Tinnitus a Bit Better, Depression & Anxiety a Lot Worse

[Jazzer]

I feel quite certain the CBD Oil helped somewhat (Barlean's brand). After a while however, it almost seemed to exacerbate it, which really surprised me. So I stopped for about a month, but did start up again just a couple days ago. So far, so good (it seems to calm my system down, which should be helpful for tinnitus).

I started taking some high DHA Fish Oil 3-4 weeks ago without noticing anything--I just recently doubled my dosage from 3/day to 6/day. Somewhat similarly to the CBD Oil, I'm getting the feeling it's helping ground my brain and nervous system, which I think has the potential to at least marginally improve my tinnitus.

I tried a concentrated Ginkgo Biloba extract (which has apparently helped many), and noticed it actually increased my the tinnitus intensity. I've read that sometimes the very things that can be useful for tinnitus can actually exacerbate it in the beginning. I've still got three full bottles of that left, and anticipate giving that a try again relatively soon.

The one thing that seems to be the most consistent in giving me up to a 10%+ or so temporary improvement is Tylenol 4. I've used it on and off for years for pain, and have always noticed I sleep better when taking it. However, if I use it very much, the effects dissipate pretty quickly. So I only take a 1/4 tablet 2-3x/week. I took a dose last night, and was happy to wake up with at least a 15% temporary reduction this morning. I feel quite certain it's the codeine content that gives me this brief respite.

Wow - thankyou for such a detailed reply Lane.
I really appreciate it. x

 

[JasonP]

My tinnitus started approximately 7 weeks ago after being one month on a therapeutic dose of Lexapro (Escitalopram). I was prescribed this anti-depressant after a long history of anxiety, panic attacks and mild depression. It was so bad, at some point I could not take the train to work because it was causing me panic attacks (I felt I would suffocate inside and had to get out every couple of stops to breathe, then wait for the next one, then repeat until I got to work, lol). Before being on it I was on and off on Xanax and sleeping pills (Imovane).

I have stopped the antidepressant 5 days after getting the tinnitus and since then my tinnitus gradually improved. The volume is a bit lower, it does not bother me at work anymore and I can generally get a good night's sleep. I am not completely sure it's getting better, maybe I am just habituating... This is the good part and me thinking objectively.

The bad part is my depression and anxiety are getting gradually worse since I am on no medication anymore. I thought that I could cope with everything if my tinnitus goes away, and this was basically the mantra I kept repeating for the last 7 weeks "If tinnitus goes away you have no problem in the world"... But depression does not work like that, you can't shoo it away and hope it disappears.
It's getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning, my anxiety grows day by day, I feel like suffocating again, on top of that there's the ringing in my ears which (even if lower as mentioned) is very hard to ignore when anxiety is through the roof.

What can I do? I am very afraid of trying other antidepressant after this happened. There are a ton of psychiatric drugs out there, but even the non-ototoxic ones, seem to aggravate tinnitus to some. For example Remeron, which I thought is non-ototoxic seems to give some people tinnitus (on this forum as well). Zoloft(Sertraline), Wellbutrin(Bupropion), Paxil(Paroxetine), for all you can find at least a couple of persons on this forum saying that it gave them tinnitus. Prozac could be safe...

Anyway I have no idea how to proceed, I have tried CBD oil and I had a really bad reaction to it, it made my whole mouth numb and it was the only thing that spiked my tinnitus. I might be allergic to it or something.

I am going weekly to cognitive behavioral therapy and I am jogging twice per week. I think these two help somewhat to keep going, but I am afraid I need something more to get out of this hole that keeps getting bigger and deeper

Lithium Orotate seems to help me. It is a natural supplement that can be purchased on Amazon, Vitamin Shoppe or many other places. Be sure to drink plenty of water, do some cardio, and make sure your intestines are working well. There is a gut-brain axis and bad things going on in the gut can cause anxiety and depression believe it or not.

 

[Agrajag364]

My tinnitus started approximately 7 weeks ago after being one month on a therapeutic dose of Lexapro (Escitalopram). I was prescribed this anti-depressant after a long history of anxiety, panic attacks and mild depression. It was so bad, at some point I could not take the train to work because it was causing me panic attacks (I felt I would suffocate inside and had to get out every couple of stops to breathe, then wait for the next one, then repeat until I got to work, lol). Before being on it I was on and off on Xanax and sleeping pills (Imovane).

I have stopped the antidepressant 5 days after getting the tinnitus and since then my tinnitus gradually improved. The volume is a bit lower, it does not bother me at work anymore and I can generally get a good night's sleep. I am not completely sure it's getting better, maybe I am just habituating... This is the good part and me thinking objectively.

