Prescription Medication Gave Me This Damned Tinnitus

[xanaxvictim]

It started in mid October, when I was withdrawing from a low dose of Xanax after a short term use. The Dr gave me this to treat tricyclic compound poisoning. I only took that sh.t for 16 days at low dose at the initial titration period before I developed serious neuromuscular side effects which had to be treated with Xanax, don't know why the Dr gave me that in the first place, I only had mild depression and very occasional insomnia back then, but she gave me major tranquilizer, f..k, when I realize what these drugs had done to my brain it was too late.

Hyperacusis preceded the development of tinnitus by a few days, and dizziness/unsteady feet/the feeling of drunk state preceded the development of hyperacusis by a few days, don't know whether they are related though.
Saw ENT and a top Otoneurologist, the Otoneurologist is also the director of a local tinnitus rTMS clinical trial program, he refused to let me try rTMS since my case is recent onset, normal audiogram, no damage in hearing at normal frequency range and high frequency range

What an irony, a drug which is frequently prescribed to tinnitus sufferers can itself cause tinnitus (same for DBS), maybe tinnitus researchers should take a serious look at it

Now it has been 1.5 months, it never stops, 24/7, changing volume, tone, pattern, reacts to body posture, jaw/head movement, sound stimulus, gravity, not sensitive to anxiety status and sleep condition, extremely complicated pattern, with electric shock like sensation, with weird eardrum clicking/vibration, I can even see it and smell it, weird enough, starting to lose hope that it will go.

Heard that benzo withdrawal induced tinnitus is somehow related to excessive firing of sensory cell due to overexcited (upregulated) glutamate pathway and downregulation of GABAA receptors, maybe an NMDA antagonist like AM-101 can also help?

Now I cannot lead a normal life again, as a face-to-face conversation and talking on telephone can make my head explode (tinnitus extremely sensitive to external sound), birds singing too. Computer fan, wind, A/C outlet, all of them cause tinnitus to "burn" my head. Life is such a misery. I lose interest in anything, I even refuse to eat.

I am willing to try whatever experimental treatment before it turns chronic, if none of them work then I may consider the final solution.

 

[Stacey427]

Hey there xanaxvictum,

It's nice to meet you, although under different circumstances I'm sure, would prefer us both.

I'm sorry that this condition has struck you, I wish that none of us had to be here.

I want you to know that as a recent sufferer I feel where your coming from, but, I hope here you find as much support as you need and try to hang around in the positive stories and research area as I find those most hopeful on days where I'm really down.

Good thing is, your very early so yours may settle or go away. I know it's hard to see any light, but keeping around positive has helped me, reason positive stories too!

Please know there are so many of us here happy to talk, please don't give up. Please hang in there as it will get a little brighter day by day. Sure, set backs occur but we are all here for you

Never hesitate to drop a line. Say positive, researchers are doing some awesome things!

 

[Karen]

That's what happened to me, too, @xanaxvictim. Like James, mine was made worse by blood pressure meds. I've been lucky, in that I was able to get myself off the meds (I weaned myself off them gradually), and have been able to control my blood pressure with exercise, diet, and natural supplements. But -- not everyone can do that.

I've been off the blood pressure meds for over four years now, and I still have the tinnitus and pulsatile tinnitus, but recently, both have calmed down. It is possible that yours will calm down, too, in time.

When I first got off the blood pressure meds, I had a really hard time with horrible anxiety (withdrawal from beta blocker), roaring tinnitus, up-and-down blood pressure, and adrenal fatigue. But all of that has finally leveled off now, and things look a lot better. I am hopeful that yours will settle down, too. Don't give up hope, and look around this forum. There are a lot of great suggestions here!

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Capstan]

Omg this literally matches my symptoms after using Xanax. I wish I'd never used it. I was blaming other stuff like pink noise usage. This is mind blowing and life altering. This is so rare how did it happen to me. I'm beyond devastated.

@Daniel Lion @Chinmoku what do you think?