New Member — Positive Benzo Withdrawal Stories?

[Star64]

I have had tinnitus since December 2001 which was noise induced. I struggled for about 4 months looking for a cure and eventually went on an antidepressant for a six month period and I managed to habituate to the noise so that I hardly even knew I had tinnitus.

Then in 2012 I went through a stressful period at work and at the same time started getting peri menopausal symptoms which once again played havoc with my tinnitus. It eventually settled down after a few months but I was left with a high pitched screech in my left ear which would appear several times a month.

This is when I discovered the drug Clonazepam which is known as Klonopin or Rivotril depending in which country you are from.

I reside in Australia. I only used this drug as needed for several years so I would not get addicted to it. Then late last year I went through another stressful period and knowing this drug helped with sleep I started taking .5 nearly every night.

I then had carpel tunnel surgery and developed an infection in my hand and was given Augmentin forte duo and after taking the second antibiotic my ears starting ringing severely loud and I mean REALLY LOUD.

I thought this was just a spike so kept on taking .5 of Clonazepam as it reduced the noise but it would return. I have now been told the antibiotic was just a coincidence and I have developed a tolerance to the Klonopin as when I take it I experience severe burning pain after an hour which is like withdrawal. Hence the doctor states the benzo is the cause of the increased ringing due to withdrawal/dependence. I had to be switched to Diazepam to taper off due to horrific withdrawal symptoms, brain shakes, nightmares, muscle twitches my body feels like it is full of electricity.

I feel such an idiot for taking this drug I just didn't even think about what I was doing. The worst symptom however is the the screeching which is deafening in both my ears. The Diazepam does not stop the ringing.

Can anyone share a positive story only please! That their ears have eventually settled after withdrawing from a benzo.

I have read a story by a @JasonP but I am not sure how to message him as this is my first time on this forum. I am really struggling and would appreciate any positive input from anyone that unfortunately has had problems withdrawing from a benzo with previous tinnitus and has survived it.

 

[JasonP]

I have had tinnitus since December 2001 which was noise induced. I struggled for about 4 months looking for a cure and eventually went on an antidepressant for a six month period and I managed to habituate to the noise so that I hardly even knew I had tinnitus.

Then in 2012 I went through a stressful period at work and at the same time started getting peri menopausal symptoms which once again played havoc with my tinnitus. It eventually settled down after a few months but I was left with a high pitched screech in my left ear which would appear several times a month.

This is when I discovered the drug Clonazepam which is known as Klonopin or Rivotril depending in which country you are from.

I reside in Australia. I only used this drug as needed for several years so I would not get addicted to it. Then late last year I went through another stressful period and knowing this drug helped with sleep I started taking .5 nearly every night.

I then had carpel tunnel surgery and developed an infection in my hand and was given Augmentin forte duo and after taking the second antibiotic my ears starting ringing severely loud and I mean REALLY LOUD.

I thought this was just a spike so kept on taking .5 of Clonazepam as it reduced the noise but it would return. I have now been told the antibiotic was just a coincidence and I have developed a tolerance to the Klonopin as when I take it I experience severe burning pain after an hour which is like withdrawal. Hence the doctor states the benzo is the cause of the increased ringing due to withdrawal/dependence. I had to be switched to Diazepam to taper off due to horrific withdrawal symptoms, brain shakes, nightmares, muscle twitches my body feels like it is full of electricity.

I feel such an idiot for taking this drug I just didn't even think about what I was doing. The worst symptom however is the the screeching which is deafening in both my ears. The Diazepam does not stop the ringing.

Can anyone share a positive story only please! That their ears have eventually settled after withdrawing from a benzo.

I have read a story by a @JasonP but I am not sure how to message him as this is my first time on this forum. I am really struggling and would appreciate any positive input from anyone that unfortunately has had problems withdrawing from a benzo with previous tinnitus and has survived it.

Hey Star64, I am so sorry you are dealing with this now. I really hope you feel better soon. The loud tinnitus tone that I had seems lately to have gone down to a whistle tone that is much better. This was similar to the tinnitus I had before klonopin. When I tried to withdrawal years ago I went to fast and developed a static type tinnitus. A drug called Lamictal helped to reduce the static but not any kind of tonal tinnitus. It also gave me other side effects.

I'm not sure if I am sensitive to stuff in general or if it's due to continued withdrawal but I couldn't take regular serving sizes of supplements. I found one supplement that seemed to help lower my tonal tinnitus and help with depression some but it could give me bad gas and some other problems. It's called lithium orotate. Something else that has helped me with depression is low dose fish oil. If I take a regular serving it's been too strong. I got a supplement a few months that helped with anxiety which was low dose lithium 50mcg. It's an over the counter supplement. I took it before sleep. It seemed to do great for me but then a couple of nights I took two and I woke up kind of lightheaded. I'm not sure if it was the dose or the time I took it. Unfortunately, it's possible that these supplements could interact with valium or in withdrawal so I don't know if they would help you or not.

