I've had Tinnitus for about 2 years now. At first, it was just intermittent... it hit me a couple times a week for only 5 to 10 minutes at a clip. Then around the beginning of 2013, I believe I know the event that triggered the full blown constant loud ringing. Before that I had been taking Cymbalta (60mg) for about 3 and half years for Fibromyalgia type pain. My doctor never told me about the side effects and the problems associated with discontinuation syndrome and the need to taper very slowly!I had run out of the presciption and thought maybe now that I was working out again and feeling better that I would go without it and see what happens. BIG MISTAKE! After a week, all the aches and pains came back like a vengeance plus some I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Namely severe headaches, vertigo, neck pain, brain zaps, and Tinnitus all the time. My Doctor then told me you can't just stop taking cymbalta cold turkey and put me on a tapered dose. I'm finally off this evil drug completely now for 29 days and starting to feel a little better. The brain zaps (zings), headaches, neck pain are subsiding somewhat, however the tinnitus is worse than ever. I have tried almost everything but nothing has helped so far but I am hopeful that there is help on the horizon.
I'm not sure exactly what caused my Tinnitus but I have my theories. Mostly I think it's from Ototoxicity
from all the drugs I've taken for pain (e.g. Cymbalta, NSAIDS). This caused slight Sensorineural hearing loss in the upper frequencies as well as damage to neurons and neurotransmitters in the brain (Excitotoxicity). An increase in the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters, NMDA (chemicals, i.e. glutamate that cause the nerve cells to be more active) or a decrease in the amount of inhibitory neurotransmitters, GABA (chemicals that decrease the activity of nerve cells) or a combination of both could be responsible for the abnormal neural activity that is perceived as tinnitus.
Recently I am giving this drug called Acomprosate a try... day 8 now and so far no big improvement but I will let you know. I figured it is worth a shot since very little side effects and the Brazillian and India study looked promising.
Other treatments or cures such as AM-101 Auris medical and Vagus nerve stimualtion developed by MicroTransponder look promising as well but are still in clinical trials and not approved by FDA but hopefully soon!
Tinnitus has been driving me crazy and is very debilitating, however I believe there is hope and I'm determined to find a cure.
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