of this is true.

 

[linearb]

valium,ativan (diazepam)
xanax,xanor (alprazolam)
klonopin,rivotril (clonazepam)

all good.

Klonopin and withdrawing from klonopin definitely had a long-term and bad effect on my tinnitus.

All of these drugs are benzodiazepines. Alprazolam (xanax) is the only one which is actually listed in the US literature as being ototoxic, but because the mechanism of action for all of them is nearly identical, I think it's reasonable to assume that they can all cause vestibular and hearing problems.

Klonopin is also one of the only things I've taken that basically eliminates my tinnitus, and I would probably have stayed on it if it hadn't started to cause me worse problems....

I can't think of a single drug that hasn't made someone somewhere say that it gave them T or made their T worse, though. Lexapro and the other SSRIs definitely have this in their adverse reports.

 

[linearb]

Rivotril is essentially what caused my T so ...I guess I would say stay away from that .

just a note to anyone who doesn't know; Rivotril is a brand name for Clonazaepam (Klonopin).

None of this is true.

There may not be studies demonstrating neurotoxic cochlear effects from these drugs, but all of these drugs are definitely known to cause tinnitus in some subset of users, and for each of these drugs it is easy to find reports of people who developed tinnitus shortly after taking the drug, or after escalating the dose, and who also report continuing to have the tinnitus long-term after ceasing the drug. So, I suppose it depends on how rigid you're being about defining "ototoxic", but it's clear that the poster here is asking "what is the list of psychiatric drugs which absolutely will not make my tinnitus worse?", and that's pretty clearly a short/empty list.

Of course drugs can be dangerous... if something has no risk attached to it, then it's not actually doing anything, how could it work at all? Homeopathic drugs are not dangerous, and that's because they are just placebos that exert no metabolic action.

 

[Mo_Mo]

hadn't started to cause me worse problems....

may you please elaborate of the problems caused by it, were they related to T or other problems

 

[linearb]

may you please elaborate of the problems caused by it, were they related to T or other problems

As a caveat, I had significant prior medication/drug history that probably complicates my story. But, I have read plenty of accounts by now of people getting just as messed up from benzos as I did, without any of that background.

My T definitely got worse as a result of withdrawing from the drug; it was less of a problem while I was on it, but more or less my short term memory, sense of self, and whole outlook on life was distorted past the point of recognition. The worst part was that while I was still on the

The only time I've experienced anything that I'd describe as "psychosis" was the result of trying to come off benzos too abruptly.

Plenty of people have used benzos very short term to get through a rough patch, without much fuss. Some people seem to be able to take them at least somewhat longer term without trouble, so there are probably genetic factors, but it's a big gamble. People with any history of anxiety problems, seem to be more likely to have more severe issues from benzos.

Long term use disrupts the endocrine system, and is correlated with dementia and other issues in some studies.

The most comprehensive analysis I've found about how benzos relate to the HP axis, and to tinnitus specifically, were put together by a career research scientist who struggled with benzos. These are not, by any means, proper research papers -- they have not been peer reviewed or published -- but they are very well put together, reasonably approachable given the density of the subject, and each claim that they make is backed by citations of actual research papers.

Tinnitus and benzos: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=106121.0
HP Axis and benzos: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=44373.0

 

[jeannie]

ive been on Xanax for many years , didn't cause my tinnitus, helps relax you ..

 

[linearb]

ive been on Xanax for many years , didn't cause my tinnitus, helps relax you ..

er, if you've been on alprazolam, a drug known to be ototoxic, for many years, and you now have tinnitus -- why are you sure that the xanax has nothing to do with the tinnitus?

Imaging studies have shown a lack of specific BDZ receptors in chronic tinnitus patients.
http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=231

Imaging studies have also shown a decrease in BDZ receptors after chronic benzodiazepine use.

 

[Alex Senkowski]

I've been taking Remeron for sleep for the past year and have had no side-effects aside from drowsiness. A month ago, I finally finished tapering off Clonazepam. I tapered off it for almost half a year before finally going off it. I've heard the horror stories of withdrawal and yet I feel totally fine now aside from the occasional T spike.

 

[svintegrity]

The American a Tinnitus Association has a section on its website about drugs that are ototoxic.

