Tinnitus, Benzodiazepines, and Coping After Noise Trauma: What Can I Do Now?

[Nocca]

Hi everyone!

I'm starting this thread because I'd like to gather advice from other tinnitus sufferers. My story is, unfortunately, probably a common one.

I'm 27, and my 24/7 bilateral tinnitus started almost three months ago (December 19, 2024) after a night out at a loud bar where I stayed for two hours. I left with ear fullness, pain, and a sensation that my ears were stuffed with cotton. The ringing only started the next day. When I saw a doctor, he noted that my eardrums were extremely red and irritated. He prescribed Prednisolone and Polydexa (ear drops) and was confident the tinnitus would go away without any lasting effects, as it was very faint at the time.

I started a round of Prednisolone at 60 mg for 14 days. Four days after the trauma, my tinnitus became louder and more piercing, and it hasn't really improved since. I also developed slight hyperacusis, which made socializing impossible throughout January.

On January 11, I saw an ENT who specializes in tinnitus and treats it with low doses of antiepileptics. As a result, I started taking Gabapentin at 500 mg/day for two months. Around the same time, my GP prescribed 3 mg of Bromazepam (Lexomil) before bed because I was on the verge of losing my sanity due to sleep deprivation and anxiety. I initially felt like my tinnitus was getting "softer" and thought it was due to Gabapentin. At the time, I was completely new to benzodiazepines and didn't know anything about GABA and tinnitus.

I also had an audiogram and a speech-in-noise test, both of which came back within the normal range—though my right ear had a mild dip at 6000 and 8000 Hz (15 dB) and performed worse than my left ear on the speech-in-noise test.

Before this acoustic shock, I was already recovering from a professional burnout and at the start of a depressive episode. Tinnitus was the final blow. I started seeing a psychiatrist because my depression was spiraling out of control. Since mid-February, my psychiatrist has prescribed 60 mg of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) and wants me to taper off Bromazepam. However, when I started reducing Bromazepam, my tinnitus returned with the same piercing tones as in January—leading me to believe Gabapentin wasn't actually helping. The "improvement" I had likely came from Bromazepam, which I still take before bed.

Now, I don't know what to do. I can't stay on benzodiazepines forever, but I worry that I might be hindering any potential improvement due to their effects on neuroplasticity (from what I've read). I'm extremely cautious with sound exposure and only leave my apartment with earplugs. I'm only three months in, and it's still a "quiet room" tinnitus, but I'm starting to despair that my life has been completely derailed by just two hours at a loud bar.

For context, I have no history of acoustic trauma and was always very careful with earphones. Going out to loud places was never really part of my lifestyle—the first and last time I went to a club was actually seven years ago.

I'd really appreciate any advice, especially regarding benzodiazepines.

Many thanks!

 

[mzrach03]

I think the key is to calm your nervous system. My experience is similar—I'm dealing with tinnitus and hyperacusis, and my neurologist told me that the auditory nerve takes about 6 to 8 months to heal.

To help with sleep, I take Melatonin or Benadryl. I'm two months in, and it's still challenging, but staying positive makes all the difference.

Sending prayers your way!

 

[Mirador]

Hi @Nocca,

I should start by saying that I am very anti-benzo, as I've been living with nearly two years of severe tinnitus caused by Clonazepam. Some days, my tinnitus is so loud that I can hear it even while standing next to a busy road. Because of this experience, my views are definitely biased.

That said, some people stay on benzodiazepines long-term and find that they continue to work for them. You may even find some of those people on this website. However, many others report that benzos lose their effectiveness over time, leading to dose increases just to achieve the same effect. From what I've seen online, a lot of people have had experiences similar to mine, where benzos have significantly worsened their tinnitus.

My advice would be to get off the benzos. Your tinnitus may temporarily worsen when you do, but in the long run, it's much better to manage it through other means—such as masking with background noise—rather than relying on medication. Personally, I wear bone conduction headphones playing cricket sounds or white noise throughout the day. The risk with benzos is that the tinnitus may return or worsen over time, leaving you still needing to taper off while dealing with even worse symptoms.

If you do decide to stop taking benzos, I recommend tapering off slowly to minimize withdrawal symptoms. The general guideline is to reduce your dose by 10% every two to four weeks. The good news is that you're on a relatively low dose and haven't been on it for too long, which should make the process easier.

Good luck!

 

[DamagedJoe]

I'm very sorry that you also have to deal with your "new" reality. I'm still fairly new to this myself—nearly 5 months in. The idea of tinnitus "fading" seems to be a myth. I have the same experience as you, though I don't use medication. I rely on a sound device to help me sleep. My tinnitus is also very unstable at times, and it's reactive.

I'm meeting with my ENT next week to ask about getting Noisers. My quality of life has definitely diminished.

As for your question, I can't say for certain what you should do, as I don't know the answer myself. I think the best advice is to protect your ears and hope for better times ahead. Don't overprotect them, though. Avoid using headphones. If you can't stand the tinnitus, consider getting Noisers.

Sorry to disappoint you, but at this point, all you can do is wait and cope.