Stopped Clonazepam — Now I Can't Sleep — Doctor Prescribed Trazodone

[Lesvil]

Hi. I've had tinnitus for 11 months. It was extremely bad at the beginning and I was put on Clonazepam and Lexapro. I got off those after 4 months.

I relapsed and got back on the Clonazepam for two months but only .25 mg in the AM.

Two weeks ago I got off and now I can't sleep. My Dr. prescribed Trazodone 50 mg. Soothing teas don't help and the Benadryl doesn't keep me asleep.

But taking Trazodone scares me. Of course the tinnitus is worse because of the lack of sleep. My sleep hygiene is good.

Any suggestions?

 

[John Mahan]

A suggestion and only that. Clonazepam... I take 0.5mg 'as needed'... for me... when I am agitated... typically associated with the volume of my tinnitus going up for reasons I can never understand. Clonazepam is my go to med to bring me down off the ledge. For me, its a great med.

Without meds, I am generally pretty good during the day when I am distracted by the day, on the go etc. I struggle more at night with sleeping. I am sure there is a brain chemistry interaction between tinnitus and sleep patterns. It seems that people with tinnitus struggle more with sleeping than prior to having tinnitus. My case at least. REM versus non REM sleep seems to highly alter my tinnitus for example... the loudness.

If I believe I am going to have a tough night... just something I feel... my level of agitation, I take a Clonazepam at bedtime. It works wonders to help me sleep and I typically wake up the next morning with softer tinnitus for the mere reason, my dreams are more positive. I don't tend to have nightmares for example on that med.

All said, if you read all the anecdotal reports on this site from all the smart people that thankfully contribute, a steady diet of benzos is bad for tinnitus. Not sure why other than the addictive nature of the med, but benzos for some can increase their tinnitus over time. So what I do... I am generally in the not take any meds if possible camp is... I take Clonazepam only when I feel agitated before bed. It helps me greatly and I wake up much calmer. But only as needed to ward off addiction and hopefully any adverse effect on my tinnitus over time due to prolonged benzo usage.

My thoughts.

 

[GoatSheep]

All said, if you read all the anecdotal reports on this site from all the smart people that thankfully contribute, a steady diet of benzos is bad for tinnitus.

Can you point me towards some of these threads referencing it increasing their tinnitus over time?

 

[John Mahan]

Can you point me towards some of these threads referencing it increasing their tinnitus over time?

One theory:
http://tensortympani.com/is-tinnitus-caused-by-benzodiazepines-benzos/

 

[Tinniger]

I relapsed and got back on the Clonazepam for two months but only .25 mg in the AM.
Two weeks ago I got off and now I can't sleep.

Why was the very low dose of clonazepam abandoned where it still helped well. Why the introduction of a new substance (trazodone), which has a variety of potential side effects?

 

[GoatSheep]

@John Mahan

Thanks

 

[Lilah]

I took trazodone 50 mg for 6 months, doctor said it is not habit forming and can use as needed. I doubt it affected my tinnitus. 50 mg is a low dose.

 

[KMc24]

My doctor prescribed 50 mg Of Trazodone for me, as well. I've been taking it for 6 months, and it has had no negative impact on my tinnitus. I've been breaking the pills in half because I find that half the dose works about as well as the full dose with less side effects. The only issue is it works very well at putting me to sleep, but staying asleep can be an issue. My doctor is reluctant to prescribe anything else due to the potential for addiction. I mentioned benzos, and she said she didn't want to go that route.

 

[AfroSnowman]

Hi. I've had tinnitus for 11 months. It was extremely bad at the beginning and I was put on Clonazepam and Lexapro. I got off those after 4 months.

I relapsed and got back on the Clonazepam for two months but only .25 mg in the AM.

Two weeks ago I got off and now I can't sleep. My Dr. prescribed Trazodone 50 mg. Soothing teas don't help and the Benadryl doesn't keep me asleep.

But taking Trazodone scares me. Of course the tinnitus is worse because of the lack of sleep. My sleep hygiene is good.

Any suggestions?

You might want to try unisom (Doxylamine). It is a different antihistamine than Benadryl (diphenhydramine). It has worked more consistently for me than Benadryl.

I tried Trazodone a handful of times and didn't like it. I got really bad dry mouth and morning grogginess. Also that is what I took the night I had sudden onset tinnitus. First time I had taken a dose in like half a year and though I am sure it was coincidental I will never touch that stuff again.

Goodluck

 

[linearb]

One theory:
http://tensortympani.com/is-tinnitus-caused-by-benzodiazepines-benzos/

that site makes vague claims and then tries to sell me supplements.

benzo withdrawal is well known to cause tinnitus, in some cases permanently. benzo use seems to cause paradoxical, self limiting tinnitus in some users, but I've never seen anything linking ongoing use to worsening tinnitus.

 

[John Mahan]

that site makes vague claims and then tries to sell me supplements.

benzo withdrawal is well known to cause tinnitus, in some cases permanently. benzo use seems to cause paradoxical, self limiting tinnitus in some users, but I've never seen anything linking ongoing use to worsening tinnitus.

