Lexapro for Severe Depression After Tinnitus

[Rina]

hello.. I've had not post here lately .. But recently I had a really bad set back after being in the ER a few days ago with an ocular migraine ... I saw my doctor and he said I'm severely depressed and anxious... He prescribed lexapro .5 mg for a week then 10 mg a day plus he gave some Xanax too... I'm afraid to use antidepressants and I would appreciate if you can share your experiences... I need to be well for my kids and I don't k ow what to do anymore ... Can't eat .. All I do is cry.. I'm just lost for words and hope

 

[Robert44]

i just put up a post on lexapro . I was deciding if I should let my son use it. I decided against using it. From what i gather it is considered non ototoxic. I have read that there is a 2 percent chance to get T from using Lexapro. I would not let my son take that chance. We'll have to find something else.

 

[JasonP]

hello.. I've had not post here lately .. But recently I had a really bad set back after being in the ER a few days ago with an ocular migraine ... I saw my doctor and he said I'm severely depressed and anxious... He prescribed lexapro .5 mg for a week then 10 mg a day plus he gave some Xanax too... I'm afraid to use antidepressants and I would appreciate if you can share your experiences... I need to be well for my kids and I don't k ow what to do anymore ... Can't eat .. All I do is cry.. I'm just lost for words and hope

I am so sorry to hear that. I feel for you and I love the fact that you want to be well for your kids. Your doctor is right. You are depressed. I have taken Lexapro and didn't do too well on it. At first I felt great for a while but then it made me apathetic which I hated. I though I was depressed more so the doctor upped it which only made things worse because I believe I was suffering from AAS (anti-depressant apathy syndrome) and one of the possible cures is actually to take LESS of the medicine. It is possible that I have a mild bipolar in which anti depressants can make it worse. I am male though and have known a couple of women that take Lexapro and they seem to do well on it. Right now I am taking a mood stabilizer that has anti-depressant effects called Lamictal and so far it seems okay. I had to titrate up slowly like everyone else and make sure I didn't get a rash which can be very dangerous. If you are scared to take the medication you should call the doctor and tell him. I would also recommend going to www.drugs.com and checking out the ratings for anxiety medication and anti-depressants and read some of the reviews. I would DEFINITELY recommend you don't take Xanax continually long term. You can research it on the internet. In my opinion it is one of those short term things where you only take it short term and maybe once in a while when needed. I hope you feel better asap. I definitely think you should go to a place that gives free hearing checks like some hearing aid places and see if you have hearing loss. If you do, sometimes hearing aid correction can reduce the perception of tinnitus and therefore make you feel better. Hearing aid companies usually will refund your money within a certain amount of days if you don't like them so you can ask for more information if you decide to do that.

 

[Blackbird26]

i just put up a post on lexapro . I was deciding if I should let my son use it. I decided against using it. From what i gather it is considered non ototoxic. I have read that there is a 2 percent chance to get T from using Lexapro. I would not let my son take that chance. We'll have to find something else.

geez man I think every drug has at least a 1 to 2% chance.. But to each their own

 

[Sailboardman]

Did Lexapro initially after getting T. Didn't like the ride.

 

[Edu]

I have been taking escitalopram 15 mg for 3 months and I am feeling better. I think it helps me being relaxed. Starting with a low dose and increasing it seems to work quite well.
I know there are people who have had different results. I would ask for a second opinion, visit a psychiatrist...

I think the key to this nightmare is habituation and for habituation we need to be relaxed. ADs can help with this.

 

[Robert44]

geez man I think every drug has at least a 1 to 2% chance.. But to each their own

There are some meds that don't list "ringing in the ears" as one of the side effects. Even if there is a 2 percent chance of getting T wouldn't be worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[DebInAustralia]

How about serotonin precursors ie

L tryptophan and 5htp?

 

[hartje5]

I found myself with my back against the wall, after holding off all medication for 12 weeks with extreme T, H. I was so severely depressed an anxious I didn't have a choice. I took the Mitrazapine because I needed it. I took the Xanax because all I wanted was to die. Mitrazipine (30mg) makes me sleep, the dose was increased very slowly until I was able to finally sleep through the night. I took Xanax and the nausea an H disappeared.

I held of taking Mitrazapine too long. I was offered it four weeks earlier by my GP but refused because of fear of it making T. worse. But my depression in the mean time go so much worse because I wasn't sleeping and so terribly anxious.

It's been a struggle since. I feel better than I did in december. Am trying to taper Xanax and see what T. is still there. This is a scary proces. I now have completely quiet days sometimes but will how will it all go when I'm further down the road with tapering. My psychiatrist wants me to take 3 month to taper. Really, really slowly.

In hindsight I should have started the drugs earlier that could have saved me from some really traumatic experiences.

 

[Mark Beehre]

I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro daily since October last year. I've had no adverse reaction to the medication beyond feeling calmer and being less anxious which is the purpose of the drug. I also take 1mg doses of Lorazapam every three or four days when my tinnitus is more annoying. I seem to be on a cycle of 3-4 (usually 3) good days followed by 1-2 (usually 1) bad days. So when I am on a bad day I take 1mg of Lorazapam at about 6pm at night and when I shut my eyes at around 10pm I am asleep within 5-10 minutes.