One thing that helped and still helps me is the hearing aids I got. I can amplify the ambient sound which reduces some of the ringing I have and also I have built in maskers that I can turn on if I want. Signia makes an extended bandwidth hearing aid called the 7nx which I don't have but did try out and I really liked it. The extended bandwidth means it amplifies and corrects for more hearing frequencies than regular hearing aids. In addition it has built in bluetooth so people can stream music from their smartphone directly to their hearing aids.

Cardio exercise also seems to help me with my mood.

As far as benzo withdrawal stories, I think a website called benzo buddies has some. It's a forum that tries to help people out that are going through benzo withdrawal. I am so sorry you are going through all this and hope you feel better asap.

 

[Star64]

I have had tinnitus since December 2001 which was noise induced. I struggled for about 4 months looking for a cure and eventually went on an antidepressant for a six month period and I managed to habituate to the noise so that I hardly even knew I had tinnitus. Then in 2012 I went through a stressful period at work and at the same time started getting peri menopausal symptoms which once again played havoc with my tinnitus. It eventually settled down after a few months but I was left with a high pitched screech in my left ear which would appear several times a month. This is when I discovered the drug clonezapam which is known as klopin or rivitril depending in which country you are from. I reside in Australia. I only used this drug as needed for several years so I would not get addicted to it. Then late last year I went through another stressful period and knowing this drug helped with sleep I started taking .5 nearly every night. I then had carpel tunnel surgery and developed an infection in my hand and was given augmentin forte duo and after taking the second antibiotic my ears starting ringing severely loud and I mean REALLY LOUD. I thought this was just a spike so kept on taking .5 of clonazepam as it reduced the noise but it would return. I have now been told the antibiotic was just a coincidence and I have developed a tolerance to the klopin as when I take it I experience severe burning pain after an hour which is like withdrawal. Hence the doctor states the benzo is the cause of the increased ringing due to withdrawal/dependence. I had to be switched to diazepam to taper off due to horrific withdrawal symptoms, brain shakes, nightmares, muscle twiches my body feels like it is full of electricity. I feel such an idiot for taking this drug I just didnt even think about what I was doing. The worst symptom however is the the screeching which is deafening in both my ears. The diazepam does not stop the ringing. Can anyone share a positive story only please! that their ears have eventually settled after withdrawing from a benzo. I have read a story by a jasonp but I am not sure how to message him as this is my first time on this forum. I am really struggling and would appreciate any positive input from anyone that unfortunately has had problems withdrawing from a benzo with previous tinnitus and has survived it.

 

[Contrast]

What kind of false cures did you look for, do you mind letting us know?

 

[Star64]

Thank you so much for your reply and understanding. I am aware of benzo buddies website but most people on that site only have had tinnitus as a side effect from withdrawal and not previous tinnitus so I thought I would ask this question on tinnitus talk which I didnt even know existed until recently. How long did it take you to withdraw from klopin and did you take this for tinnitus relief? I was placed on valium so I could taper slowly as the klopin stopped working for me and put me into severe withdrawal too fast. Did you suffer any of the other symptoms such as brain shaking and muscle twitching? I have been placed on a low dose of tegretol to help with these symptoms only 50mg. I only started this last night which has taken the edge off as I only seem to get these bad symptoms during the night. My tinnitus at the moment also sounds static which I never had before. I only ever had a small hissing now and then in my left ear but otherwise my tinnitus was fine until I started withdrawing from the klopin. Valium has not worked on the tinnitus and now I have severe anxiety especially during the night I wake with awful palpitations and increased noises in my head. Which country do you reside in if you dont mind me asking? I am very grateful that I have found this website, if only I had known about it sooner. I am hoping I get through this struggle. I have a supportive family and two young grandchildren that keep me battling on at the moment. I am turning 55 years old this year and I should of known better than to rely on this drug as I am a non practicing Registered Nurse. But hey it can happen to anyone including a story I read on the internet where a cardiologist got trapped by these drugs so I just have to let go of beating myself up and concentrating on getting better. I also hope things improve for you and once again thank you so much for replying.

 

[Star64]

When I first got tinnitus I searched the net looking for cures. I even found a website that said if I donated a kidney in Israel they could cure my tinnitus. That is when I finally stopped searching!!! Frightening stuff!!. Well I found articles about different drugs such as tegretol which I tried at higher dosage which gave awful side effects and did not help my tinnitus. Now I am on a low dose of this medication to help withdraw from the benzo. Neurontin I tried it also did not work. Vitamins, change in diet nothing worked for me apart from habituation to the noise which took several months and I did take a low dose antidepressant which I was able to come off after 6 months as I suffered depression from adjusting to the noise. No trouble with my tinnitus until stress and menopausal symptoms 2012. Then took clonezapam not on a regular basis which eased the ringing but look at me now. I developed a tolerance at a really low dose and I am paying the price. I have heard low dose Pamelor or elavil even 10mg can reduce the tinnitus or maybe it is just the perception of the tinnitus but it has given some relief to people. I have tried elevil but it did not help my tinnitus only helped with sleep but made me gain weight which caused more problems I over excersised to compensate and got plantar fasciitis in my left foot and now my right. So I started using klopin to sleep as I started to get Insomnia BAD MISTAKE!! Once again medications can play havoc on tinnitus so it is trial and error. I can only speak from my experience diet changes did not work for me, reducing stress certainly did. I even used to drink 6 cups of tea a day and a cup of coffee 3 or four times per week which never impacted on my tinnitus. No food spiked my tinnitus. The only things that made it worse previously were anti inflammatory medications which I took for my foot pain. I recently tried hearing aids with masking devices but it didn't seem to help me. Maybe because I am in withdrawal everything is amplified hopefully I find relief again. I hope everyone else adjusting to life with tinnitus can get relief. Definitely try to keep busy and not concentrate on the noise. I did have a positive experience dealing with tinnitus until I messed around with benzos so please be aware of this and try to avoid these medications.

