Devastating Tinnitus After Valium Taper: How Will I Survive?

[Magwell]

I am struggling with severe benzodiazepine withdrawal after tapering off Valium. I successfully tapered for two years, gradually reducing my dose to 0.25 mg. However, after taking an antibiotic, I experienced a significant setback, and I haven't been able to recover since.

I held my dose for months, but when I reduced it further to 0.23 mg, everything fell apart. I'm now dealing with intense head pressure, burning and tingling skin, and debilitating tinnitus. My tinnitus was already severe, but this withdrawal has taken it to a whole new level of torment.

I took my last dose almost two weeks ago, and the tinnitus is unbearable, accompanied by extreme head pressure and burning sensations. It feels like things are only getting worse. I don't know what to do. This is draining the life out of me—pure hell. I can't sleep, I can barely tolerate wearing clothes, and I feel completely hopeless. I'm terrified that I've permanently damaged my tinnitus, hearing, and overall well-being.

I'm considering whether to reinstate and attempt tapering again, but I'm worried about the possibility of kindling.

Please, if anyone has experienced worsening tinnitus after benzodiazepine withdrawal, did it eventually improve? How long did it take? I'm desperate for hope and advice because I don't think I can endure much more of this.

Thank you for reading.

Mag

 

[Varda]

Which benzodiazepine? Which antibiotic?

 

[Magwell]

Which benzodiazepine? Which antibiotic?

Valium, Amoxicillin.

 

[Magwell]

Hi, can anyone share their experience with benzodiazepine withdrawal and how it affected their tinnitus? I could really use some help...

 

[Nick47]

Valium, Amoxicillin.

Hi @Magwell, Amoxicillin is not known to be ototoxic. Additionally, a 0.25 mg dose of Diazepam is minuscule and considered sub-therapeutic. Have you attempted a taper at this level? The lowest available tablet is 2 mg, which can be divided into 1 mg doses.

How long were you on the medication, and at what starting dose? Typically, a slow taper is manageable without issues.

Do you have a history of exposure to loud noises (e.g., bars, clubs, festivals) or any measurable hearing loss?

Nick

 

[Nettles]

Hi there,

I'm so sorry you're going through such a difficult time right now. I want to share a success story that might give you some hope. You may have already seen it on the site. I recently spoke with a friend of the poster, and they mentioned that @BrysonKingMe (the original poster) has continued to improve. Although he still has tinnitus, it has significantly improved, and he's able to work, attend weddings, and enjoy life again. His experience during withdrawal sounded very similar to yours. While his time on the benzodiazepine was different, success stories like his can remind us that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

From Klonopin (Clonazepam) Induced Horrors of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis to Approaching a Better State

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A VERY DEPRESSING STORY WITH THOUGHTS/ACTS OF SELF-HARM. Hello, I wanted to make a post, and although it may be a bit pre-mature, which I will explain in a bit more detail below, I feel as if it's a good idea to give an update and a ray of hope to people who may be...

www.tinnitustalk.com

I can't give any advice or experience on benzos, but I wanted to share this in case you somehow hadn't seen it.

 

[Magwell]

Hi there,

I'm so sorry you're going through such a difficult time right now. I want to share a success story that might give you some hope. You may have already seen it on the site. I recently spoke with a friend of the poster, and they mentioned that @BrysonKingMe (the original poster) has continued to improve. Although he still has tinnitus, it has significantly improved, and he's able to work, attend weddings, and enjoy life again. His experience during withdrawal sounded very similar to yours. While his time on the benzodiazepine was different, success stories like his can remind us that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

From Klonopin (Clonazepam) Induced Horrors of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis to Approaching a Better State

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A VERY DEPRESSING STORY WITH THOUGHTS/ACTS OF SELF-HARM. Hello, I wanted to make a post, and although it may be a bit pre-mature, which I will explain in a bit more detail below, I feel as if it's a good idea to give an update and a ray of hope to people who may be...

www.tinnitustalk.com

I can't give any advice or experience on benzos, but I wanted to share this in case you somehow hadn't seen it.

Thank you for your kind response. I read that post early on when my taper first crashed, and it's a great success story. I've had severe tinnitus since 2008, and I'm devastated by how getting stuck in withdrawal has affected my tinnitus and hearing loss.