The bad part is my depression and anxiety are getting gradually worse since I am on no medication anymore. I thought that I could cope with everything if my tinnitus goes away, and this was basically the mantra I kept repeating for the last 7 weeks "If tinnitus goes away you have no problem in the world"... But depression does not work like that, you can't shoo it away and hope it disappears.
It's getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning, my anxiety grows day by day, I feel like suffocating again, on top of that there's the ringing in my ears which (even if lower as mentioned) is very hard to ignore when anxiety is through the roof.

What can I do? I am very afraid of trying other antidepressant after this happened. There are a ton of psychiatric drugs out there, but even the non-ototoxic ones, seem to aggravate tinnitus to some. For example Remeron, which I thought is non-ototoxic seems to give some people tinnitus (on this forum as well). Zoloft(Sertraline), Wellbutrin(Bupropion), Paxil(Paroxetine), for all you can find at least a couple of persons on this forum saying that it gave them tinnitus. Prozac could be safe...

Anyway I have no idea how to proceed, I have tried CBD oil and I had a really bad reaction to it, it made my whole mouth numb and it was the only thing that spiked my tinnitus. I might be allergic to it or something.

I am going weekly to cognitive behavioral therapy and I am jogging twice per week. I think these two help somewhat to keep going, but I am afraid I need something more to get out of this hole that keeps getting bigger and deeper

I understand that depression and other MH issues can often take a huge spike if someone on meds for years comes off them, but often this is not permanent. It's very tricky I am sure to balance up the risks of being on the drugs with tinnitus. It sounds like you are doing the right thing exercising and doing CBT. Maybe see a doctor if the MH issues don't start to improve a bit soon

 

[coffee_girl]

Try natural remedies to stave off anxiety before jumping on to meds

 

[JohnAdams]

God I wish I could say that. I lay my ear on the pillow and it's carnage. If I couldn't here it at night or when I'm walking the dog in the park, or watching TV my life would be entirely back to normal. Just goes to show volume is KEY here folks .

The "experts" disagree.

 

[JohnAdams]

I feel quite certain the CBD Oil helped somewhat (Barlean's brand). After a while however, it almost seemed to exacerbate it, which really surprised me. So I stopped for about a month, but did start up again just a couple days ago. So far, so good (it seems to calm my system down, which should be helpful for tinnitus).

I started taking some high DHA Fish Oil 3-4 weeks ago without noticing anything--I just recently doubled my dosage from 3/day to 6/day. Somewhat similarly to the CBD Oil, I'm getting the feeling it's helping ground my brain and nervous system, which I think has the potential to at least marginally improve my tinnitus.

I tried a concentrated Ginkgo Biloba extract (which has apparently helped many), and noticed it actually increased my the tinnitus intensity. I've read that sometimes the very things that can be useful for tinnitus can actually exacerbate it in the beginning. I've still got three full bottles of that left, and anticipate giving that a try again relatively soon.

The one thing that seems to be the most consistent in giving me up to a 10%+ or so temporary improvement is Tylenol 4. I've used it on and off for years for pain, and have always noticed I sleep better when taking it. However, if I use it very much, the effects dissipate pretty quickly. So I only take a 1/4 tablet 2-3x/week. I took a dose last night, and was happy to wake up with at least a 15% temporary reduction this morning. I feel quite certain it's the codeine content that gives me this brief respite.

I just bought my first bottle of Curcumin Extract this morning, and am looking forward to seeing how that works out for me. -- @JohnAdams -- Apart from all the things I've mentioned, I think the mHBOT unit I recently purchased has the greatest potential for eventually improving my tinnitus. I'm almost awestruck at how much better I'm sleeping since starting to use it the past few days.

I quit the curcumin. Now I get to see if my experience was all placebo. Not saying it isnt good for you. I frankly am just tired of my hands being yellow.

 

[Lane]

I frankly am just tired of my hands being yellow.

I've decided to start at a slow rate and gradually increase it (I actually think I've noticed it helping a bit, even though I only started it yesterday). Hopefully going slow will keep me from getting any yellow color. -- Have you by any chance heard of some people taking excessive amounts of colloidal silver? They turned silver colored.

 

[JohnAdams]

I've decided to start at a slow rate and gradually increase it (I actually think I've noticed it helping a bit, even though I only started it yesterday). Hopefully going slow will keep me from getting any yellow color. -- Have you by any chance heard of some people taking excessive amounts of colloidal silver? They turned silver colored.

Do be afraid of turning yellow. It is fun.

How are you taking it?

 

[Agrajag364]

The "experts" disagree.
View attachment 22722

That is massive bullshit as people with variable tinnitus can say. On days when my tinnitus is quiet it doesn't bother me much and on days when it's loud it really bothers me. Though it is true to say that e.g. loud tinnitus bothers some people a lot and doesn't seem to bother others at all. But that's not to say tinnitus loudness doesn't make a difference to whether it troubles people.