Steroids: Prednisone / Dexamethasone / Others (Oral and Intratympanic Injections)

[John_415]

Does anyone know a trustable source where I can buy Prednison online here in Europe (or Holland where im from). If possible I would like to have some of this stuff on hand, where it to happen that I get into another loud sound exposure. Getting it here in Holland means making an appointment with the doctor (takes about one week) then getting forwarded to the ENT doctor (takes another week) then if im lucky il get Prednison... most likely he will say what my current ENT doctor says: its mostly only usefull 24 to 48 hours after onset. But by that time its very late so having it on hand would be good.
I don't have a credit card and most online pharmacies rate very badly on www.scamadviser.com. So advice here would be appreciated. Otherwise Il ask my ENT doctor but Im not sure if he will subscribe me this.

 

[John_415]

It can still improve. I was told to taper it much slower over weeks and weeks time so.

Did it work for you Codaz?

 

[Codaz]

Did it work for you Codaz?

Unfortunately not. But I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I didn't have tried it. And I have spoken to people in the hyperbaric chamber for who it worked. After 4th treatment they started to hear better. It started for them idiopathic.
In short: if you have the ability: try it. And don't be afraid. In the large hyperbaric chambers there is always someone of the medical staff able to go with you for the dive the first (few) times. After the dive it's just two hours of watching a movie and breathing via the mask. There are a ton of tricks to make it easier. When I have some good days of my T I might write a tutorial.

 

[Codaz]

Does anyone know a trustable source where I can buy Prednison online here in Europe (or Holland where im from). If possible I would like to have some of this stuff on hand, where it to happen that I get into another loud sound exposure. Getting it here in Holland means making an appointment with the doctor (takes about one week) then getting forwarded to the ENT doctor (takes another week) then if im lucky il get Prednison... most likely he will say what my current ENT doctor says: its mostly only usefull 24 to 48 hours after onset. But by that time its very late so having it on hand would be good.
I don't have a credit card and most online pharmacies rate very badly on www.scamadviser.com. So advice here would be appreciated. Otherwise Il ask my ENT doctor but Im not sure if he will subscribe me this.

See here:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/oral-medrol-steroids-prednisone-advice-to-anyone.25230/

 

[John_415]

Unfortunately not. But I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I didn't have tried it. And I have spoken to people in the hyperbaric chamber for who it worked. After 4th treatment they started to hear better. It started for them idiopathic.
In short: if you have the ability: try it. And don't be afraid. In the large hyperbaric chambers there is always someone of the medical staff able to go with you for the dive the first (few) times. After the dive it's just two hours of watching a movie and breathing via the mask. There are a ton of tricks to make it easier. When I have some good days of my T I might write a tutorial.

Sorry to hear the Prednisone didn't work for you. I have read that for short periods of time a taper would not be necessary maybe thats why I didn't get a tapper.

So the hyperbaric treatment worked for some people you say. Did it change anything for you? Its really expensive and the results seem to be mild as far as I read. Watching a movie for 2 hours does indeed not sound very tiring. What I saw online where just images of people in Darth Vader/ Bane from Batman masks sitting in an enclosed room not doing anything. That looked a bit odd.
Il read up on it (and look if health insurance covers anyting on this) and perhaps I will do some hyperbaric oxigen treatments in the near future, tnx for the info.

 

[John_415]

See here:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/oral-medrol-steroids-prednisone-advice-to-anyone.25230/

Thanks for the link.

 

[AbidingByGrace]

I have been on Prednisone since Friday, 2/2/18. Today I took my last dose of 40mg and tomorrow I'll be on 20mg...I called my ENT NP to ask if they will re-evaluate the dosage since the window of effectiveness is so small. They will call back within a few hours. What should the dosage be? Thank you!

My dosage is
3 days - 60mg
3 days - 40mg
3 days - 20mg
4 days - 10mg

Praying it is enough.

 

[Localboy]

I have been on Prednisone since Friday, 2/2/18. Today I took my last dose of 40mg and tomorrow I'll be on 20mg...I called my ENT NP to ask if they will re-evaluate the dosage since the window of effectiveness is so small. They will call back within a few hours. What should the dosage be? Thank you!

My dosage is
3 days - 60mg
3 days - 40mg
3 days - 20mg
4 days - 10mg

Praying it is enough.

I think that's more than enough, have you got any tinnitus reducing effect yet?

