Looking for Hope (Wellbutrin Induced Tinnitus)

[heyallie]

https://www.iherb.com/pr/Thorne-Research-Niacel-Nicotinamide-Riboside-60-Capsules/57082#qna

^^@soundbOund is this what you are referring to? And if so it works for medication induced tinnitus correct? Sorry for all the questions it gets confusing

 

[SoundB0und]

All the NR is made by the same company(because of the patent), the brands that sell it are different and the fillers might be different. That's exactly the one I bought. Medication induced and audiotrauma induced damage is pretty much the same actually, the damage is to the cochlea, so the same stuff works. My tinnitus was (mostly) medication induced. Good luck and please report back if it works. There are no guarantees obviously.

 

[heyallie]

Another question - I know we are all different but is it common or has anyone else experienced their tinnitus getting "worse" after the initial onset? I'm well into the 2nd month and feel like it spikes up and down. I have been off the wellbutrin since Oct 3 or 4th!thank you

 

[Trisha7446]

I have Tinnitus from going of Gabapetin, Did you stop taking any medications that might have caused it? If the side affect is from the Wellbutrin its probably lying by saying there is only a 6% chance of getting it. Ive got a lot of side affect from medications and they give another medication to just help that side affect , however there isn't anything that I know of that will help the Tinnitus to stop completely they can cause it by giving us these medications but they cant fix it, I know its horrible. Ive had it for three years now but over time for me I have been able to deal with having it by doing other things to keep my mind busy like listening to music low volume and doing a puzzle online or on a table or a craft or reading while music is playing low in the back ground or going on a walk and if you have trouble with loud sirens and car mufflers I wouldn't suggest going around them so that would rule out driving, however I still can drive. Because here where I live they don't drive by everyday while I'm out on the roads. I do live in the city but its not everyday that I hear a siren go by my car window. I do hear loud mufflers and motorcycles so to all those that ride them please don't make your muffler any louder than it comes on the bike, think of us. Anyways I hope that you are able to learn to deal with having Tinnitus and maybe there is another medication that will work for you.
As for blasting the doctors name online that is probably slander and I wouldn't do it and as for smoking weed that person must have a ton of money to buy it, here its getting super costly to buy the weed! So that suggestion doesn't work for everyone and every one doesn't know how to grow their own trees.

 

[Trisha7446]

By the way reading small print makes my worse too its why my reply is large as it can get here.

 

[dnl]

Another question - I know we are all different but is it common or has anyone else experienced their tinnitus getting "worse" after the initial onset? I'm well into the 2nd month and feel like it spikes up and down. I have been off the wellbutrin since Oct 3 or 4th!thank you

@heyallie - I have had good and bad days, good and bad weeks, and good and bad months over the past 11 months. I'd have to look back at the thread that I started, but I don't think I was confident that my tinnitus had gone down from onset until month 3 or 4. I think I had an initial reduction after a month, but then around month 2 I felt like it had gotten louder and then after the 3rd month I was pretty sure that it had gone down a little overall. I don't know what to tell you because I don't want to give you false hope, but I think you're going to have to wait several months or maybe even a year to see if its gradually going down or not. In the mean time, I'd make sure you aren't taking any drugs that are making it worse, stay positive and make healthy choices... sounds cliche, but that's the best advice I can offer.

 

[heyallie]

@Trisha no I haven't stopped taking any meds except generic wellbutrin (which I believe caused it ) I seem to get the rare side effects from meds! I quit taking Ativan .. Not sure if that would be an issue? Maybe I need to smoke some weed.. But id lose my job! Lol

 

[heyallie]

@dnl you made me feel better and didn't give me false hope. Thank you for your honesty and realistic expectations! I see an Ent Dr tomorrow. I don't think they will be able to help honestly. The good and bad days is real. I just want improvment. Will keep you posted!

 

[heyallie]

Well saw audiologist and ENT specialist today. I've never had a hearing test before (since I was a kid). I have hearing loss... mostly mild/moderate in right ear. ENT of course didn't know for sure what caused the tinnitus but agreed it could definitely be from medication and that it may or may not get better. Gave me advice on coping.. Physically ears look good. I apparently have more hearing loss than he'd like for a healthy 51 year old woman. He said it could be genetics, age, or listening to loud music also..

So I learned pretty much nothing except I'm slowly losing my hearing.

He also said I could go back on wellbutrin in a few months if it doesn't get better. Um.. No thanks

 

[dnl]

@heyallie Thanks for the update. That's interesting to hear. I also have mild hearing loss (mine is in the upper ranges). The doc said my hearing loss looked similar to what he would see in a 60 year old. I'd never noticed problems with my hearing before that. I wonder if the ranges of our hearing loss correspond with the frequency of our tinnitus? I think my tinnitus is around 12,500 Khz. It's hard for me to tell for sure. I've measured it using an app called Whist on my iPhone and on online tool and that's by best estimate. I can't hear that frequency at low volume, but my friends can, and I can hear it okay at a high volume. You need good speakers to play frequencies that high.