An interesting distinction you make. Are you saying, as long as one stays on benzo's and don't withdraw from them, there is either a negligible affect on tinnitus or tinnitus can be improved with some people?

Most of what I have read is benzo usable and tinnitus is a slippery slope. And why caution....if going on Clonazepam long term, this decision should be considered carefully.

Can you explain your theory behind this underlying paradox you mention? I just want to understand if you believe...if a person has tinnitus already, there should be no negative affect for long term benzo usage...or if one withdraws from benzo usage because a person has tinnitus already.

Please explain further if you would.

Thanks.

 

[Lesvil]

Why was the very low dose of clonazepam abandoned where it still helped well. Why the introduction of a new substance (trazodone), which has a variety of potential side effects?

@Tinniger . I stopped taking the low dose of clono b/c I didn't have the anxiety anymore and I'm petrified that it will slow down the habituation process. I was having trouble sleeping even taking the clono in the morning. I would have to take it at night and I'm scared of forming a dependence on the clonazepam. Thank you all for your replies.

 

[linearb]

An interesting distinction you make. Are you saying, as long as one stays on benzo's and don't withdraw from them, there is either a negligible affect on tinnitus or tinnitus can be improved with some people?

Not at all; I said that if there's good evidence that such use leads to tinnitus worsening, I am unaware of it and have been unable to find it -- if I was seriously concerned about this then I would be reconsidering my benzo use.

Most of what I have read is benzo usable and tinnitus is a slippery slope. And why caution....if going on Clonazepam long term, this decision should be considered carefully.

Benzos in general are a slippery slope, which, as far as I can tell, lead to nightmarish hell situations with some regularity. Hence, caution is extremely appropriate.

Can you explain your theory behind this underlying paradox you mention? I just want to understand if you believe...if a person has tinnitus already, there should be no negative affect for long term benzo usage...or if one withdraws from benzo usage because a person has tinnitus already.

Please explain further if you would.

Thanks.

I said that if there is a negative long term effect, I've never seen it demonstrated in any research, nor seen a mechanism that would make this seem likely in the same. Anecdotally my tinnitus was stable for the 6 years I was on Klonopin a long time ago, and only worsened through an acoustic trauma years later.

I think you're misunderstanding, or at least seeing too much gravity, in the point that I'm making. I think benzos are super dangerous, incredibly habit forming, and are a great thing to avoid if someone can have an acceptable quality of life -- because it's a dice roll, might make your quality of life worse, and might even make your tinnitus worse over time. I am not at all saying that's impossible, only that after fairly extensive amateur research I haven't found any good evidence of such.

 

[John Mahan]

Not at all; I said that if there's good evidence that such use leads to tinnitus worsening, I am unaware of it and have been unable to find it -- if I was seriously concerned about this then I would be reconsidering my benzo use.


Benzos in general are a slippery slope, which, as far as I can tell, lead to nightmarish hell situations with some regularity. Hence, caution is extremely appropriate.


I said that if there is a negative long term effect, I've never seen it demonstrated in any research, nor seen a mechanism that would make this seem likely in the same. Anecdotally my tinnitus was stable for the 6 years I was on Klonopin a long time ago, and only worsened through an acoustic trauma years later.

I think you're misunderstanding, or at least seeing too much gravity, in the point that I'm making. I think benzos are super dangerous, incredibly habit forming, and are a great thing to avoid if someone can have an acceptable quality of life -- because it's a dice roll, might make your quality of life worse, and might even make your tinnitus worse over time. I am not at all saying that's impossible, only that after fairly extensive amateur research I haven't found any good evidence of such.

Well, then let's try to put a bow on your position about benzo relationship to tinnitus.

You are on benzo's long term.

You find no negative affect to your health by being on benzo's long term.

You find no adverse effect to your tinnitus by taking benzo's long term.

Further, my presumption is, you have taken the benzo medication long term because it actually improves your tinnitus or perception of it.

Based upon your particular experience with benzo's and tinnitus, prolonged benzo use is a net positive, or I presume you would not take this med steadily, long term.

A fair summary of 'your personal experience'?

 

[linearb]

A fair summary of 'your personal experience'?

Yes, though still a bit rosier than I'd be. There are definite downsides to being on this stuff; my GI track doesn't love it, there are obvious short term memory deficits, and for better or worse it radically limits my ability to consume alcohol.

I'm also not real clear how "long term" I'm intending to be back on; some of that relates to what happens w/Neuromod or UMich, but, I have other reasons for taking these drugs as well. In any case, as I have tapered off twice before -- painfully -- I feel like i have a pretty good grasp on what I'm in for. Benzo withdrawal the last time around, even done slowly and "correctly" was absolutely one of the most miserable and harrowing experiences of my life.

If I could get the benefit I seem to get from KPin + Gabapentin + Cannabis from gabapentin + cannabis alone -- I would be much more relaxed about all this stuff and probably not worry about it too much at all. Despite all my experience, benzos still alarm me considerably, and so being on them and not being too worried about that is a study in walking a fine line of consciousness. Threading the needle of anxiolysis....