 

[AbidingByGrace]

I don't think so, unfortunately. I have been looking into Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. It sounds like it is most promising within 14 days of onset, which I am almost past... https://www.uhms.org/14-idiopathic-...er-8-2011-by-the-uhms-board-of-directors.html

 

[John_415]

I don't think so, unfortunately. I have been looking into Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. It sounds like it is most promising within 14 days of onset, which I am almost past... https://www.uhms.org/14-idiopathic-...er-8-2011-by-the-uhms-board-of-directors.html

The best results can be seen doing HBOT within 3 months, here is some research on it from the forum:

A couple of studies:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10384896
In this study, we prescribed HBO to 20 patients who had had severe tinnitus for more than one year and who had already had other forms of tinnitus therapy with unsatisfactory results.
Six patients had a reduction of tinnitus and accompanying symptoms, eight patients did not notice any change and two patients experienced an adverse effect. Any outcome persisted with minor changes until one year after treatment. HBO may contribute to the treatment of severe tinnitus, but the negative effect on tinnitus should be weighed carefully.

So in that study HBO was tried for patients who had had tinnitus for more than one year. Six of 20 had a reduction of tinnitus, 8 of 20 had no effect and 2 of 20 experienced an adverse effect.


Another one: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17159373

INTRODUCTION:
The standard treatment of subjective tinnitus hardly reaches the level of placebo controls. Though the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) for subjective tinnitus has never been objectified, it is still advocated by some institutions. We analyzed the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in the context of accompanying factors.


PATIENTS AND METHODS:
We randomized 360 patients suffering from tinnitus into 2 HBO treatment protocols (group A: 2.2 bar for 60 min bottom time and group B: 2.5 bar for 60 min bottom time once a day for 15 days). All patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire (social and medical history, tinnitus characteristics, pre-HBO duration of tinnitus, prior therapy, pretreatment expectation, accompanying symptoms). A subjective assessment of the therapeutic effect was obtained.


RESULTS:
Twelve patients (3.3%) experienced complete remission of tinnitus, in 122 (33.9) the intensity lessened, and 44 (12.2%) had a subjectively agreeable change of noise characteristics. No change was found in 157 cases (43.6%) and 25 (6.9%) experienced deterioration. There was no statistically significant difference between groups A and B (p > 0.05). Out of 68 patients with a positive expectation of HBO effects, 60.3% stated that the tinnitus had improved whereas only 47.2 and 19%, respectively, out of patients who underwent therapy with an indifferent (n = 271) or negative expectation (n = 21) reported an improvement. The influence of subjective expectation on the outcome was statistically significant (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSION:
The therapeutic effects of HBO on subjective tinnitus may be substantially influenced by psychological mechanisms.


From that second study it's interesting that the influence of subjective expectation was statistically significant.



Then finally a review: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18225611

OBJECTIVE:
To assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on tinnitus.


METHODOLOGY:
A Medline search from 1960-2007 yielding 22 studies.


RESULTS:
No significant effect could be demonstrated in four prospective studies. Retrospective studies indicate greater improvement in tinnitus in acute cases (49-85%) compared with tinnitus episodes exceeding three months (34-38%). One study, however, showed significantly more improvement in patients with positive expectations before therapy (60.3%) compared with those with negative expectations (19%).


CONCLUSIONS:
There are no significant data about the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation for tinnitus, but there are indications of a better effect in acute cases. However, a major psychological component and a low risk of enhancement of the tinnitus should be considered.

I want to do HBOT but need to have a written letter from my ENT doctor to start it... next session with my ENT will be in 2 weeks which makes my wait time from onset: 7 weeks + 2 weeks of waiting to get the letter. So I could do HBOT 9 weeks after onset most likely. If you see your ENT, get a letter to go to HBOT asap and don't forget to bring it up like me! Effectiveness is best within 3 months and goes down a lot after that time.

 

[Jan64]

Fastest way to get prednisone is to contact Edwin Bisschop, see www.oorsuizen.net He can make an appointment with Dr. Wallesch in Rhauderfehn (special arrangement for Dutch patients) Monday at 15:00... if you are lucky... And without ' verwijzing'. Less expensive than HBOT. I think prednisone is more effective than HBOT (have experience with both, HBOT in 1996 (15x), 1999 (10x) and 2017 (20x); prednisone treatments in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017). HBOT is not covered in the Dutch health care system (costs €182,48/session).

 

[Localboy]

Fastest way to get prednisone is to contact Edwin Bisschop, see www.oorsuizen.net He can make an appointment with Dr. Wallesch in Rhauderfehn (special arrangement for Dutch patients) Monday at 15:00... if you are lucky... And without ' verwijzing'. Less expensive than HBOT. I think prednisone is more effective than HBOT (have experience with both, HBOT in 1996 (15x), 1999 (10x) and 2017 (20x); prednisone treatments in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017). HBOT is not covered in the Dutch health care system (costs €182,48/session).