 

[linearb]

@Star64 at one point I got in touch with a 6-8 people who had posted about tinnitus on benzobuddies, and they all said it had gotten significantly better or gone away completely within 2-4 years of stopping the drug.

My own tinnitus is probably some combination of noise and benzo induced, and after trying a lot of other things over the years I'm back on Klonopin, because I figure, go with what works. I have a history of taking the drug for years when I was younger, though, and I have withdrawn from benzos twice, so I have a pretty good idea what devil I am dealing with...

 

[Star64]

@linearb thanks for your reply, hopefully I do not have to put up with it for that long after ceasing Klonopin. But who knows how long it will take to repair my body. Did the people you emailed have previous tinnitus or did they just get this as a withdrawal symptom which stayed around. Can I ask did you have to keep increasing the dosage of the klonopin to get relief? I was only taking .05 of a tablet nightly for around 3 months, prior to that I only used it 5 to 6 times a month and some months not very often at all. I tried to stay on the klonopin but I got severe burning like a hot knife cutting through my chest and back so I had no choice but to discontinue. Did you also suffer from the same symptoms I am having on your previous withdrawals and can you tell me what time frame it took for you to be benzo free and also the dosage that you where taking prior? I dont mean to be intrusive with these questions I am just curious how you have coped with such a difficult experience. And to go through the process twice must of been extremely difficult for you. I do hope you are tinnitus free and I am grateful for your reply, I also at the same time fully understand your choice to stay on the benzo if your tinnitus did not settle after withdrawal. Did you try antidepressants such as pamelor ? many people say this has helped them the most from what I have read. Unfortunately I am not able to try this till after withdrawal. Did you use other medications to help you get through the withdrawal period ? I am taking a low dose of tegretol not really keen on this med but decided to give it a try. I am only on 2mg valium x 3 a day and dr wants to increase tegretol as I taper off . I am not sure about doing that I am very worried about side effects and it is just another drug I will have to eventually have to taper off.

 

[Star64]

@JasonP Thank you so much for your reply and understanding. I am aware of benzo buddies website but most people on that site only have had tinnitus as a side effect from withdrawal and not previous tinnitus so I thought I would ask this question on tinnitus talk which I didnt even know existed until recently. How long did it take you to withdraw from klopin and did you take this for tinnitus relief? I was placed on valium so I could taper slowly as the klopin stopped working for me and put me into severe withdrawal too fast. Did you suffer any of the other symptoms such as brain shaking and muscle twitching? I have been placed on a low dose of tegretol to help with these symptoms only 50mg. I only started this last night which has taken the edge off as I only seem to get these bad symptoms during the night. My tinnitus at the moment also sounds static which I never had before. I only ever had a small hissing now and then in my left ear but otherwise my tinnitus was fine until I started withdrawing from the klopin. Valium has not worked on the tinnitus and now I have severe anxiety especially during the night I wake with awful palpitations and increased noises in my head. Which country do you reside in if you dont mind me asking? I am very grateful that I have found this website, if only I had known about it sooner. I am hoping I get through this struggle. I have a supportive family and two young grandchildren that keep me battling on at the moment. I am turning 55 years old this year and I should of known better than to rely on this drug as I am a non practicing Registered Nurse. But hey it can happen to anyone including a story I read on the internet where a cardiologist got trapped by these drugs so I just have to let go of beating myself up and concentrating on getting better. I also hope things improve for you and once again thank you so much for replying.

 

[Lane]

I have severe anxiety

@Star64 -- You may want to check out this thread:

Three Supplements to Treat Severe Anxiety Symptoms

I'm a big believer in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to help calm the body and nervous system. I could share a few links to some of my posts on the subject if you'd be interested. -- Best...

 

[Star64]

@Lane Thank you for the information on the supplements to help anxiety. I will take a look at this thread. I appreciate you taking the time to offer advice.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

I then had carpel tunnel surgery and developed an infection in my hand and was given Augmentin forte duo and after taking the second antibiotic my ears starting ringing severely loud and I mean REALLY LOUD.

@linearb Can it be this the cause of her ringing and not the Clonazepam??
How are you doing on it now?