Hi @Magwell, Amoxicillin is not known to be ototoxic. Additionally, a 0.25 mg dose of Diazepam is minuscule and considered sub-therapeutic. Have you attempted a taper at this level? The lowest available tablet is 2 mg, which can be divided into 1 mg doses.

How long were you on the medication, and at what starting dose? Typically, a slow taper is manageable without issues.

Do you have a history of exposure to loud noises (e.g., bars, clubs, festivals) or any measurable hearing loss?

Nick

Thank you for your kind response. I began tapering from 10mg of Valium over two years ago, and everything was going well until I reached 0.25 mg, where my taper unexpectedly crashed. The problem started at that dose, and instead of stopping there, I switched to liquid Valium to continue tapering down. However, this didn't go well, and I started experiencing severe symptoms when I tapered to 0.24 mg. So, I switched back to the tablet form, but this made my nervous system unstable, and unfortunately, that's when I made the mistake of taking an antibiotic. Although I only took a few doses, it was enough to completely destabilize my nervous system.

Since then, I have not recovered. I tried taking small up-doses but got scared and dropped back down to 0.25 mg. I also attempted tapering down to 0.23 mg, but it triggered unbearable pressure throughout my body and an excruciating level of tinnitus I had never experienced before. I realize now that I have kindled, which is heartbreaking because I didn't up-dose even once throughout my taper. Things became so severe that I was afraid to take each dose at 0.23 mg. Two weeks ago, I decided to stop the dose altogether one night. For context, I've had severe tinnitus and hearing loss since 2008.

Looking back, I should have up-dosed right away when my taper crashed four months ago, but my doctor, family, and people on forums discouraged it. I had no idea I would experience such catastrophic tinnitus, along with increased head pressure and worse burning and tingling sensations in my skin after stopping. I only developed these extreme symptoms (especially the burning) after my taper failed, throwing me into what felt like cold turkey withdrawal. It was horrendous. Now I wonder if reinstating might be an option, but I am terrified it could make things even worse.

I feel hopeless, trapped in constant torment since the end of May. It seems like I've made a mess of everything and am now stuck, unsure of which direction to take. I'm so worried that I've ruined my life and won't ever get better. I just need guidance on what to do... please, help!


Mag

 

[Fred185]

Tinnitus associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome: A case report and literature review - PMC

In light of the ongoing opioid crisis, many have encouraged the medical community as well as local and national US government agencies to reconsider the prevalent use of benzodiazepines. As prescribers continue to weigh the risks and benefits of ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Please read the link above. I am in a similar situation, having taken alprazolam for five years at 1.5mg per day. I'm uncertain if I'll be able to stop.

You're experiencing all the same symptoms I am.

Some people may have the following symptoms of a withdrawal reaction that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months.

• Anxiety
• Trouble remembering, learning, or concentrating
• Depression
• Problems sleeping
• Feeling like insects are crawling under the skin
• Weakness, shaking, or muscle twitching
• Burning or prickling feeling in the hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Ringing in the ears

 

[Nick47]

However, this didn't go well, and I started experiencing severe symptoms when I tapered to 0.24 mg.

We're talking about a quarter of 1 mg, right? That amount will do almost nothing. Even 2 mg a day is considered "sub-therapeutic," so going from 0.25 mg to 0.24 mg of diazepam will have no noticeable effect. In fact, even 0.25 mg alone won't make a difference.

 

[Varda]

a 0.25 mg dose of Diazepam is minuscule and considered sub-therapeutic. Have you attempted a taper at this level? The lowest available tablet is 2 mg, which can be divided into 1 mg doses.

How long were you on the medication, and at what starting dose? Typically, a slow taper is manageable without issues.

The author mentioned they have been tapering for two years, so I assume they've been taking benzodiazepines regularly for many years before that. By this stage, the brain becomes highly dependent on the drug, and even a "sub-therapeutic" dose of 0.25 mg is essential for normal brain function. The brain has lost its ability to produce GABA naturally, so this function needs to be restored very gradually.

From the information I've gathered through Dr. Josef on YouTube and the BenzoBuddies community, tapering off benzodiazepines is extremely challenging. Reducing the final small doses becomes particularly difficult, and it's common at this stage to start using "liquid tapers." This involves dissolving the pills in water to allow for tiny, precise reductions in dosage using liquid measurements. Many people taper benzodiazepines too quickly, which can lead to "Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction."

...intense head pressure, burning and tingling skin...