Did you spend over €8000 for HBOT? That's a lot of money...!

 

[Jan64]

Did you spend over €8000 for HBOT? That's a lot of money...!

Yes, it's an expensive way to learn to protect your ears properly...

 

[Jan64]

Greetings! I took spontaneously 3 days of prednisolone at 30 mg per day with a sharp stop. Tell me, is this scheme permissible and safe? Did not need a gradual decline? I'm very afraid of the "rebound syndrome" - this is when the inflammation after a sharp cancellation increases. On day 3, my frontal sinuses began to ache (there is chronic sinusitis). That's strange. How would the internal nerves of the ear not inflamed, what do you say?

I once asked my GP about tapering: For a short treatment it is not necesary to taper. Dose is according to my German ENT quite low. According to him, 3 days 60 mg in the morning then taper it with 10 mg, till 10 mg and last 5 days 10 mg: 60,60,60,50,40,30,20,10,10,10,10,10 See also @Codaz adivices.

 

[Codaz]

Every ENT has his own taper scheme. From what I can tell multiple days of 60 do something.

 

[Codaz]

Fastest way to get prednisone is to contact Edwin Bisschop, see www.oorsuizen.net He can make an appointment with Dr. Wallesch in Rhauderfehn (special arrangement for Dutch patients) Monday at 15:00... if you are lucky... And without ' verwijzing'. Less expensive than HBOT. I think prednisone is more effective than HBOT (have experience with both, HBOT in 1996 (15x), 1999 (10x) and 2017 (20x); prednisone treatments in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017). HBOT is not covered in the Dutch health care system (costs €182,48/session).

The thing is, what helps best in your opinion Jan?
You did 45 sessions of HBOT and multiple rows of prednisone treatments.

 

[John_415]

Fastest way to get prednisone is to contact Edwin Bisschop, see www.oorsuizen.net He can make an appointment with Dr. Wallesch in Rhauderfehn (special arrangement for Dutch patients) Monday at 15:00... if you are lucky... And without ' verwijzing'. Less expensive than HBOT. I think prednisone is more effective than HBOT (have experience with both, HBOT in 1996 (15x), 1999 (10x) and 2017 (20x); prednisone treatments in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017). HBOT is not covered in the Dutch health care system (costs €182,48/session).

Usefull advice for me as a Dutch guy, I now have to decide if I want to go for another round of Prednison asap or HBOT. Or perhaps both.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Hi all,

I am having another setback and could use some support and wisdom right now.

Life is stacking up on me. Lyme, tinnitus, and the flow on effect from juggling these conditions.

I have been taking doxycycline for the past month and a half to treat an atypical pneumonia.

Some of you may know that I received adipose derived stems in May of last year, which I feel had helped my hyperacusis. My tinnitus had taken a back seat too.

Until 3 days ago, when I was adjusting a meal tray at work, whcn something inside the metal bracket exploded and made a very LOUD BANG noise.

Since then, I am back to experiencing intrusive tinnitus which is difficult to mask, increased hyperacusis, and ear pain. I do have tmj on that side and have experienced pain in the past similar to what I am experiencing now.

I had an audiogram up to 8k today, which failed to demonstrate any further deterioration in my hearing. However, I am concerned about upper frequencies being affected.

I am toying with doing prednisolone. The audio today felt it wouldn't help. What do you guys think?

I am seriously distressed and really need some support right now.

 

[Jan64]

Usefull advice for me as a Dutch guy, I now have to decide if I want to go for another round of Prednison asap or HBOT. Or perhaps both.

Actually most important is to handle quick. In case of noise induced hearing loss HBOT and Prednisone have almost the same working mechanisms... so what can you get quickest? Did you consider the 'Germany'-route? Infusions of prednison + pentoxifilline eventually combined with ear acupuncture.

Also important to determine how succesful treatment will be: is the damage caused by one detonation (knal, fire works). A one time very loud event or was it more gradually... a lot of events... A one time event is easier to heal than a lot of events (less severe) over a long time...

About tapering, for healing tinnitus best to taper. But from medical point (e.g. in case of severe side effects) of view you can stop the treatment right a way.

 

[Jan64]

The thing is, what helps best in your opinion Jan?
You did 45 sessions of HBOT and multiple rows of prednisone treatments.

For 'simple' noise induced tinnitus I think (not very scientific: n=1) prednison (preferably combined with Trental/pentoxifiline) works best. Preferably administered by infusions. HBOT is more indirect..

