Major Aggravation of Tinnitus: Prednisolone — Yes or No? Ototoxic or Not?

[Julien87]

For a very risky medication that's on the ototoxic list, it sure gets recommended a lot on this site.

I've read that melatonin is more effective.

Anyway, I hope your spike subsides soon. Sounds like a big dose. Would have thought tapering would be a must for that amount.

Yes. And I think some people on this forum aggravated their tinnitus themselves by taking pred after a noise accident that did not do any damage (but which they see as the cause of the worsening, so they don't question prednisone). Self medication is never a good idea.

 

[Alue]

100 mg is not a high dose, I've used it numerous times for allergies before.
30 mg or 60 mg after acoustic trauma or sudden hearing loss is not enough.

And yes standard treatment protocol in acute cases is starting at 250 mg Prednisolone or 40 mg Dexamethasone.

@Bill_ Should decide for himself, but if he indeed has a major increase in tinnitus at least 90-100 mg seems to be an adequate dose.

You should find a HBOT clinic too.

I was under the impression that 100mg is a pretty large dosage. The most common recommendation I've seen is 60mg then tapering down.

5 mg to 60 mg per day is the standard dosage for prednisone unless it's being used for autoimmune diseases like MS.

 

[Bill_]

I was under the impression that 100mg is a pretty large dosage. The most common recommendation I've seen is 60mg then tapering down.

5 mg to 60 mg per day is the standard dosage for prednisone unless it's being used for autoimmune diseases like MS.

My other ENT suggested i take 60-40-40-20-10-5-2,5 - i kinda feel more like following that scheme, if at all

 

[DebInAustralia]

As I mentioned in another thread I have a major aggravation of my tinnitus from some stupid ENT who did some LOUD test on my ear.

Went to see another ENT (at the hospital ER) today and he prescribed me prednisolone (oral, 10 days, starting with 100 mg for 3 days).

The leaflet doesn't say anything about possible ototoxicity or tinnitus as a side effect, but I have read on this forum that some people had their tinnitus actually aggravated by prednisolone. Actually you won't find any mentions of prednisolone causing tinnitus in any German publications, only in a few English ones, albeit not a lot...

I took a 4 day-scheme of prednisone in August which I ended without tapering off which caused a spike in my tinnitus (I think that went away eventually).

But I'm kind of afraid of prednisolone now...

What should I do?

As I mentioned in another thread I have a major aggravation of my tinnitus from some stupid ENT who did some LOUD test on my ear.

Went to see another ENT (at the hospital ER) today and he prescribed me prednisolone (oral, 10 days, starting with 100 mg for 3 days).

The leaflet doesn't say anything about possible ototoxicity or tinnitus as a side effect, but I have read on this forum that some people had their tinnitus actually aggravated by prednisolone. Actually you won't find any mentions of prednisolone causing tinnitus in any German publications, only in a few English ones, albeit not a lot...

I took a 4 day-scheme of prednisone in August which I ended without tapering off which caused a spike in my tinnitus (I think that went away eventually).

But I'm kind of afraid of prednisolone now...

What should I do?

Do you have hyperacusis??

Could your spike be due to hyperacusis?

 

[Bill_]

Vent alert:

I am so fucking mad right now. Not enough that this stupid ENT made my tinnitus much worse WITHOUT any need for those tests at all but now i'm just pissed because this whole "steroids or not"-question. No one really seems to care to do some PROPER research on that. It's either really small groups tested (=low significance) or no control studies (=no indication of pred helped or selfhealing).

I'm officially out of the 48h window as of right now and I still haven't my mind up if I should take the prednisolone or not. I already had a short pred intake scheme in late August (which was probably unnecessary) but I started to be really anxious afterwards (which didn't help me or my tinnitus at all).

I keep circling around the question "what if I worsen my already existent cold/clogged nose by taking pred that it makes me so sick I have to take antibiotics or even contract an ear infection"? Is it worth the -statistically questionable- benefit of prednisone MAYBE helping my tinnitus?

I took magnesium, zinc and B12 today though - for whatever that's good ‍

I also have some NAD+ here - any advice on that?

 

[Gman]

Vent alert:

I am so fucking mad right now. Not enough that this stupid ENT made my T much worse WITHOUT any need for those tests at all but now i'm just pissed because this whole "steroids or not"-question. No one really seems to care to do some PROPER research on that. It's either really small groups tested (=low significance) or no control studies (=no indication of pred helped or selfhealing).

I'm officially out of the 48h window as of right now and I still haven't my mind up if I should take the prednisolone or not. I already had a short pred intake scheme in late August (which was probably unnecessary) but I started to be really anxious afterwards (which didn't help me or my T at all).

