Try This Medication for Tinnitus — Lamotrigine (Epitec)

[lroos2]

I suffer from pretty loud permanent tinnitus, I started developing a mild depression from it, I sought out a psychiatrist to treat these symptoms of tinnitus, knowing that there isn't really a cure for tinnitus itself, made a happy discovery,

I went on Epitec 200mg, it's meant for bipolar disorder and epilepsy, for some very strange reason, it reduced the effects of tinnitus for me by about 80%, I withdrew twice on it, because I forgot to pick it up from the pharmacy etc, and guess what, tinnitus back at 100% literally the very next day, go back on, bam, tinnitus almost gone.

Not saying this will work for everybody, as Tinnitus also have different biological versions, but after the results, I would say this is definitely worth a shot.

Anyways, see if you guys can get a dose, Epitec isn't really a super high schedule drug, but you will have to get a GP to prescribe it, just ask for 2 weeks worth of the stuff, just to see if it works, the anti-tinnitus effects was in effect in about 24 hours / pretty quickly so you'll know right away if it works for the type of tinnitus you have.

Downside is you get fat from Epitec, but rather rock a big booty than a sawmill in your head 24/7.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Thanks Iroos2. I will research this drug. I am pleased to hear that you have found something that not only has helped your mood, but also your tinnitus volume. Great news!

Would you mind me asking you what the cause of your t onset was? Would you also describe your t (ie somatic? white noise? tonal? peripheral? central?? Did you suffer with hyperacusis also? if so, has this drug made an impact on your sound sensitivity also? How about spikes? any changes? Do you have hearing loss?

Thanks again for reporting this wonderful find. I hope others will benefit from your input.

cheers
deb

 

[generalfuzz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamotrigine


Lamotrigine is a member of the sodium channel blocking class of antiepileptic drugs.[55] It is a triazinederivate that inhibits voltage-sensitivesodium channels, leading to stabilization of neuronal membranes. It also blocks L-, N-, and P-type calcium channels and has weak 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor inhibition.

Maybe of interest to those trying the potassium modulating drugs. . .

@attheedgeofscience

 

[jimH]

This is the only test info I could find for the assessment of Lamotrigine in the treatment of Tinnitus:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10503585

 

[dboy]

I went on Epitec 200mg, it's meant for bipolar disorder and epilepsy, for some very strange reason, it reduced the effects of tinnitus for me by about 80%, I withdrew twice on it, because I forgot to pick it up from the pharmacy etc, and guess what, tinnitus back at 100% literally the very next day, go back on, bam, tinnitus almost gone.

Could I ask how long you have been on it... total length and also length between those brief withdrawals?

It would be interesting to know whether using it for several weeks (or possibly months) consistently might cause longer term relief. The Autifony trials involve taking the drug for 4 weeks and the company have not ruled out that relief might last after the drug is stopped. Likewise some have had relief from taking Retigabine that lasts after the drug is stopped.

Thanks for posting this - always good to have another reason to hope.

 

[thesaint]

Another drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline. Someone with some clout should contact these people and make them aware of how close they appear to be to solving or at least relieving the symptoms of this dreaded tinnitus. Retigabine is another one of their products.

 

[nills]

Another drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline. Someone with some clout should contact these people and make them aware of how close they appear to be to solving or at least relieving the symptoms of this dreaded tinnitus. Retigabine is another one of their products.

So is Aut00063 ... or atleast a spin off department form GSK called Autifony.

 

[Viking]

i have tryed Lamictal (lamotrigine) in the past with a moderate transient good effect on tinnitus. Unluky the positive effects vanished after 2 weeks. We have only 1 certainly. Antiseizure meds play a role in most great part of tinnitus suffers expecially Retigabine and Carbamazepine. Unluky the scientists are sleepings.... i will not ever understand why Autifony is breaking its own resources.

 

[Afeef]

@Viking what was your dosage?

Do u still take it or have completely given it up?

If u don't take it , what was the reason for not continuing taking it?



Would like to know.