 

[linearb]

I've been taking Remeron for sleep for the past year and have had no side-effects aside from drowsiness. A month ago, I finally finished tapering off Clonazepam. I tapered off it for almost half a year before finally going off it. I've heard the horror stories of withdrawal and yet I feel totally fine now aside from the occasional T spike.

My total guess is that the really severe withdrawal only happens to like 25-30% of people who take prescription benzos at usual doses, without other drugs/alcohol in the mix. It might even be lower than that, but it's horrifying if it happens.

It's also worth noting that the kindling effect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindling_(sedative-hypnotic_withdrawal)) probably means that if you go on and off benzos several times, you're more likely to have problems. This was true for my father -- after hearing me whine about how bad the withdrawal was, he went off his own 3mg/day Klonopin prescription, tapering down fast (1 month or so) -- and stayed off of them for a couple months. He had no withdrawal to speak of, but also missed the benefits of the drug, and so he went back on it. When he tried to get off again three years later, he said it was "like a cartoon of a bad acid trip, or something", and ultimately he did have to spend 14 months tapering off, the second time around.

My biggest reason for thinking tinnitus people should be very cautious about benzo use, isn't the bad-acid-trip withdrawal -- it's the considerable number of stories I've read about people without tinnitus in the first place, developing it as a result of long-term use of, or withdrawal from, benzos... coupled with all the neuroscience data we have which suggests there are logical and rational reasons why that would be the case.

 

[labrat10687]

It's funny but when my tinnitus first hit I was searching for answers and the first drug that said it might help tinnitus was Xanax. Never heard of it before. So I took the Xanax study to my doctor and he said he would never prescribe it. Much too dangerous he told me.

Several months later I was given a trial on it(1mg)and it did not help at all. I was so dang tired all the time. So I scratched it off the list. It's strange cause it will help some people. Also 2 nights ago another drug commercial was on tv and one of the side effects was death. Well at least they were being truthful about it!

 

[Shaun]

Hi Susan,

I seen your status this morning sorry you are feeling like this but all these feelings are normal I was in unexplainable hell this time last year but hang In there sue its getter.
I see that your doctor gave you propranolol maybe they are not strong enough to help you get the sleep you need,musicians use them to stop them getting nervous before going on stage so are probably not the right med for your current condition.

Go back to the doctor if your not happy ask for something different you need to speak to a doctor who understands this,after all is you who is dealing with this not them the early stages are not easy get a good antidepressant/ sleep aid to help you get over the initial stage,you need sleep,I used mitrazapine.

If you don't get the assistance you need ask to see another doctor who will hopefully help you.we understand how you feel sue but don't give in it gets better.
Shaun

 

[SusanGee]

Thank you Shaun. I have now deleted my status after some unhelpful idiot replied that "I could always take my own life". Like I haven't thought about that! But I don't someone telling me to do it.
Had the night from hell, got a spike in my left ear that was through the roof for about half and hour! Didn't sleep a wink. Really not in a good place right now. Will be going back to docs today.

 

[Shaun]

Shocking and ridiculous thing to say by them given your current condition sue,lacking empathy and compassion for someone who is clearly suffering.
if you would like to pm me be happy to help anyway I can.
God bless
shaun

 

[SusanGee]

Thank you Shaun I might just do that

 

[Ricky81]

Zoloft is safe.

 

[nills]

Zoloft is safe.

It`s not apparently ...

The simple answer to the question 'can Zoloft cause permanent tinnitus' is yes, and that goes for for all the SSRI's. According to Dr Stuart Shipko, who runs a panic disorder clinic in CA, Zoloft is the worst of the lot though. He does warn that STOPPING taking the SSRI may make the tinnitus even worse though, so if you've been on it for some time, perhaps you'd be better off staying on it, if it's working for you. I only took zoloft once.

found here: http://healthquestions.medhelp.org/zoloft-for-tinnitus

 

[linearb]

I hate to sound like a broken record but just wanted to say that after years of sleep drugs, I have had better luck with a combination of exercise and meditation practices than anything else, and I think these things are much safer and more sustainable than any drug on the market.

As far as drugs go, I do resort to doxylamine succinate (OTC sleep drug) very occasionally, often during periods when I have not kept up with my exercise/meditation for whatever reason.