...extreme head pressure and burning sensations...I can't sleep, I can barely tolerate wearing clothes...

From what I've read online, the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal generally tend to diminish after a few months or even a few years. There's a chance your tinnitus might eventually return to its previous "severe" baseline.

There may not be many people on this forum familiar with benzodiazepine withdrawal. I recommend checking out Dr. Josef on YouTube, who seems to be an expert on tapering, as well as the BenzoBuddies community.

I've heard of the risks associated with kindling, but if I were in your position, I would consider reinstating and attempting a very slow liquid taper at a rate that minimizes intense withdrawal effects.

 

[Magwell]

Thanks guys for your responses!

Tinnitus associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome: A case report and literature review - PMC

In light of the ongoing opioid crisis, many have encouraged the medical community as well as local and national US government agencies to reconsider the prevalent use of benzodiazepines. As prescribers continue to weigh the risks and benefits of ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Please read the link above. I am in a similar situation, having taken alprazolam for five years at 1.5mg per day. I'm uncertain if I'll be able to stop.

You're experiencing all the same symptoms I am.

I'm currently experiencing extreme tinnitus, intense pressure throughout my body—especially in my head—as well as tingling, burning, and prickling sensations in my arms, legs, feet, and face. I also have insomnia and numb, tingling feet. All of these symptoms worsened when I jumped at 23 mg. Are you still tapering? How is it going? What dose are you at now?

We're talking about a quarter of 1 mg, right? That amount will do almost nothing. Even 2 mg a day is considered "sub-therapeutic," so going from 0.25 mg to 0.24 mg of diazepam will have no noticeable effect. In fact, even 0.25 mg alone won't make a difference.

Yes, I was at 0.23 mg of Valium, which is a very small dose, but I wasn't stable, and my symptoms were severe. I shouldn't have jumped off at that dose because things only got worse after stopping. Before my taper crash, I could drop 0.25 mg every three weeks, but now I can't even cut 0.01 mg, which must mean my nervous system is really messed up! I've been on and off Benzos before with little problem, so it's the same story again. I'm really devastated to be dealing with this withdrawal—it feels like pure torture in my head.

From what I've read online, the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal generally tend to diminish after a few months or even a few years. There's a chance your tinnitus might eventually return to its previous "severe" baseline.

There may not be many people on this forum familiar with benzodiazepine withdrawal. I recommend checking out Dr. Josef on YouTube, who seems to be an expert on tapering, as well as the BenzoBuddies community.

I've heard of the risks associated with kindling, but if I were in your position, I would consider reinstating and attempting a very slow liquid taper at a rate that minimizes intense withdrawal effects.

I was only on Valium for about two years as part of a taper, which I had switched to after a short period on Clonazepam (long story). Before that, I hadn't taken a benzodiazepine regularly in 15 years. I initially started again because of severe insomnia, but looking back, I would have rather faced sleepless nights than the horror I am dealing with now. It's just brutal.

Both Benzo Buddies and some Facebook groups advised me to "jump off" the medication early, which was obviously a mistake. I wanted to connect with my friends on Tinnitus Talk because many people there, like on Benzo Buddies, developed tinnitus as a result of tapering off benzodiazepines. Like many others, I first started on Lorazepam 15 years ago to manage tinnitus and insomnia, and honestly, it helped a lot back then.

I had tried to switch to liquid Valium, and that was where things went wrong. I should have just stuck with pills or capsules, but what's done is done. I haven't recovered yet, and I can't seem to make the right decisions now. I keep thinking about reinstating to a higher dose, but I'm terrified of making another mistake. I feel completely stuck.

 

[Varda]

I had tried to switch to liquid Valium, and that was where things went wrong. I should have just stuck with pills or capsules

I'm curious as to the reason why things went wrong here. Isn't it easier to control the dosage of the liquid version compared to cutting or shaving pills?

 

[Magwell]

I'm curious as to the reason why things went wrong here. Isn't it easier to control the dosage of the liquid version compared to cutting or shaving pills?

I'm not really sure, but I started experiencing symptoms as soon as I switched. I also began tapering almost immediately, so maybe I should have held steady first. I didn't have any experience with the liquid form, and since then, I've read that switching can feel like a dosage cut for some people. They say you should slightly increase the dose before transitioning to the liquid form. I had no idea, and I didn't feel well on the liquid—I probably shouldn't have tried it. Now everything feels messed up, and I worry I'll never recover.