 

[Viking]

Dear @Afeef

now i don't remember. is passed more time. I'm sure start with 25mg and gone up to 75mg but the side effects became slowly more disturbanting instead the positive effects.
The only drugs who work on me with an average of 30 to 50% are:
Trobalt (retigabine / ezogabine): 100 + 200 + 100. Very good results but stopped due to serious health risk (kidney stones, slow hearth, confusion, urinary ritention).
Tegretol (carbamazepine): single shoot 200mgxday. 50% of relief.
Clonazepam or Rivotril ...is the same (WARNING ADDICTION) not recommended
Cinnarizine/stugeron 30% of constant relief.
Keppra started with 500 going up to 2000mg, big improvement in Hyperacusys but lower efects on tinnitus.

i have tryed also more and more others antiseizures but now excuse me if i don't have much time to show in details all my attempt. I had written a table here but it is clear that all meds are not valid for all. We are not all equal.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...sium-channel-modulator.7295/page-7#post-89737

best wishes

 

[cqman]

Dear @Afeef

now i don't remember. is passed more time. I'm sure start with 25mg and gone up to 75mg but the side effects became slowly more disturbanting instead the positive effects.
The only drugs who work on me with an average of 30 to 50% are:
Trobalt (retigabine / ezogabine): 100 + 200 + 100. Very good results but stopped due to serious health risk (kidney stones, slow hearth, confusion, urinary ritention).
Tegretol (carbamazepine): single shoot 200mgxday. 50% of relief.
Clonazepam or Rivotril ...is the same (WARNING ADDICTION) not recommended
Cinnarizine/stugeron 30% of constant relief.
Keppra started with 500 going up to 2000mg, big improvement in Hyperacusys but lower efects on tinnitus.

i have tryed also more and more others antiseizures but now excuse me if i don't have much time to show in details all my attempt. I had written a table here but it is clear that all meds are not valid for all. We are not all equal.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/levetiracetam-keppra-—-another-possible-potassium-channel-modulator.7295/page-7#post-89737

best wishes

Very useful, thank you so much! You are a pioneer.

 

[just1morething]

Downside is you get fat from Epitec, but rather rock a big booty

I'm trying a low dose of lamictal 50-100mg. Seems to help my noise a bit--softer. I will try to up the dose a bit but also be aware of possible weight gain and a big booty or belly.

 

[Codaz]

Another drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline. Someone with some clout should contact these people and make them aware of how close they appear to be to solving or at least relieving the symptoms of this dreaded tinnitus. Retigabine is another one of their products.

Do you think there is a uniformal T pill if there are multiple forms of T in existence?

 

[thesaint]

@Codaz Good question. I have noticed in the RTG thread that RTG has been relatively successful regardless of the reasoning. eg. noise trauma, otoxic drugs, stress, ear syringing, etc.

 

[Codaz]

@Codaz Good question. I have noticed in the RTG thread that RTG has been relatively successful regardless of the reasoning. eg. noise trauma, otoxic drugs, stress, ear syringing, etc.

Yes, indeed very promising. I still have some major improvement with neck and TMJ physiotherapy so not (yet) trying RTG. but I might in the future if nothing eliminates it.

 

[Afeef]

I'm trying a low dose of lamictal 50-100mg. Seems to help my noise a bit--softer. I will try to up the dose a bit but also be aware of possible weight gain and a big booty or belly.

Good to know it's helping you a bit but had to know if lamictal is an ototoxic drug or not?


Please keep us updated with your progress.


best of luck with this .

 

[just1morething]

Good to know it's helping you a bit but had to know if lamictal is an ototoxic drug or not?

Some people think Lamictal is ototoxic and others don't. I read the statistics and it seemed a very low probability of it being ototoxic. I will keep you updated as I raise my dosage.

 

[Afeef]

Thanks a lot man @just1morething

 

[amandine]

Good question. I have noticed in the RTG thread that RTG has been relatively successful regardless of the reasoning. eg. noise trauma, otoxic drugs, stress, ear syringing, etc.

This may be true but there are other considerations to take into account with this.
Does it matter the age of the person using this drug? It has some serious side effects and can affect young people quite badly or not at all, but I wonder if the side effects may be harsher for older users of this drug? After all it can affect the eyes, the kidneys, the heart...........I have noticed that most of the people who are trialling this drug here on TT are in their twenties, thirties and maximum forties...........what happens when those in their fifties. sixties or seventies try this drug......do we have any knowledge about this yet? Would / are the side effects more intense if the taker is older?
any ideas anyone?

 

[Danny Boy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamotrigine


Lamotrigine is a member of the sodium channel blocking class of antiepileptic drugs.[55] It is a triazinederivate that inhibits voltage-sensitivesodium channels, leading to stabilization of neuronal membranes. It also blocks L-, N-, and P-type calcium channels and has weak 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor inhibition.

Maybe of interest to those trying the potassium modulating drugs. . .