In the ideal world: noise induced tinnitus is seen as an emergency... In 2100 we have specialised treatment centers (no reference needed, you als do not need an reference when you have a heart attack...) in an ENT staffed Hyperbaric Oxygen facility, one treatment in the morning (9:00) en one in the afternoon (16:00). Between those treatments infusions (1 hour) at 12:00 with prednison and pentoxifilline. Plus during the infusions one hour medium level laser treatment... 650 nm (100 mW) and 808 nm (200 mW).

Or would that be too much...?

 

[Codaz]

For 'simple' noise induced tinnitus I think (not very scientific: n=1) prednison (preferably combined with Trental/pentoxifiline) works best. Preferably administered by infusions. HBOT is more indirect..

In the ideal world: noise induced tinnitus is seen as an emergency... In 2100 we have specialised treatment centers (no reference needed, you als do not need an reference when you have a heart attack...) in an ENT staffed Hyperbaric Oxygen facility, one treatment in the morning (9:00) en one in the afternoon (16:00). Between those treatments infusions (1 hour) at 12:00 with prednison and pentoxifilline. Plus during the infusions one hour medium level laser treatment... 650 nm (100 mW) and 808 nm (200 mW).

Or would that be too much...?

I hope by that time they have the nano material to cure the inner ear directly without laser.

 

[AbidingByGrace]

For 'simple' noise induced tinnitus I think (not very scientific: n=1) prednison (preferably combined with Trental/pentoxifiline) works best. Preferably administered by infusions. HBOT is more indirect..

In the ideal world: noise induced tinnitus is seen as an emergency... In 2100 we have specialised treatment centers (no reference needed, you als do not need an reference when you have a heart attack...) in an ENT staffed Hyperbaric Oxygen facility, one treatment in the morning (9:00) en one in the afternoon (16:00). Between those treatments infusions (1 hour) at 12:00 with prednison and pentoxifilline. Plus during the infusions one hour medium level laser treatment... 650 nm (100 mW) and 808 nm (200 mW).

Or would that be too much...?

That would be amazing.

 

[John_415]

Actually most important is to handle quick. In case of noise induced hearing loss HBOT and Prednisone have almost the same working mechanisms... so what can you get quickest? Did you consider the 'Germany'-route? Infusions of prednison + pentoxifilline eventually combined with ear acupuncture.

Also important to determine how succesful treatment will be: is the damage caused by one detonation (knal, fire works). A one time very loud event or was it more gradually... a lot of events... A one time event is easier to heal than a lot of events (less severe) over a long time...

About tapering, for healing tinnitus best to taper. But from medical point (e.g. in case of severe side effects) of view you can stop the treatment right a way.

You're right actually, I'll do whatever I can get the fastest to try and delete the T while possible.
The Germany route is to scary for me, transportation, language, being in a bed for 10 days or longer. Its to much for me to handle. I'll do more Prednisone and most likely HBOT over here asap.

I got T after 1 loud sound event. Interesting to know that might be easier to heal.

In the ideal world: noise induced tinnitus is seen as an emergency... In 2100 we have specialised treatment centers (no reference needed, you als do not need an reference when you have a heart attack...) in an ENT staffed Hyperbaric Oxygen facility, one treatment in the morning (9:00) en one in the afternoon (16:00). Between those treatments infusions (1 hour) at 12:00 with prednison and pentoxifilline. Plus during the infusions one hour medium level laser treatment... 650 nm (100 mW) and 808 nm (200 mW).

Or would that be too much...?

That would be good indeed, more urgency is certainly a great improvement and some working treatments right away would be great!
Maybe you should start a good cause and get people to donate

 

[John_415]

Hi all,

I am having another setback and could use some support and wisdom right now.

Life is stacking up on me. Lyme, tinnitus, and the flow on effect from juggling these conditions.

I have been taking doxycycline for the past month and a half to treat an atypical pneumonia.

Some of you may know that I received adipose derived stems in May of last year, which I feel had helped my hyperacusis. My tinnitus had taken a back seat too.

Until 3 days ago, when I was adjusting a meal tray at work, whcn something inside the metal bracket exploded and made a very LOUD BANG noise.

Since then, I am back to experiencing intrusive tinnitus which is difficult to mask, increased hyperacusis, and ear pain. I do have tmj on that side and have experienced pain in the past similar to what I am experiencing now.

I had an audiogram up to 8k today, which failed to demonstrate any further deterioration in my hearing. However, I am concerned about upper frequencies being affected.

I am toying with doing prednisolone. The audio today felt it wouldn't help. What do you guys think?

I am seriously distressed and really need some support right now.

