Hello from Bruce — Struggling with Sleep & Amitriptyline Makes My Tinnitus Worse

[Forever hopeful]

Same problem with sleep. My psychiatrist prescribed 100 mg of Trazodone for sleep. Any experience with that?

Hi,

I've taken Trazodone for years to sleep. It's actually very effective and very sedating. I think I've just been on it long enough that it's not as effective for me anymore. Plus my anxiety is pretty high. It has a very, very low side effect profile so I would give it a whirl. I'm a clinician and can tell you that is to go to medication for insomnia. It's not addicting.

 

[IntotheBlue03]

Hi there @Forever hopeful, does the Trazodone help with anxiety? I'm currently looking for the safest bet with that to help with my response to tinnitus. I am in fight or flight/crisis constantly at this point.

 

[ZFire]

Although I have started using sound at night just to help with the hyperacusis. I like the crackling fire sound.

Hi, @Eleanor89, I've been listening to the relaxing sounds of a fireplace at night for a few hours. I find the crackling sound very soothing and comforting as well. Just want to thank you for bringing this up. I wouldn't have known.

 

[Eleanor89]

Hello @ZFire, I hope you're ok.

Yes, I use crackling sounds every night on my phone, I find it comforting. I remember the sound of our fire at home when I was a child.

I also have water sounds on my sound machines playing throughout the day, as well as my in ear sound generators that I wear for a couple of hours every day, they are also soothing.

So glad you're doing more and improving, I too was at a family meal yesterday and it was lovely, never thought about my hyperacusis or tinnitus at all. And I did enjoy a few glasses of bubbly.

I do have my earplugs on me just in case, but like you I'm not as anxious with it.

Are you back at work?

Sending prayers.

 

[IntotheBlue03]

Hi there @Forever hopeful, does the Trazodone help with anxiety? I'm currently looking for the safest bet with that to help with my response to tinnitus. I am in fight or flight/crisis constantly at this point.

Man I didn't know how much worse everything was going to get smh. Microdosing has helped with anxiety though.

 

[Forever hopeful]

Hi there @Forever hopeful, does the Trazodone help with anxiety? I'm currently looking for the safest bet with that to help with my response to tinnitus. I am in fight or flight/crisis constantly at this point.

So sorry for my late response. Trazodone is an antidepressant - a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor. While it may have some anti-anxiety properties, most clinicians use it as a sedative. Perhaps you want to consider an SSRI, if you haven't tried one. I was on Zoloft and it did wonders for my anxiety.

 

[ZFire]

Hello @ZFire, I hope you're ok.

Yes, I use crackling sounds every night on my phone, I find it comforting. I remember the sound of our fire at home when I was a child.

I also have water sounds on my sound machines playing throughout the day, as well as my in ear sound generators that I wear for a couple of hours every day, they are also soothing.

So glad you're doing more and improving, I too was at a family meal yesterday and it was lovely, never thought about my hyperacusis or tinnitus at all. And I did enjoy a few glasses of bubbly.

I do have my earplugs on me just in case, but like you I'm not as anxious with it.

Are you back at work?

Sending prayers.

That's fantastic to hear! I actually left my previous job, but an employer contacted me recently and I'm scheduled for a interview next week. Hoping it goes well.

 

[Eleanor89]

Hello @ZFire, I do hope it goes well. I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.

Will you be wearing hearing protection or has it improved?

 

[ZFire]

Hello @ZFire, I do hope it goes well. I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.

Will you be wearing hearing protection or has it improved?

I will not be wearing hearing protection when I'm on-site for the interview. I can handle conversations so much better now along with many other sounds. I still choose to protect when I'm outside wandering about in the city, I'll take them off if I'm in a less hectic area(like a park). I spent some good money on my ACS pro, so I would like to put them to good use. I really like the interchangeable filters and will be experimenting with it.

 

[Eleanor89]

Hello @ZFire, that's fabulous news.

I'm ok with conversations now, I'm on Zoom with work etc... and I'm comfortable with conversations as well. I wasn't at first as certain voices irritated me.

I love my earplugs but I only wear them when I need them. They have helped me over the months gradually desensitise.

But like you, my toleration levels have improved. Over the months.

This is a long journey but good news like yours, always brings hope.

Good luck with the interview. I'm so very pleased for you. Keep us posted.

 

[BuzzyBee]

I've taken Trazodone for years to sleep. It's actually very effective and very sedating. I think I've just been on it long enough that it's not as effective for me anymore. Plus my anxiety is pretty high. It has a very, very low side effect profile so I would give it a whirl. I'm a clinician and can tell you that is to go to medication for insomnia. It's not addicting.