@attheedgeofscience

Amitriptyline additionally functions as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, 5-HT6, 5-HT7, α1-adrenergic, H1, H2,[33]H4,[34][35] and mACh receptorantagonist, and σ1 receptoragonist.[36][37][38][39] It has also been shown to be a relatively weak NMDA receptornegative allosteric modulator at the same binding site as phencyclidine.[40] Amitriptyline inhibits sodium channels, L-type calcium channels, and Kv1.1, Kv7.2, and Kv7.3voltage-gated potassium channels, and therefore acts as a sodium, calcium, and potassiumchannel blocker as well.[4

 

[Robb09]

Can you give us any update? @lroos2 what are the side effects other then getting fat?

 

[markoana]

Any news about using this drug?

my neuro said that this + keppra is combination that helped to some patient with t, in her practise. Another GSK epi drug...

 

[just1morething]

Amitriptyline additionally functions as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, 5-HT6, 5-HT7, α1-adrenergic, H1, H2,[33]H4,[34][35] and mACh receptorantagonist, and σ1 receptoragonist.[36][37][38][39] It has also been shown to be a relatively weak NMDA receptornegative allosteric modulator at the same binding site as phencyclidine.[40] Amitriptyline inhibits sodium channels, L-type calcium channels, and Kv1.1, Kv7.2, and Kv7.3voltage-gated potassium channels, and therefore acts as a sodium, calcium, and potassiumchannel blocker as well.[4

I can see it all now. Makes complete sense to me.

 

[just1morething]

Any news about using this drug?

my neuro said that this + keppra is combination that helped to some patient with t, in her practise. Another GSK epi drug...

I goofed up your post. I still take Lamictal 25mg. I don't think that low dose affects tinnitus, just mood a bit.

 

[markoana]

I goofed up your post.

This post by @Danny Boy was about Amitriptyline, not about Lamotrigine (Epitec).
Or he made a mistake...

Amitriptyline additionally functions as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, 5-HT6, 5-HT7, α1-adrenergic, H1, H2,[33]H4,[34][35] and mACh receptorantagonist, and σ1 receptoragonist.[36][37][38][39] It has also been shown to be a relatively weak NMDA receptornegative allosteric modulator at the same binding site as phencyclidine.[40] Amitriptyline inhibits sodium channels, L-type calcium channels, and Kv1.1, Kv7.2, and Kv7.3voltage-gated potassium channels, and therefore acts as a sodium, calcium, and potassiumchannel blocker as well.[4

 

[gintas]

Dear @Afeef

now i don't remember. is passed more time. I'm sure start with 25mg and gone up to 75mg but the side effects became slowly more disturbanting instead the positive effects.
The only drugs who work on me with an average of 30 to 50% are:
Trobalt (retigabine / ezogabine): 100 + 200 + 100. Very good results but stopped due to serious health risk (kidney stones, slow hearth, confusion, urinary ritention).
Tegretol (carbamazepine): single shoot 200mgxday. 50% of relief.
Clonazepam or Rivotril ...is the same (WARNING ADDICTION) not recommended
Cinnarizine/stugeron 30% of constant relief.
Keppra started with 500 going up to 2000mg, big improvement in Hyperacusys but lower efects on tinnitus.

i have tryed also more and more others antiseizures but now excuse me if i don't have much time to show in details all my attempt. I had written a table here but it is clear that all meds are not valid for all. We are not all equal.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/levetiracetam-keppra-—-another-possible-potassium-channel-modulator.7295/page-7#post-89737

best wishes

how are you now ? are you cured ? or using Trobalt or Carbamazepinum ?

 

[cjb2811]

BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS DRUG

I understand that it helped you @lroos2 but Lamotrigine aka Lamictal aka Epitec is what caused my severe tinnitus. The drug has essentially destroyed my life after I was prescribed it for Bipolar Disorder and later diagnosed not bipolar. I took 25 mg for 13 days and the moderate tinnitus I'd had for 5 years turned severe and made me suicidal.

One year later it improved but again I fell into a depression and this time was prescribed Tegretol aka Carbamazepine and after taking it for only TWO days my tinnitus was again SEVERE. Clearly my particular brain wiring is susceptible to anticonvulsant drugs, but I give this warning because they are by no means "miracle pills" and can in fact cause severe damage.

 

[Aaron123]

Sorry to hear that @cjb2811. For balance, I have taken it for a long period of time (100 mg) with no effect one way or another on tinnitus. We are all clearly different.

 

[gintas]

Tegretol aka Carbamazepine and after taking it for only TWO days my tinnitus was again SEVERE. .

you stop Carbamazepine ? your Tinnitus come back to previous level ? thanks !

 

[cjb2811]

you stop Carbamazepine ? your Tinnitus come back to previous level ? thanks !

Yes I stopped it after those two days and the tinnitus persisted.