A random loud explosive noise, thats a scary event. Hearing your story im seriously thinking of buying elektronic earplugs like the Etymotic hd15.
These let normal conversations trough but block loud noises, they even have blast protection up to 35db i read.
Site: https://www.etymotic.com/hd15.html

Etymotic hd15

My ENT said Prednisone works for acute tinnitus.. mostly 24 to 48 hours after onset. I read its effective up to 3 months after but the earlyer you start the better. It has given me some improvement.

 

[DebInAustralia]

A random loud explosive noise, thats a scary event. Hearing your story im seriously thinking of buying elektronic earplugs like the Etymotic hd15.
These let normal conversations trough but block loud noises, they even have blast protection up to 35db i read.
Site: https://www.etymotic.com/hd15.html
View attachment 14728
Etymotic hd15

My ENT said Prednisone works for acute tinnitus.. mostly 24 to 48 hours after onset. I read its effective up to 3 months after but the earlyer you start the better. It has given me some improvement.

my hearing threshold didnt shift
my audiogram is unchanged
my t seems quieter
pain around ear still .. but could be tmj
recommenced taking nicotinamide riboside.
inspite of my incident, i wont be over protecting my ears

 

[Jan64]

My ENT said Prednisone works for acute tinnitus.. mostly 24 to 48 hours after onset. I read its effective up to 3 months after but the earlyer you start the better. It has given me some improvement.

To which research paper does your ENT refer? There is not much, German ENT's refer to: http://www.dres-wallesch.de/Therapieschema_nach_Stennert.pdf It is in German but with some help of Google translate it is understandable...

 

[Jan64]

The Germany route is to scary for me, transportation, language, being in a bed for 10 days or longer. Its to much for me to handle. I'll do more Prednisone and most likely HBOT over here asap.

For me, the 'German route' was a kind of a holiday... From Utrecht it was 4 hours travel (unfortunately the bridge at Weener (Ems-river) was destroyed so it is a bit more complex nowadays). Stayed in a cheap but luxurious apartment complex. http://www.fehnferien.de/de-DE/photos . And the infusion lasted only one hour a day.. Rest of the day you can do other things.

 

[John_415]

@

To which research paper does your ENT refer? There is not much, German ENT's refer to: http://www.dres-wallesch.de/Therapieschema_nach_Stennert.pdf It is in German but with some help of Google translate it is understandable...

He didn't refer to any sources, just said: its only usefull if done 24/48 hours after onset.
Since getting a doctors appointment for a referal to an ENT, then an ENT appointment will take at least a bunch of weeks, its not even remotely possible to get it in that term.
HBOT requires a referal from an ENT doctor so that would take even longer. Perhaps if you call all three at the same time and schedule them all out in 1 week you can run from one to the other with a referal in your hands from the previous oneXD.

For me, the 'German route' was a kind of a holiday... From Utrecht it was 4 hours travel (unfortunately the bridge at Weener (Ems-river) was destroyed so it is a bit more complex nowadays). Stayed in a cheap but luxurious apartment complex. http://www.fehnferien.de/de-DE/photos . And the infusion lasted only one hour a day.. Rest of the day you can do other things.

A holiday does sound nice, anyway, I have got an appointment tomorrow at a different ENT doctor to get some prednisone and perhaps some pentoxifilline. Il be calling the HBOT center nearest right after to go do that asap.
Do you know if Prednison and HBOT interact with each other? I know Prednison decreases wound healing, while HBOT would speed up wound healing, is there any research on this?

 

[John_415]

About Prednison:
Just got more Prednisolon Mylan from a different ENT docter. (This saves waiting 10 days for my next appointment with my current ENT doctor). Its high strength 60mg for 10 days. He said the previous ENT gave me a low dose (30mg for 7 days), It should have been higher for (even more) effect.
So im 8 weeks in now, il post results on this second treatment here. Not looking forward to the (temporary) increase.

About HBOT:
I also got a HBOT referal from this ENT, I called the HBOT facility to make an appointment but heard the intake and then treatment will take about.. 1 week.

All these delays and paperwork are really slowing down any good chances for healing here.
I will find some way to quickly get Prednison (or have it in my house) if ever I get another loud T-inducing event.

 

[paganismos]

Hi. I got tinnitus on Monday Feb 12 after an ear irrigation to remove wax. I first heard the high pitched noise (like a dog whistle) that night. I have an appointment with an ENT tomorrow morning. Should I ask him about the prednisone? Do you think it'll work? My tinnitus is not that noticeable, but it's still there, in my right ear. A GP looked on Tuesday and said that the ear was swollen and prescribed me some eardrops with corticosteroids and antibiotics. My left ear started hurting really bad yesterday night, it feels swollen and hot to the touch.

Should I give prednisone a go? @John_415