I keep circling around the question "what if I worsen my already existent cold/clogged nose by taking pred that it makes me so sick I have to take antibiotics or even contract an ear infection"? Is it worth the -statistically questionable- benefit of pred MAYBE helping my T?

I took magnesium, zinc and B12 today though - for whatever that's good ‍

I also have some NAD+ here - any advice on that ?

Should take nicotinamide riboside to increase NAD+.
You could try sublingual glutathione too.

 

[Bill_]

Should take nicotinamide riboside to increase NAD+.
You could try sublingual glutathione too.

I think I'll skip the prednisolone and will stick with magnesium, zinc and NAD+
I'm just too worried about the side effects of pred and not really convinced that it really helps

 

[Bill_]

Do you have hyperacusis??

Could your spike be due to hyperacusis?

Sorry I kinda skipped your post!
No, I actually don't have H - at least not that I knew of it

 

[Bill_]

Update:
After talking to my other ENT i decided to take the prednisolone for 8 days (60/60/60/40/20/10/5/2.5)

Started with 60mg just 30min ago. i guess this will be a short and sweaty night...

 

[Alue]

Yes. And I think some people on this forum aggravated their tinnitus themselves by taking pred after a noise accident that did not do any damage (but which they see as the cause of the worsening, so they don't question prednisone). Self medication is never a good idea.

Do you have a source for this, or are there specific cases you are referring to?

 

[Bill Bauer]

i guess this will be a short and sweaty night...

I had taken 60 mg just before going to sleep, and I was able to sleep just fine (despite the fact that I am prone to suffer from insomnia).

 

[Bill_]

I had taken 60 mg just before going to sleep, and I was able to sleep just fine (despite the fact that I am prone to suffer from insomnia).

Actually I slept pretty well too

 

[Bill_]

Next update:
Just took the next 60mg (it's 10:30 a.m. here).
T feels maybe not really less loud but a bit less intrusive if that makes any sense.

Unfortunately both of my kids have developed a really bad cough over night and I actually decided to wear a surgical mask at home which looks stupid and causes a lot of laughter for my kids (which is a good thing I suppose )

But since getting an infection was one of my biggest concerns this is actually quite stressful for me, especially since I myself had just a tiny little bit of coughing too yesterday... so fingers crossed

 

[Bill_]

And because I can't stop researching on the internet (because I'm basically just lying in bed) I found this:
https://www.igel-monitor.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/kortison-hilft-nicht-beim-hoersturz.html

It's german so i will give you a quick recap:
It's basically an article about something like an overview study german health insurances did back in 2015 to evaluate which studies were done on the question if steroids help for SSHL (Hörsturz in german) and what their conclusion was. They found only 3(!) on that matter and one was dismissed because of invalid methods. The other two did not show any significant benefit over control groups who weren't given anything.
Therefore they deemed that treatment as ineffective an der therefore don't pay for it.

Makes me doubt my decision again...

 

[Bill_]

Another update:

Just woke up in the middle of the night. Tinnitus seems to have increased a lot. Can't sleep anymore....
Spike by prednisolone? I'm so confused. Think I will stop taking it....

This is ridiculous...

 

[Arseny]

Another update:

Just woke up in the middle of the night. Tinnitus seems to have increased a lot. Can't sleep anymore....
Spike by prednisolone? I'm so confused. Think I will stop taking it....

This is ridiculous...

If your spike goes down in the morning then it's just your adrenal glands are reacting to the steroid. I had insane spikes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And mind you I was using dexamethasone and it's not ototoxic.
Please let me know how you feel in the morning.

 

[Bill_]

If your spike goes down in the morning then it's just your adrenal glands are reacting to the steroid. I had insane spikes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And mind you I was using dexamethasone and it's not ototoxic.
Please let me know how you feel in the morning.

No I use prednisolone. Dexamethasone wasn't available here.

 

[Bill_]

If your spike goes down in the morning then it's just your adrenal glands are reacting to the steroid. I had insane spikes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And mind you I was using dexamethasone and it's not ototoxic.
Please let me know how you feel in the morning.

I'm so confused right now. Would have to take my next dosage now... should I or should I not?

I have also started coughing last night together with a scratchy feeling in my throat...

 

[Eric N]

I'm so confused right now. Would have to take my next dosage now... should I or should I not?

I have also started coughing last night together with a scratchy feeling in my throat...

What did you end up doing with the Prednisone?

 

[Mercury]

I'm so confused right now. Would have to take my next dosage now... should I or should I not?

I have also started coughing last night together with a scratchy feeling in my throat...

Your circumstances are fairly similar to mine. I doubt you're still active on this forum, but I would value hearing what you experienced afterwards if possible.