Once

 

[linearb]

@linearb Can it be this the cause of her ringing and not the Clonazepam??
How are you doing on it now?

Once

It could be; I have no idea. That particular antibiotic is one I've never personally had problems with, but the link between gut and brain function is poorly understood.

I'd say I'm doing okay? I still have tinnitus, heh.

Did the people you emailed have previous tinnitus or did they just get this as a withdrawal symptom which stayed around

Mostly the latter; it is much more difficult to find other people who had tinnitus prior to benzos. I'm not sure if my initial onset at 19 was benzo related, or not -- I had used benzos to a limited degree in the year before that, but I'd also had noise and virus exposure, and a bunch of other drug exposure.

Did you also suffer from the same symptoms I am having on your previous withdrawals and can you tell me what time frame it took for you to be benzo free and also the dosage that you where taking prior?

I took Klonopin @ 2mg/day for 5-6 years, then spent about 15 months withdrawing from it in 2005/2006. I first cut to 1.5mg, then crossed over to 30mg valium, and tapered that. I remember it as being a long, boring, unpleasant process that was hallmarked by unusual fear, unusual sensory sensations, bizarre dreams and increased tinnitus.

Then I was "fine" for a number of years; cue an acoustic trauma in 2010. I sort of lost my mind for a while, went back on Diazepam at like 10-15mg/day for a year and a half, and then spent a year tapering off again. I avoided benzos entirely for 3 years; with the exception of the tinnitus, any other problems I had that I attributed to the benzos were gone by about 12 months prior.

In about 2015 or early 2016 I started using diazepam PRN, taking about 10 5mg tablets per month for a couple years. As of about six months ago, I have returned to daily Klonopin use. If better treatments eventually emerge for the myriad of problems which seem to benefit from Klonopin (tinnitus, myofascial trigger points, psychological upheaval), then I will see about tapering again. Likewise, I realize that the effect I'm getting from the Klonopin may not last forever, and if I hit a point where I feel like I am not doing any better on the drug than I was without it, my impulse would be to taper again, rather than escalate the dose.

Which country do you reside in if you dont mind me asking?

I'm in the USA, land of "We'll give you a pill for that!" where we write 100,000,000 xanax prescriptions a year. I think @JasonP is, as well.

Can I ask did you have to keep increasing the dosage of the klonopin to get relief? I was only taking .05 of a tablet nightly for around 3 months, prior to that I only used it 5 to 6 times a month and some months not very often at all.

When I went back on I started at 0.25mg/day then went to 0.5mg a day. I got some very mild relief at 0.5, but after a couple weeks, that gave way to increased anxiety, as in, I felt worse on the drug than I had without it.

My first impulse was to discontinue at that point, but because I have an extensive history of use and had been stable at 2mg/day for a period of years in the past, my medical team and I decided to at least try escalating back to that dose to see if things were different. After a few days at a higher dose it was sort of like a lightbulb went on and I started to feel basically normal again -- however I understand that benzos are extremely unpredictable, dangerous, hellishly difficult to withdraw from, and that the effect I am getting now may not be sustainable.

Basically, if I had never been on Klonopin at all, I think there's a good chance I wouldn't "need" to be on it now, but that's water under the bridge. I love benzos but absolutely cannot recommend their use by others, outside of very short-term situations.

 

[kelpiemsp]

@Star64 I am successfully off a 10 year, 20mg valium a day benzo habit. I dare say benzo w/d is every bit as bad as the most torrid T. I have been off benzos for about 6 months after a slow two year taper. While I had suffered Tinnitus for most of my life, it got extremely loud during w/d. I was lucky enough to participate in a bi-modal stimulation trial. Which effectively eliminated all but the faintest noise for me. I am finally to the point where I no longer crave or feel like I need benzos.

My experience mirrors @linearb for the most part.

Now, I prefer the green. I just found the strain for me, and that is perfect.

The temptation to go back on benzos is strong...I don't think I could ever get off if I reinstated.

 

[Lane]

the link between gut and brain function is poorly understood.

@linearb -- Quite a remarkable post you made. I have some similar experiences myself, including doing 2 mg clonazepam a day for many years. It took me over a year to taper off, with the last little, tiniest speck being the most difficult to quit--but I did. A few months later I purchased a microcurrent device called Alpha-Stim. It really helped calm my system down, and I wished I'd have had it during the whole withdrawal process, which would likely have made it much easier. -- BTW, there's a lot of research going on right now on the connection between the gut and the brain and is becoming much better understood. Dr. David Perlmutter--a neurlogist--is one of the pioneers in this field.

The temptation to go back on benzos is strong

I felt that way as well when my tinnitus started last year. I tried Lorazapam--at the suggestion of my doctor instead of valium or clonazepam--because it had a much shorter half life. After taking just one very small dose of it, my tinnitus ratcheted up considerably; with a whole new sound. I decided to never try that again, but have taken .5 mg of valium a handful of times in the past year when I feel I needed it.

