Tinnitus Spiking and New Tones Appearing While on Prednisone

[Guest5401]

Hello guys, I'm into moderate - now severe - tinnitus since December or so. Before November I had really, really mild tinnitus (only hearing it if paying attention in quiet rooms + while wearing earplugs), and from November the tinnitus started increasing each day, getting new tones + the intensity increasing.

The last ENT I went to, I told her about my increasing in tinnitus levels for no apparent reason in these last 3-4 weeks (I'm always protecting my hearing, and I wear double protection when outside). I don't listen to any kind of music right now.

She prescribed me Prednisone 60 mg x 5 days, 45 mg x 3 days, 30 mg x 3 days. Right now I'm on the 5th day of taking them, and I experienced increasing of the tinnitus intensity over the days, and also new tones randomly appeared.

I am really concerned because today I woke up and the tinnitus is waaay worse than before, like 10/10, I barely could sleep with earmuffs, which other days I could just relaxing and trying to not be bothered about my 6-7 tinnitus tones...

What do you guys think should I do? I saw @Matchbox had a similar experience?

I'm really scared because this spike is just crazy...

Thank you in advance.

 

[Juan]

She prescribed me Prednisone 60 mg x 5 days, 45 mg x 3 days, 30 mg x 3 days. Right now I'm on the 5th day of taking them, and I experienced increasing of the tinnitus intensity over the days, and also new tones randomly appeared.

I think that may be due to the Prednisone.

Can you sleep properly while on Prednisone?

 

[Brian P]

Every time I take Prednisone I spike. Usually takes 3-4 days to go away.

 

[Guest5401]

I think that may be due to the Prednisone.

Can you sleep properly while on Prednisone?

Thank you for the reply, yes I could sleep well till yesterday, when the huge increase in volume occurred, and today it's also increased so I'm not sure I will be able to sleep...

 

[Guest5401]

Every time I take Prednisone I spike. Usually takes 3-4 days to go away.

Thank you for the reply. I hope it goes away, I'm not sure if I should keep taking it and taper down. It's so scary, the spike I'm having is quite insane...

 

[kingsfan]

I have had varying experiences depending on the dosage of Prednisone given.

At high doses, certain sounds have spiked while others changed pitch. Twice after high dosage, some new tones seemed to stay when I didn't taper slowly. One other time, I tapered slowly (going down 5-10 mg every 2 days until I reached 5-10 mg) and had no residual changes.

At lower doses, which I sometimes have to take for asthma, my tinnitus becomes very low and calm until I taper down to about 10 mg.

 

[Guest5401]

I have had varying experiences depending on the dosage of Prednisone given.

At high doses, certain sounds have spiked while others changed pitch. Twice after high dosage, some new tones seemed to stay when I didn't taper slowly. One other time, I tapered slowly (going down 5-10 mg every 2 days until I reached 5-10 mg) and had no residual changes.
At lower doses, which I sometimes have to take for asthma, my tinnitus becomes very low and calm until I taper down to about 10 mg.

Hi, thank you for your reply. Hopefully I can get back where I was without residual changes... I was mistaken, today was my 6th day so I took 45 mg of Prednisone, not sure if this is a good taper... It's what an ENT from the tinnitus unit prescribed me...

Also, I wanted to ask, did your spikes get down to their baseline? Thanks...

 

[Brian P]

Hi, thank you for your reply. Hopefully I can get back where I was without residual changes... I was mistaken, today was my 6th day so I took 45 mg of Prednisone, not sure if this is a good taper... It's what an ENT from the tinnitus unit prescribed me...

Also, I wanted to ask, did your spikes get down to their baseline? Thanks...

Usually I don't advocate listening to doctors, but it sounds like the doctor knows what he's doing. I've been on steroids a lot for asthma and the flare is always temporary for me. I didn't taper at all either.

 

[kingsfan]

Hi, thank you for your reply. Hopefully I can get back where I was without residual changes... I was mistaken, today was my 6th day so I took 45 mg of Prednisone, not sure if this is a good taper... It's what an ENT from the tinnitus unit prescribed me...

Also, I wanted to ask, did your spikes get down to their baseline? Thanks...

60 mg for 5 days is rough. Any increase in loudness while on Prednisone has always gone back down after discontinuing. I think it's important you stick to the taper the doctor prescribed you.

 

[Brian P]

@Guest5401, I did an 80 mg taper in April. Turned out fine.

 

[kingsfan]

@Guest5401, I did an 80 mg taper in April. Turned out fine.

Daaamn. I wouldn't be able to do it. I wanted to crawl out of my skin at 60 mg.

 

[Guest5401]

May I ask if you guys were spiking worse each day? Not sure why each day looks I'm worse... Today I am at suicidal levels...

 

[Brian P]

May I ask if you guys were spiking worse each day? Not sure why each day looks I'm worse... Today I am at suicidal levels...

I don't think it got worse daily. I think on day 2 or 3 it would spike, then continue until I was done.

 

[Guest5401]

I don't think it got worse daily. I think on day 2 or 3 it would spike, then continue until I was done.

Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure then why I feel like I'm today even worse than yesterday... I'm so damn scared it will not settle (it is unbearable atm)... Not sure if I did the right thing taking Prednisone...

 

[guenguer]

That's all low doses.

The standard course for SSNHL and ACUTE tinnitus is 250 mg for 3 days.

Because of that short term use, tapering off isn't needed.

I only had spikes and extra sounds at 5 days x 1000 mg, that wasn't for tinnitus though