Additionally, if it is legal where you live, specific strains of cannabis can be extremely sedating. I do not advocate that approach if you don't have access to medical-grade weed, not because of legal concerns, but because pot is extremely complex and many strains may make the problem worse and not better. I am conflicted on the potential ototoxicity of marijuana; there is no direct evidence that it causes tinnitus, but it is known to cause short-term spikes for many people, and there is some medical evidence that downregulation of cannabinoid receptors in the DCN is an essential part of tinnitus signal generation. As with any drug, directly monkeying with receptor sites using ligands not naturally present in the body, can have a wide range of effects, some of them bad.

Long term, chronic use of marijuana will absolutely mess up your normal REM sleep cycle, but that is true of any sedating drug.

 

[awbw8]

I've got an appointment with the doctor in 2 hours to ask for some anxiety meds and something to help me sleep. So scared of them giving me something that will make this worse or is otoxic. Anyone got any advice please? Thank you

Hi Sue, from what I've read (and I am not a doctor, so ask a few of them if you need opinions) but I think you need to take something that is ototoxic for a while, consistently for it to do damage and also, in many cases the damage is not permanent.

I see you haven't had T very long yet, it's completely normal that you're having trouble sleeping and with anxiety, but the degree of these problems may heal with time, so you I wouldn't go into this thinking you'll have to be on these sleeping or anxiety meds forever. Taking them for a month or two while and as you need them, even if they have the potential for tinnitus, is probably not going to hurt you. I know everything is scary in the beginning, but sleep is going to help you more than anything, with anxiety and with T, so a priority is getting some of that good stuff.

For what it's worth, I took klonopin and ambien (not together) for about a month or so when I first got T. Neither made anything worse. For some, the klonopin is enough to calm you down to sleep, my anxiety was so bad I need the ambien, which is, if I recall, in a class of sleep aids called hypnotics. They are intense and not great for you in the long term, but it was a god-send for me at the time; nothing else worked.

That said, I agree with @linearb. Meditation/mindfullness and exercise were best for me. Meditation was a little tough for me for a while with the T, but yoga was a kind of moving meditation for me that distracted me from the T and calmed me down before bed. I did very calming, ayurvedic yoga, not the "power yoga" sort of thing. It included breathing patterns and movements meant to calm down your nervous system. That eventually got me off the sleep medication.

For now, get some help, get some rest and then you can work towards other solutions. It's impossible to work well without sleep. I hope you feel even just a little better very soon!

 

[Ricky81]

I think even dr. Nagler said zoloft is safe many months ago. You can verify with him. People taking zoloft and leaving comments about T is not evidence because their T could be caused by multiple factors and it just happened they took zoloft at the same time.

 

[Brianna]

valium,ativan (diazepam)
xanax,xanor (alprazolam)
klonopin,rivotril (clonazepam)

all good.

But out of all that, klonopin takes the longest to kick in. The others (for me) were potentially more addicting and taking them a couple of times was enough. Klonopin was an issue for my PA but she saw over time that there was
no way I was going to be addicted to it. Valium got tossed - it scared me.

For some, the klonopin is enough to calm you down to sleep, my anxiety was so bad I need the ambien,

I use ambien when the noise is bad enough that I cannot sleep. The problem is I don't think I sleep that well with it.

I am conflicted on the potential ototoxicity of marijuana; there is no direct evidence that it causes tinnitus, but it is known to cause short-term spikes for many people, and there is some medical evidence that downregulation of cannabinoid receptors in the DCN is an essential part of tinnitus signal generation. As with any drug, directly monkeying with receptor sites using ligands not naturally present in the body, can have a wide range of effects, some of them bad.

Long term, chronic use of marijuana will absolutely mess up your normal REM sleep cycle, but that is true of any sedating drug.

I'm not taking aspirin or anti-inflammatories. Ambien knocks me out for a short while. Klonopin does little to nothing for me (that's fine). Weed increases the noise while relaxing me. I ended up with a guessing game and have some that wires me - it's fun but I've only tried it once. It's very heady, so I tend to forget about the T and sleep would be impossible with it. I guess I'm forming my own evaluation of what works and doesn't. Any toxicity from weed for me doesn't matter. Money does matter, so that's limited.

 

[awbw8]

I use ambien when the noise is bad enough that I cannot sleep. The problem is I don't think I sleep that well with it.

I agree, something that calms to you down to sleep is probably better if you can manage it. I definitely got the feeling ambien just plain knocked me unconscious - I didn't really "sleep" or feel that rested. Still, that was better than nothing back when things were really, really bad.