The temptation to go back on benzos has actually decreased considerably since I started doing regular mHBOT sessions at home (last fall). I did my first HBOT session about two months after my tinnitus onset, and after about 30 minutes, found myself able to relax in a way I didn't know I'd ever be able to again. It's now become an integral part of my doing everything I can to mitigate the effects of tinnitus. Though I've only had minimal reduction of tinnitus volume from the mHBOT, I do feel the mHBOT shoring up of my neurological system has made it MUCH easier to live with it. Not only because it allows me to relax so much more deeply, but because my sleep has improved so much as well, where it's now fairly significantly better than before getting tinnitus. -- @Star64

 

[Star64]

@linearb --Thank you to everyone that has replied I am not sure how to include everyone that has posted as I am not very good with these sort of things but I thank lane, kelpiemsp and onceuponatime. Everything changed for me after taking that second antibiotic but I have been told that was just a coincidence that the the klonopin stopped working for me probably at my dosage of .05. Switching to valium has not helped me at all and after two days on a low dose of tegretol that hasnt seemed to help either. My tinnitus actually gets louder after each dose of valium but then settles a little but it is at night time during sleep I wake with the worst loud bell like noises which are very disturbing. Its been two weeks since I last took .025 of clonazepam so maybe I am in acute withdrawal stage. I feel like if I could go back on klonopin even at a higher dose as long as I didnt get that severe burning and in my chest and back I would just to get some relief but I am not sure if this would work. Dr said that was probably my body craving more of the drug but nobody is sure if it was an allergic reaction I developed. This is torture I can cope with all the other symptoms just not the noise in my head. Thank you linearb I fully understand the choice you made. once again thank you to all, I will keep posting my updates of my condition going to see dr today.

 

[JasonP]

@JasonP Thank you so much for your reply and understanding. I am aware of benzo buddies website but most people on that site only have had tinnitus as a side effect from withdrawal and not previous tinnitus so I thought I would ask this question on tinnitus talk which I didnt even know existed until recently. How long did it take you to withdraw from klopin and did you take this for tinnitus relief? I was placed on valium so I could taper slowly as the klopin stopped working for me and put me into severe withdrawal too fast. Did you suffer any of the other symptoms such as brain shaking and muscle twitching? I have been placed on a low dose of tegretol to help with these symptoms only 50mg. I only started this last night which has taken the edge off as I only seem to get these bad symptoms during the night. My tinnitus at the moment also sounds static which I never had before. I only ever had a small hissing now and then in my left ear but otherwise my tinnitus was fine until I started withdrawing from the klopin. Valium has not worked on the tinnitus and now I have severe anxiety especially during the night I wake with awful palpitations and increased noises in my head. Which country do you reside in if you dont mind me asking? I am very grateful that I have found this website, if only I had known about it sooner. I am hoping I get through this struggle. I have a supportive family and two young grandchildren that keep me battling on at the moment. I am turning 55 years old this year and I should of known better than to rely on this drug as I am a non practicing Registered Nurse. But hey it can happen to anyone including a story I read on the internet where a cardiologist got trapped by these drugs so I just have to let go of beating myself up and concentrating on getting better. I also hope things improve for you and once again thank you so much for replying.

You are very welcome. To answer some of your questions: I am from the USA. I was on klonopin for almost 2 years before I decided that I wanted to get off. It basically stopped working for anxiety and tinnitus and it made me tired and sedated a lot. I was taking .5mg and went down to .25mg over a period of time. It was a struggle especially because of the tinnitus. My recovery is a long proctrated battle but I can tell you that the static induced tinnitus did go away some time around 3 weeks after my last dose of klonopin. I found that taking klonopin, even an extremely small dose during certain night hours and then sleeping could induce the static again. Two drugs, one called Lamictal and one called Riluzole seem to reduce the static so I assumed the tinnitus had something to do with glutamate because this drug works on both of them. I haven't taken any drugs in over 3 months and the static tinnitus did not come back.

Lamictal was a very strong drug for me though and I had to keep lowering it. Riluzole I did not take for long. One thing I looked into recently was "kindling" with benzodiazapines so basically, I shouldn't ever get on these drugs again or I will have an even worse withdrawal. I remember getting back on klonopin after a few weeks. I was taking about the size of 2 salt grains of the smallest pill they make. It actually was working and I thought it would be so easy to get off. I was wrong. I took that for 3 months and stopped...got all kinds of stomach side effects and feeling bad after stopping. I don't think I ever got the shakes. As far as my withdrawal, I think I spent around 3 years or so withdrawing but I wasn't doing it right. I didn't have valium or whatever and I was taking other medication at too strong of doses.

I am so sorry you are going through all this. I hope you get better asap.

 

[RB2014]

I used benzos (clonazepamn) when I had really bad T and anxiety. I just slowly tapered them down until I was down to almost nothing over a few months. I have my good days and bad days, but I'd say overall I am habituated and on good days as long as I don't stress I can barely tell I have T at all. I've done all the above mentioned items, eat better, get lots of exercise, etc etc. You'll be ok, it just takes time.

