Should Everyone with Tinnitus Have Prednisone Available in Case of Emergency?

[Ben Winders]

I was wondering if it would make sense for everyone with (disabling) tinnitus to stock up on Prednisone in case we run into a loud accident along our lives (bound to happen)?

I'm imagining something happening at 3 am on a Sunday morning when I'm on a trip on a remote island in Thailand (just an example) where I can't just run to the doctor to get a prescription.

 

[Aussie Lea]

I feel like Prednisone barely ever works well for tinnitus spikes. Too many people here consider taking Prednisone for even the tiniest noise incident.

I have Prednisone always ready to go though in case I get sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

 

[Nick47]

I see too much nonsense and paranoia on here and people taking Prednisone after every loud noise exposure. It is a serious drug that lowers immunity. I've seen people take it just because their smoke alarm has gone off in their house.

Sudden hearing loss - yes!

 

[Aschenherz]

I was on Prednisolone and can truly say that this is a dangerous drug. It gave me all kinds of side effects (the biggest one TERRIBLE INSOMNIA) and did nothing for my problem. I was more than glad when it was out of my system.

 

[CrystalB]

Prednisone helped with my fullness in my ears but I believe it made tinnitus seem louder than normal.

 

[InNeedOfHelp]

I would not recommend.

I have Prednisone on hand at home. Many times I considered using it after sound exposure, many times I pulled through without. In theory you should always wait out a spike first to see if it goes down. However, 2 weeks ago my daughter dropped her glass on a porcelain plate. I knew it was going to be bad. Two weeks later (now) still tinnitus from hell. Seems like my third worsening in 13 months of tinnitus. I decided not to take Prednisone, since it was sound exposure 1/3 of a second (no idea how loud, easily above 100 dB though).

My point is you never know when you should have taken Prednisone or not. Having it at home doesn't make it any easier. Especially with stories of people worsening on it too. It has been tested several times and it has no clinically significant effect on tinnitus.

My suggestion is live life without Prednisone unless there is sudden hearing loss.

 

[kingsfan]

Prednisone for any sudden hearing loss but not specifically for tinnitus.

 

[Matchbox]

I keep Dexamethasone on hand, much, much longer half life and won't screw with inner ear fluids like Prednisone can. Probably the steroid of choice if you're going to do it properly.

I've only used it once, when I lost 20 dB hearing for over a day in one ear. Worked within 4 hours, peaked by day 3. Counted my lucky stars I had it. Tinnitus improved a fair amount and my hearing hasn't been so good on a test in literally YEARS.

The taper fucking sucked, my hearing decreased a "bit" and my tinnitus was ungodly.

But, I got a lot better once 6 half lives passed, and would do it over again.

I would never use it on tinnitus because it can absolutely worsen it. Prednisone itself I wouldn't do unless the Dexamethasone was unresponsive.

I'm "only" 32, so it can happen to anyone imo. My whole body is breaking nowadays, and I feel like ears can take the least punishment of all. They can't rock out anymore like my 24-year-old ones did.

 

[makeyourownluck]

Prednisone helped with my fullness in my ears but I believe it made tinnitus seem louder than normal.

Did the fullness resolve completely? Also, did the improvement last?

 

[Juan]

I do have Prednisone available in case of emergency.

 

[CrystalB]

Did the fullness resolve completely? Also, did the improvement last?

After I quit Prednisone, my fullness came right back. Now it goes back and forth. Some days it is better than others.