Escitalopram & Lorazepam — Could One of Them Cause Anxiety and Obsession with Tinnitus?

[El BUZZ]

Hello Dr. Nagler.

First of all show you all my gratitude for your guidance and advice in here.

My doctor prescribed me with Escitalopram (half a 15mg tablet a day during the first week before jumping to the whole tablet) and Lorazepam 1mg in the morning and before going to bed.

I know effects of Escitalopram can take up to two weeks/one month to kick in but for the first days I felt relieved of my anxiety (which was off the hook prior to start meds) and my obsession/mental pain with tinnitus. It could be just placebo as I was just three days in.

Now anxiety and obsession are back at full force and I think it could be one of the medications side effects. I am also really concerned about them both causing me a permanent worsening due to ototoxity. I have to add that beside this two meds I am taking a couple of supplements; Astaxanthin and Nicotinamide Riboside.

Any input about all this?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Dr. Nagler]

Hello Dr. Nagler. First of all show you all my gratitude for your guidance and advice in here.

Glad to help.

My doctor prescribed me with Escitalopram (half a 15mg tablet a day during the first week before jumping to the whole tablet) and Lorazepam 1mg in the morning and before going to bed.

I know effects of Escitalopram can take up to two weeks/one month to kick in but for the first days I felt relieved of my anxiety (which was off the hook prior to start meds) and my obsession/mental pain with tinnitus. It could be just placebo as I was just three days in.

Now anxiety and obsession are back at full force and I think it could be one of the medications side effects.

Anxiety has been described as a side effect of either drug, but it is rare in my experience. More likely than not there are other anxiety-inducing factors at work, especially at the relatively low doses you describe. Best to discuss with your prescribing physician.

I am also really concerned about them both causing me a permanent worsening due to ototoxity.

Neither drug causes permanent auditory damage.

I have to add that beside this two meds I am taking a couple of supplements; Astaxanthin and Nicotinamide Riboside.

I am honestly not a fan of supplements save for the case where there is a clearly documented deficiency. Allow me to recommend an inexpensive book by Dr. Paul Offit that fully (and objectively!) discusses the pros and cons. Click HERE.

All the best -

Stephen M. Nagler, M.D.