 

[Star64]

@Lane Can you tell me if the Alpha stim helped your tinnitus. I have read your post about tapering off clonezapam was that before you developed tinnitus? I am currently going through withdrawal from this drug and my tinnitus is sooooo loud I am finding it difficult to cope. Previous to developing a dependence on this drug my tinnitus was not intrusive too me as I had habituated to the noise and only had spikes during stressful times that would settle. I just started taking more of the clonezapam to deal with stress and to aid sleep. Stupid stupid me!!! I am interested how this Alpha stim helped you as I have never heard of it before.

 

[Lane]

@Lane Can you tell me if the Alpha stim helped your tinnitus.

Hi @Star64 -- I'm sorry to hear how distressful your current situation is. I first used the Alpha-Stim about 10 years ago, which was long before I ever got tinnitus--which I've had for only a little over a year. I read that it can help with tinnitus, but I was so fearful of my tinnitus getting worse at the time, I couldn't bring myself to try it right away.

When I finally did give it a try a few months in, I don't recall noticing any difference, and I kind of forgot about it fairly quickly. I do plan on trying it again relatively soon, as I feel my tinnitus has stabilized enough and would be able to withstand a short spike which could result, though I think the risk is small.

Here's a link to the Alpha-Stim website: -- https://www.alpha-stim.com/ (I think they have a 15-day return policy)

It should give you some good insights into what it's all good for, like anxiety, depression, even Alzheimer's. I guess just about any situation that involves brain dysfunction, which is why I think it has potential for tinnitus. Having done both the Alpha-Stim and mHBOT, I would rate the mHBOT as more effective for overall relaxation and shoring up of the neurological system. I think the two combined could be quite powerful, and would likely be better than any kind of combination of drugs many on this forum often take. -- Just to mention briefly, some areas of the country have companies that lease out mHBOT chambers for around $600/month.

Adding self-acupuncture (which I'm just now beginning, and with which I'm already getting positive benefits from) would be another modality I'd recommend anybody with tinnitus to consider. And it's inexpensive to boot. -- Take good care @Star64. I was in a similar situation as you about a year ago, and it was tough sledding. I'm coping much better now with the mHBOT, self-acupuncture, and more. -- All the Best...

 

[Star64]

@linearb @JasonP ... I have been placed on a small dose of tegretol to help withdraw from the valium which I have been now placed on instead of the klonopin. I am only taking 6mg of valium a day. 50mg of tegretol at night and 50mg in the morning. My tinnitus is changing noises all the time....sometime I can hear an extra buzz noise in my brain and my tinnitus seems to be more static... After I have woken up from sleeping the noise is so loud it is like alarm bells going off in my head until I have woken up properly. I am still getting brain shakes at night and sometimes during the day I notice them too. My last dose of klonopin was nearly three weeks ago the Dr tells me my body has to get used to the valium and tegretol, has this happened to anybody else during withdrawal because right now with all the different noises going on in my head it feels like I am going mad. I can withstand all the other symptoms but the noises in my brain and head are hard to take. I also get funny sensations at night through my face. Is this normal in withdrawal.. The loud bell noise is very disturbing especially if I wake during the night and also in early morning. It is nothing like anything I have experienced before. Would appreciate any input if you have suffered from similar experiences or is it just me ....

 

[Star64]

@kelpiemsp Sorry I was meant to include you in my current post as I am sure you understand alot about the withdrawal process too. What was the bio modal stimulation trial you participated in. Is it yet available to try to the general population. And did you suffer any of the same symptoms I am having right now?

 

[JasonP]

@linearb @JasonP ... I have been placed on a small dose of tegretol to help withdraw from the valium which I have been now placed on instead of the klonopin. I am only taking 6mg of valium a day. 50mg of tegretol at night and 50mg in the morning. My tinnitus is changing noises all the time....sometime I can hear an extra buzz noise in my brain and my tinnitus seems to be more static... After I have woken up from sleeping the noise is so loud it is like alarm bells going off in my head until I have woken up properly. I am still getting brain shakes at night and sometimes during the day I notice them too. My last dose of klonopin was nearly three weeks ago the Dr tells me my body has to get used to the valium and tegretol, has this happened to anybody else during withdrawal because right now with all the different noises going on in my head it feels like I am going mad. I can withstand all the other symptoms but the noises in my brain and head are hard to take. I also get funny sensations at night through my face. Is this normal in withdrawal.. The loud bell noise is very disturbing especially if I wake during the night and also in early morning. It is nothing like anything I have experienced before. Would appreciate any input if you have suffered from similar experiences or is it just me ....

Well, I know at night right before or during normal sleep hours is where I could have some of the worst withdrawal symptoms. I know my hearing aid maskers helped some at night and still do.

 

[Star64]

@JasonP Thanks Jason for your reply, the night seems to be the worst for me too. I have a pillow which I play relaxation music through which helps me get back to sleep after waking with the severe shakes and palpitations. But my tinnitus is changing to different sounds all the time. I just wish it would settle a little throughout the night. This is a nightmare that is for sure. I just hope I make it through it all!