How much Trazodone is a good starting dose?

 

[Forever hopeful]

How much Trazodone is a good starting dose?

Talk to your prescriber, but usually 25-50 mg to start.

 

[BuzzyBee]

Talk to your prescriber, but usually 25-50 mg to start.

Thanks! I may give it a try. I'd go with the lowest dose to start.

 

[Damocles]

I will not be wearing hearing protection when I'm on-site for the interview. I can handle conversations so much better now along with many other sounds. I still choose to protect when I'm outside wandering about in the city, I'll take them off if I'm in a less hectic area(like a park). I spent some good money on my ACS pro, so I would like to put them to good use. I really like the interchangeable filters and will be experimenting with it.

Hey @ZFire, wishing you so much luck for the interview mate.

Like you, I went for a job interview only a year after severe onset, back in 2010.

I was still trying not to use earplugs at that point, so getting to the interview was a nightmare. I remember having to cut down a million back roads on the way, trying to avoid construction noise etc.

But as you say, it meant I was able to hear everything they asked me during the interview perfectly.

That said, with (around) 17dB filters in, I'm sure I would have had no trouble also, and it would offset any risk of looking like a madman if construction noise or an alarm (for example) started outside the interview room, while the interview was being conducted.

There have been times during exams when that's happened; both with and without. And the times I went with were always better than the times I went without.

So just something to think about.

But still, the chances of anything like that happening are low, so of course it'll mostly come down to how you perform in the interview.

Going back to that one I did in 2010; I thought I did really well. I was knowledgeable as f*ck where my areas of interest (in books) were concerned, and I had good experience of sales from my previous jobs, but still I didn't get the job.

In hindsight, I think what ultimately let me down was being too friendly/casual with the head interviewer while there was a pause in the interview.

That is to say, I feel like I dropped my professional demeanour for a couple of minutes while the second interviewer had to leave the room and I chatted with the guy.

So don't fall for that trick! Don't let them coax you into being relaxed @ZFire; maintain your business @ZFire.

Anyway, I've been speaking with you here for a while now, and I'm sure you'll be great.

No one on this planet could ever appreciate feeling useful and reintegrating into society like an out of work tinnitus sufferer. They'd be stupid not to take you.

 

[ZFire]

Hey @ZFire, wishing you so much luck for the interview mate.

Like you, I went for a job interview only a year after severe onset, back in 2010.

I was still trying not to use earplugs at that point, so getting to the interview was a nightmare. I remember having to cut down a million back roads on the way, trying to avoid construction noise etc.

But as you say, it meant I was able to hear everything they asked me during the interview perfectly.

That said, with (around) 17dB filters in, I'm sure I would have had no trouble also, and it would offset any risk of looking like a madman if construction noise or an alarm (for example) started outside the interview room, while the interview was being conducted.

There have been times during exams when that's happened; both with and without. And the times I went with were always better than the times I went without.

So just something to think about.

But still, the chances of anything like that happening are low, so of course it'll mostly come down to how you perform in the interview.

This is all very valuable information, so much thanks again. The plan will always be to have ear protection with me anywhere I go especially when traveling to my destinations in the city.. I'll have a set of Peltors in my book bag and have the ACS pro custom with me. I've been to the location where my interview is being held. It's a small, but pleasant office setting, so I'm okay with removing the protection.

But if there's any moment where I feel the sounds in my working environment have become annoying, unpleasant, or bothersome, I'll equip the hearing protection. I really don't care what the interviewer or others will think of me with hearing protection on if something like a alarm were to happen.

That's one of the more interesting things that has happen to me now since turning into a severe case. I really don't care what strangers or others think off me when I'm out in public.

Going back to that one I did in 2010; I thought I did really well. I was knowledgeable as f*ck where my areas of interest (in books) were concerned, and I had good experience of sales from my previous jobs, but still I didn't get the job.

In hindsight, I think what ultimately let me down was being too friendly/casual with the head interviewer while there was a pause in the interview.

That is to say, I feel like I dropped my professional demeanour for a couple of minutes while the second interviewer had to leave the room and I chatted with the guy.

So don't fall for that trick! Don't let them coax you into being relaxed @ZFire; maintain your business @ZFire.

Anyway, I've been speaking with you here for a while now, and I'm sure you'll be great.

No one on this planet could ever appreciate feeling useful and reintegrating into society like an out of work tinnitus sufferer. They'd be stupid not to take you.

I'll keep this in mind lol. I do have one concern on why they might not hire me though. I think you know the answer (here's a hint: 2 words and the last word is "mandate)". I just hope it doesn't come to that. A lot of NY businesses are strict with it unfortunately.

Anyways, thanks for the encouragement.