Yeah, my main doc (who also has tinnitus) said he'd like for me to try to go back on Wellbutrin if it didn't get worse after a few months. I laughed and told him that totally wasn't going to happen. My ENT didn't offer an opinion either way.

 

[heyallie]

Oh my.. So my tinnitus is up and down it seems. I had joined a support group on Facebook for a week and I swear it made my tinnitus worse for me!! Was even up all night having panic attacks.. I had to drop out of the group and take prn 25mg alprazolam. It helped a little. So for the past week I have been taking 1 a day needed. (I've used prn alprazolam for years off and on ). Just curious if anyone else uses it and if it helps

 

[dnl]

I've not used it, but it's good to know it helps in case I ever need it!
I'm sorry to hear about your spike, and I hope it's only temporary. They usually are. I've had spikes last 1-2 days and one that lasted 2 weeks. For whatever reason, NyQuil and a good nights sleep often helps me with my spikes... I've noticed that it often resets my tinnitus (or my perception of it). This is all very unscientific... so your mileage may vary.
I had somewhat similar issues early on and I was told that the fact that my tinnitus is still changing or modulating could be construed as a positive sign... take that with a grain of salt, but anecdotally, they may have been right since I've gotten a little better/more habituated.
Sorry to hear that the Facebook group didn't work out. It's good to talk about it, and important to communicate when you're having difficulty. I'm really open with my wife and family when I'm having a bad tinnitus day, and also let them know when I'm having an 'better' tinnitus day. But, yeah sometimes talking about it too much or with the wrong people can stress me out or make me more aware of it.
Hang in there @heyallie !

 

[JohnAdams]

If my doctor prescribed me something and didnt tell me a side effect was possible tinnitus and that caused it I'd super be cashing that doctor ousside, how bow dah?

 

[RobertFahey]

Why were you taking antidepressants?

 

[heyallie]

@RobertFahey I was taking for anxiety.

 

[heyallie]

@dnl I just may go buy some nyquil. I hate taking the alprazolam honestly esp during the day. It's worth a shot! My family has been listening (whether they want to or not) and well aware also. The Facebook group was great for support but also full of negativity.. Not purposely but because obviously tinnitus is very scarey for some of us. I'm def having ups and downs. It's great having this support here! I'm glad to have someone in similar shoes to talk to.

 

[RobertFahey]

Your underlying psychological condition, not the meds, might be more culpable. And improving your underlying psychology is the "cure," when you reach the point where tinnitus is a background phenomenon.

I think anxiety and tinnitus go great together. Both are worsened by our unhealthy habit of looking (or listening) for trouble. When you finally let them go, you've won.

 

[heyallie]

@Robert Fahey I completely agree with this. I catch myself forgetting to listen and think about the tinnitus these days it's so nice when I forget about it and live life ! They absolutely go hand in hand. I am working on this.

 

[heyallie]

So life happened. I went to party for a friend and they had musical entertainment.. It was acoustic guitar and normal loud like musical entertainment in a bar would be. I listened for around 15 min then went to a different part of the building. We then went to a different bar and band playing. I stayed in back but it was still a bit loud like bar bands can be. My ears are still a bit numb and spiked tinnitus. I rarely ever go out or listen to bands. So that's not regular at all for me. I'm frustrated and worried now! Still spiked a almost 2 days later. Dammit. Plan on getting some ear protection.. Any advice on good ones to carry?

 

[dnl]

Hey @heyallie I got Rave High Fidelity Ear Plugs from Amazon and they work fine. Really any quality earplugs will help, even the foam ones (from 3M or another reputable company). The best thing to do is to make sure you have them on your keychain or in your purse, so you'll always have them available when you need them (I have mine on my keychain).
Spikes happen... I hope yours goes away soon. If I remember correctly, you have some hearing loss already, so your tinnitus might be in some way associated with your loss in hearing but was brought about by Wellbutrin. I'm in the same boat. I'd avoid concerts and loud events altogether, and use those earplugs in loud rooms/restaurants or any other loud places.

 

[dnl]

@heyallie Hey... how's your spike?

 

[Bill Arsenault]

Man. Don't even risk it.
You will probably regret it later on.
If you have tinnitus from meds then avoid all medications if possible.
Once that door has been opened and your ears are compromised -so many things can now make it worse.
That's definitely been my experience at least.

 

[MJ9355]

New member... a frustrated and nervous one, went to ENT a few weeks ago and heard what many of you reported... audiologist said that I have mild to moderate hearing loss.. ENT said some hearing loss at 50 is normal and he hasn't found any meds that really offer benefits for tinnitus so suggested that I get a sound machine and exercise to get my mind off the sound. Was hoping someone here found that going off meds helped.