 

[JasonP]

@JasonP Thanks Jason for your reply, the night seems to be the worst for me too. I have a pillow which I play relaxation music through which helps me get back to sleep after waking with the severe shakes and palpitations. But my tinnitus is changing to different sounds all the time. I just wish it would settle a little throughout the night. This is a nightmare that is for sure. I just hope I make it through it all!

Hang in there. It takes time. Withdrawal can be protracted. There are bad days and better days.

 

[Star64]

@kelpiemsp I know your probably answering so many questions from others at the moment about bi-modal stimulation. Like yourself I had tinnitus prior to Benzo use....I am currently still tapering from 3mg of valium after being thrown into withdrawal from clonezapam several months ago...As you would know it is no walk in the park and is very scary....My main issue is my tinnitus , even though I had this prior I had habituated to it.... I never really heard it, only a few times a month and then it was only in my left ear....think this was due to hormonal issues as an estrogen patch helped when this occurred.... When I first got tinnitus I heard it in both ears. Otherwise my tinnitus was no trouble after habituation it was noise induced in 2001...BUT NOW IT IS DEAFENING!!!!...would benzo induced tinnitus be excluded for bi-modal stimulation therapy. My ears have not settled at all since hitting tolerance at .5 of cloneze which I used for sleep once again from hormonal issues not tinnitus...I cant believe I have ruined my life due to this....I struggle with the loudness and severity of the tinnitus I now seem to be left with...I know I have not yet fully withdrawn and others have said give it time it will settle but I am not confident.....Infact I can hear an extra buzzing sound coming from my brain on the left side and not just the noise in my ears!!!! Do this occur for you or anyone else you are aware of that had tinnitus prior to withdrawal.... I have not been able to post for awhile the wd has been horrendous....I have suffered nearly every symptom that has been noted as severe in the Ashton manual.. Burning skin, internal tremors, nightmares, bladder issues, the list goes on and on. But the far worst symptom is the tinnitus ...It sounds like alarm bells going off in my head and like snakes hissing at other times...I can not nap because if I do I wake to the sound of a fire alarm going off in my head....It is very disturbing. If when I fully come of this hell of a benzo do you know if bi-modal stimulation would still be suitable for me...In Australia I havent come across anybody that rates your tinnitus sound wise in decibels...Maybe some audiologist might be able to do this for me.... Sorry to ask you so many questions I am feeling extremely down....I have been trying to hold on to some hoe for my family.
Many kind people on tinnitus talk answered my earlier post....I think I am going to loose this fight!!!! but I am trying hard to stay strong for my family ......especially my grandchildren....I did go on benzobuddies but I had a lot of negative stories and this only scared me more....some people responded with kindness but only had tinnitus as a wd symptom which dissipated fairly quickly after ceasing....Others said it took 12 plus months but their tinnitus was not loud and did not worry them too much..... My tinnitus I cant mask it is that loud at the moment....
I would appreciate your thoughts if there is anything that you think I could do to get some relief...

 

[Star64]

@linearb I sent this message to @kelpiemsp .......Do you know much about this Bio modal stimulation and if benzo induced tinnitus would be excluded....Do you know of anyone else who has tried this....And does anyone know the cost of it ?? I forgot to ask these questions... I know you are very knowledgeable on things also. You can probably tell I am feeling deserate at the moment!!!!!

I know your probably answering so many questions from others at the moment about bi-modal stimulation. Like yourself I had tinnitus prior to Benzo use....I am currently still tapering from 3mg of valium after being thrown into withdrawal from clonezapam several months ago...As you would know it is no walk in the park and is very scary....My main issue is my tinnitus , even though I had this prior I had habituated to it.... I never really heard it, only a few times a month and then it was only in my left ear....think this was due to hormonal issues as an estrogen patch helped when this occurred.... When I first got tinnitus I heard it in both ears. Otherwise my tinnitus was no trouble after habituation it was noise induced in 2001...BUT NOW IT IS DEAFENING!!!!...would benzo induced tinnitus be excluded for bi-modal stimulation therapy. My ears have not settled at all since hitting tolerance at .5 of cloneze which I used for sleep once again from hormonal issues not tinnitus...I cant believe I have ruined my life due to this....I struggle with the loudness and severity of the tinnitus I now seem to be left with...I know I have not yet fully withdrawn and others have said give it time it will settle but I am not confident.....Infact I can hear an extra buzzing sound coming from my brain on the left side and not just the noise in my ears!!!! Do this occur for you or anyone else you are aware of that had tinnitus prior to withdrawal.... I have not been able to post for awhile the wd has been horrendous....I have suffered nearly every symptom that has been noted as severe in the Ashton manual.. Burning skin, internal tremors, nightmares, bladder issues, the list goes on and on. But the far worst symptom is the tinnitus ...It sounds like alarm bells going off in my head and like snakes hissing at other times...I can not nap because if I do I wake to the sound of a fire alarm going off in my head....It is very disturbing. If when I fully come of this hell of a benzo do you know if bi-modal stimulation would still be suitable for me...In Australia I havent come across anybody that rates your tinnitus sound wise in decibels...Maybe some audiologist might be able to do this for me.... Sorry to ask you so many questions I am feeling extremely down....I have been trying to hold on to some hoe for my family.
Many kind people on tinnitus talk answered my earlier post....I think I am going to loose this fight!!!! but I am trying hard to stay strong for my family ......especially my grandchildren....I did go on benzobuddies but I had a lot of negative stories and this only scared me more....some people responded with kindness but only had tinnitus as a wd symptom which dissipated fairly quickly after ceasing....Others said it took 12 plus months but their tinnitus was not loud and did not worry them too much..... My tinnitus I cant mask it is that loud at the moment....
I would appreciate your thoughts if there is anything that you think I could do to get some relief...