 

[Lesvil]

I took trazodone 50 mg for 6 months, doctor said it is not habit forming and can use as needed. I doubt it affected my tinnitus. 50 mg is a low dose.

@Lilah. How ae you sleeping now. Can you sleep without the pill?

 

[Lilah]

@Lilah. How ae you sleeping now. Can you sleep without the pill?

I am sleeping with a supplemental that has magnesium, GABA, 5-HTP, etc. now. My sleep is still interrupted (sometimes very) but I think I feel better in the morning. I no longer have the hungover feeling that accompanies sleep pills. Overall my sleep is improved. I sleep with a sound pillow, white noise, and classical music. I fall asleep listening to classical music, which also helps with anxiety. I wanted to stop trazodone because it is ototoxic (even though I don't think it impacted my tinnitus) and I am already taking an ototoxic med for another reason.

 

[John Mahan]

Yes, though still a bit rosier than I'd be. There are definite downsides to being on this stuff; my GI track doesn't love it, there are obvious short term memory deficits, and for better or worse it radically limits my ability to consume alcohol.

I'm also not real clear how "long term" I'm intending to be back on; some of that relates to what happens w/Neuromod or UMich, but, I have other reasons for taking these drugs as well. In any case, as I have tapered off twice before -- painfully -- I feel like i have a pretty good grasp on what I'm in for. Benzo withdrawal the last time around, even done slowly and "correctly" was absolutely one of the most miserable and harrowing experiences of my life.

If I could get the benefit I seem to get from KPin + Gabapentin + Cannabis from gabapentin + cannabis alone -- I would be much more relaxed about all this stuff and probably not worry about it too much at all. Despite all my experience, benzos still alarm me considerably, and so being on them and not being too worried about that is a study in walking a fine line of consciousness. Threading the needle of anxiolysis....

Thanks for your explanation. I understand. Many of us do. We are all trying to thread what seems like an impossible needle. With me, I take Clonazepam as needed, because so far with this approach I many time avert the dark, desperate despair of tinnitus. Not always. When I feel the most desperate, I go to the bottle. Maybe once a week....sometimes less, sometimes more.

 

[Star64]

@linearb @John Mahan...

Wouldn't life be great if they could come up with a drug that works as good as Klonopin for tinnitus...

One that had no dependence issues, no tolerance issues, no nasty side effects, then we wouldn't need to worry about withdrawal issues... you could stay on the drug forever... hopefully one day that will happen.

I was informed yesterday that some research study showed a 50 percent increase of getting Alzheimer's with benzo use, I suppose you would forget about your tinnitus if that happened...

 

[John Mahan]

@linearb @John Mahan...

Wouldn't life be great if they could come up with a drug that works as good as Klonopin for tinnitus...

One that had no dependence issues, no tolerance issues, no nasty side effects, then we wouldn't need to worry about withdrawal issues... you could stay on the drug forever... hopefully one day that will happen.

I was informed yesterday that some research study showed a 50 percent increase of getting Alzheimer's with benzo use, I suppose you would forget about your tinnitus if that happened...

Yeah...in a perfect world. Somehow we all try to cope with a highly imperfect if not a world we can't predict or prepare for.

Tinnitus is a very serious PITA for sure. As with most, it bugs more sometimes than other times.
And as with most, we were broadsided. I lived a long life with good hearing and no tinnitus until one day.

I saw my audiologist the other day. She believes because of my health and age, my decline in high frequency hearing in both ears is due to a health issue that affected my brain. A virus...something happened to cause the nerve damage which made it much harder to hear highs above the 6K range or so in both ears. She said my rather abrupt onset of tinnitus is bit unusual and so is my hearing loss. She believes there was a chemical or some reason for my hearing loss. It wasn't abrupt sound exposure in my case.

A lot of mystery about this...and due to the complexity of hearing, right now, not a lot of great solutions.

I am a technologist and therefore I look to the future which by today's vantage point will be unrecognizable. People tend to look through their personal lens at this point in time. AI and super computers that can collate data from the cloud...a sea of data unfathomable to the human brain, this will propel us to solutions we haven't or couldn't consider.

Here is something to consider Star64. Some believe, what I personally believe is... in 25 years, AI and robots will 1000 x's smarter than what is considered a human with genius IQ of 150...like Bill Gates for example...or Tom Edison, or Elon Musk who is very involved in AI.

In fact, Musk believes the 'only salvation of humanity as we know it' is the 'if you can't beat them, you must joint them' notion. The only way humans will survive is to interface computer technology with our brains to make human's smarter to compete with robot's. It isn't just how smart man will make robots. When robots become smarter than man, robots will make robots exponentially smarter, repair themselves, make them self repairing and perpetuate themselves.

You may have heard the story about the two robots that were placed nearby one another. Together, they constructed their own language so their communication couldn't be deciphered by humans.

Tinnitus will be solved and may in fact be the least of our worries...or not.