This balance seems to work for me. I used to be worried about Lorazapam from reading or the bad stories about it, but given my use and the small dosage I feel fine.

I am now on a taper plan prescribed by my GP for Lexapro because I don't want to be on these things forever. Will have to see how it goes, I've heard it can be a grueling process, but I'm convinced that Lexapro doesn't change tinnitus, just makes one less agitated. So once I am off it I should bounce back. It was definitely useful when I first took it!

 

[JasonP]

I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro daily since October last year. I've had no adverse reaction to the medication beyond feeling calmer and being less anxious which is the purpose of the drug. I also take 1mg doses of Lorazapam every three or four days when my tinnitus is more annoying. I seem to be on a cycle of 3-4 (usually 3) good days followed by 1-2 (usually 1) bad days. So when I am on a bad day I take 1mg of Lorazapam at about 6pm at night and when I shut my eyes at around 10pm I am asleep within 5-10 minutes.

This balance seems to work for me. I used to be worried about Lorazapam from reading or the bad stories about it, but given my use and the small dosage I feel fine.

I am now on a taper plan prescribed by my GP for Lexapro because I don't want to be on these things forever. Will have to see how it goes, I've heard it can be a grueling process, but I'm convinced that Lexapro doesn't change tinnitus, just makes one less agitated. So once I am off it I should bounce back. It was definitely useful when I first took it!

Sometimes Omega 3's can help some for people to come off SSRI's. However, if it starts increasing your T then stop.

 

[JasonP]

I found myself with my back against the wall, after holding off all medication for 12 weeks with extreme T, H. I was so severely depressed an anxious I didn't have a choice. I took the Mitrazapine because I needed it. I took the Xanax because all I wanted was to die. Mitrazipine (30mg) makes me sleep, the dose was increased very slowly until I was able to finally sleep through the night. I took Xanax and the nausea an H disappeared.

I held of taking Mitrazapine too long. I was offered it four weeks earlier by my GP but refused because of fear of it making T. worse. But my depression in the mean time go so much worse because I wasn't sleeping and so terribly anxious.

It's been a struggle since. I feel better than I did in december. Am trying to taper Xanax and see what T. is still there. This is a scary proces. I now have completely quiet days sometimes but will how will it all go when I'm further down the road with tapering. My psychiatrist wants me to take 3 month to taper. Really, really slowly.

In hindsight I should have started the drugs earlier that could have saved me from some really traumatic experiences.

Ask the Doctor if he can switch you to Valium and taper from there. That is usually what is recommended for benzo withdrawal. Also, come off of it very slowly because you do not want a "glutamate storm".

 

[hartje5]

Hi Jason,

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately I cannot switch over to Valium because of my heart condition. Mirtazipine is not a SSRI but an other class of anti depressant.

 

[Onnie]

@Rina, how are you? Did you take the medications in the end?

 

[Rina]

@Onnie sorry.. No I have not .. Might start soon

 

[Florida John]

I found myself with my back against the wall, after holding off all medication for 12 weeks with extreme T, H. I was so severely depressed an anxious I didn't have a choice. I took the Mitrazapine because I needed it. I took the Xanax because all I wanted was to die. Mitrazipine (30mg) makes me sleep, the dose was increased very slowly until I was able to finally sleep through the night. I took Xanax and the nausea an H disappeared.

I held of taking Mitrazapine too long. I was offered it four weeks earlier by my GP but refused because of fear of it making T. worse. But my depression in the mean time go so much worse because I wasn't sleeping and so terribly anxious.

It's been a struggle since. I feel better than I did in december. Am trying to taper Xanax and see what T. is still there. This is a scary proces. I now have completely quiet days sometimes but will how will it all go when I'm further down the road with tapering. My psychiatrist wants me to take 3 month to taper. Really, really slowly.

In hindsight I should have started the drugs earlier that could have saved me from some really traumatic experiences.

How are things going for you? Still on same meds?

 

[hartje5]

@Florida John
I managed to taper the Xanax. Tinnitus did not get any worse, hyperacusis has gone away. I'm still on Mirtazapine. It makes me sleep and eat, but doesn't do much for depression. This last month tinnitus is much more quiet than it has been in 11 month. Still very anxious but at least I'm sort of functioning again.

 

[Frayact]

I've been on 20 mgs Lexapro for ten years. I originally got on it for depression and obsessing. I have tolerated it very well, and I think it's truly helped me. Prior to Lexapro, I tried Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor XR. None of those worked for me as well as the Lexapro. I'm a 56 y.o. male. My tinnitus still comes and goes (I had a terrible relapse a few days ago that I hope will end soon). but I think being on this AD has helped me get through some awful times.

Having said all this, I may ask my doctor if there is something better out there. This latest spike in my T has taken me back to the dark side again.