 

[linearb]

@Star64 I was a lab rat in one of the UMich bimodal trials. My tinnitus is noise-induced, though. I don't think the cause matters much, though, as long as you can modulate the noise with muscle movements. The device seemed to help.

Why did you withdraw from Klonopin? I am back on it after many years off.

Benzo w/d often amps tinnitus up (I remember this during my first taper off) -- it tends to settle after withdrawal, but can take months/years.

 

[Star64]

@linearb I have joined BB and strangely enough somebody sent me a post this morning from a previous member for me to consider my options in regards to dealing with my tinnitus....Reading their story I thought straight away of you.

They usually do not encourage reinstatement, but this member thought it might help me in the future if after withdrawal my life is still miserable... There story was identical to yours. If it was yourself, I commend you for being so honest and sharing that with the BB community. This person also tried many treatments for their tinnitus and was also involved in a tinnitus treatment trial.

Stories of reinstatement, also need to be shared just as much as the stories of withdrawal. This persons post on BB noted that if they had not started Klonopin they probably would not need it now. However, since reinstatement their life has been so much more bearable.

Just thought I would let you know somebody has the same story as yourself, I was actually happy to read this post That somebody was actually feeling better, participating in life again, This was better to read than some of the other horrible miserable posts, that make me more frightened.

Hope everything is still going well for you.

 

[Mathieulh]

I have had tinnitus since December 2001 which was noise induced. I struggled for about 4 months looking for a cure and eventually went on an antidepressant for a six month period and I managed to habituate to the noise so that I hardly even knew I had tinnitus.

Then in 2012 I went through a stressful period at work and at the same time started getting peri menopausal symptoms which once again played havoc with my tinnitus. It eventually settled down after a few months but I was left with a high pitched screech in my left ear which would appear several times a month.

This is when I discovered the drug Clonazepam which is known as Klonopin or Rivotril depending in which country you are from.

I reside in Australia. I only used this drug as needed for several years so I would not get addicted to it. Then late last year I went through another stressful period and knowing this drug helped with sleep I started taking .5 nearly every night.

I then had carpel tunnel surgery and developed an infection in my hand and was given Augmentin forte duo and after taking the second antibiotic my ears starting ringing severely loud and I mean REALLY LOUD.

I thought this was just a spike so kept on taking .5 of Clonazepam as it reduced the noise but it would return. I have now been told the antibiotic was just a coincidence and I have developed a tolerance to the Klonopin as when I take it I experience severe burning pain after an hour which is like withdrawal. Hence the doctor states the benzo is the cause of the increased ringing due to withdrawal/dependence. I had to be switched to Diazepam to taper off due to horrific withdrawal symptoms, brain shakes, nightmares, muscle twitches my body feels like it is full of electricity.

I feel such an idiot for taking this drug I just didn't even think about what I was doing. The worst symptom however is the the screeching which is deafening in both my ears. The Diazepam does not stop the ringing.

Can anyone share a positive story only please! That their ears have eventually settled after withdrawing from a benzo.

I have read a story by a @JasonP but I am not sure how to message him as this is my first time on this forum. I am really struggling and would appreciate any positive input from anyone that unfortunately has had problems withdrawing from a benzo with previous tinnitus and has survived it.

That's why I tell people to stay off Benzodiazepines and avoid these like the plague, in an ideal world no medical professional would prescribe those poisons.

I hope you get better, I won't lie, withdrawal symptoms can last years and almost always require tapering off, cold turkey on Benzodiazepines can literally be fatal (as in, withdrawal symptoms would become severe enough to potentially kill you) or leave you with permanent damages, so don't do that unless you have to.

The good news is that while on average most withdrawal symptoms are gone several months after quitting Benzodiazepine, though Benzodiazepine induced tinnitus is one of the longer to resolve, taking on average about 2 years to fade, those symptoms aren't permanent and provided that you tapper off Benzodiazepines properly, you should expect a full, albeit lengthy recovery.

Next time, avoid chronic use of any drugs messing with the brain chemistry, especially GABA and Glutamate, as those can have devastating effects.