Valium Calms My Tinnitus — Will Any Doctor in the DC Area Prescribe It for Spikes?

[Guest9207]

Some of the things people suggest do help me. Sound machines. Breathing exercises. I'm about to be fitted with a device. But after 6 months, they will not bring down the spikes.

I will lose my job in two months if I don't pass a certification exam. I have several anxieties (OCD and PTSD to name a few, in addition to a permanent back spasm from a back disability).

This past week for the first time in 6 months I was able to study for my certification by taking the Valium I have for those conditions not to cure the tinnitus but to bring down the spikes to a level I could finally study.

The problem is I am having a hard time finding a doctor in the DC area that will prescribe Valium for tinnitus spikes. Has anyone had success getting a Valium prescription as part of a treatment plan to bring down the spikes?

 

[Brian P]

Be careful with that shit. It can make tinnitus much worse. You will regret it.

 

[Guest9207]

Be careful with that shit. It can make tinnitus much worse. You will regret it.

Believe this is not on a whim, impulsive or unresearched. I'm going to undergo an expensive, extensive program at UMD. But none of that is going to be possible if I lose my job.

 

[Exit]

Some of the things people suggest do help me. Sound machines. Breathing exercises. I'm about to be fitted with a device. But after 6 months, they will not bring down the spikes.

I will lose my job in two months if I don't pass a certification exam. I have several anxieties (OCD and PTSD to name a few, in addition to a permanent back spasm from a back disability).

This past week for the first time in 6 months I was able to study for my certification by taking the Valium I have for those conditions not to cure the tinnitus but to bring down the spikes to a level I could finally study.

The problem is I am having a hard time finding a doctor in the DC area that will prescribe Valium for tinnitus spikes. Has anyone had success getting a Valium prescription as part of a treatment plan to bring down the spikes?

As an experienced chronic ill person I suggest you tell them what they want to hear. Say those other antidepressants give you a lot of side effects. Then say you need Valium for something else than tinnitus spikes.

If you function on Valium then go for it, but be very careful with upping dosages... won't end well.

 

[Guest9207]

As an experienced chronic ill person I suggest you tell them what they want to hear. Say those other antidepressants give you a lot of side effects. Then say you need Valium for something else than tinnitus spikes.

If you function on Valium then go for it, but be very careful with upping dosages... won't end well.

I know. I don't see Valium as a cure. This is about treating the spikes that will make me lose my job in two months. This is the end of the road. I just want to be able to take controlled amounts. Otherwise I will be without a job. That's not an exaggeration.

 

[Exit]

I know. I don't see Valium as a cure. This is about treating the spikes that will make me lose my job in two months. This is the end of the road. I just want to be able to take controlled amounts. Otherwise I will be without a job. That's not an exaggeration.

I'm one of those people here not very afraid of drugs, Valium only makes me drowsy.

I had a neurotic bipolar friend before tinnitus.

He took Valium for years no problem. He never went above 30 milligrams a day and for most years it was around 20.

Now talk about sleep medicine or antidepressants and I'm worried.

Valium is much healthier if you can discipline yourself.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I know. I don't see Valium as a cure. This is about treating the spikes that will make me lose my job in two months. This is the end of the road. I just want to be able to take controlled amounts. Otherwise I will be without a job. That's not an exaggeration.

I get you... you have no choice. As long as you accept the risks by all means go for it and good luck to you.

 

[danielthor]

What makes you spike?

I feel like I should mention this, but if it's noise at work then there is a strong possibility that Valium will only mask the damage, like it does in a lot of cases.
In other words: You will be exposing yourself to low-current ongoing damage while you're on it and your tinnitus and spikes will have become noticeably, maybe permanently, worse once you come off.

 

[Guest9207]

What makes you spike?

I feel like I should mention this, but if it's noise at work then there is a strong possibility that Valium will only mask the damage, like it does in a lot of cases.
In other words: You will be exposing yourself to low-current ongoing damage while you're on it and your tinnitus and spikes will have become noticeably, maybe permanently, worse once you come off.

It's definitely not noise. I've been spiking all this time but now it's threatening my job. I can spike when I wake up. My work is an ultra quiet environment. I spike also when working from home, also ultra quiet. While the exact trigger varies, I spike from anxiety attacks. Doctors agree. Even my dentist. I have several anxiety conditions. The problem is that I tell an ENT and they say talk to your psychiatrist. I tell my current psychiatrist and she says talk to an ENT. Every just passes the buck.

 

[GeorgeLG]

I am very familiar with the struggles of work with health problems and understand wanting relief from your tinnitus. I had a miserable bout with this class of drugs in the '90's, withdrawal was rough. The cure was worse than the disease. Even though they have their place, I would exhaust non drug options first. You don't want what I went through. After that was all over then it was back to looking for a real solution, I lost a lot of time masking the problem.

How we react to our tinnitus has a big impact on how it affects us. Here is a thread with an approach to changing your relationship with your tinnitus that has helped some on this forum:

Back to Silece

I am not a doctor so I am unqualified to assess what your medical needs are but be careful looking for healthcare that relies solely on these medications, it's not a solution.

All the best, I hope you find lasting relief.

George

 

[Guest9207]

I am very familiar with the struggles of work with health problems and understand wanting relief from your tinnitus. I had a miserable bout with this class of drugs in the '90's, withdrawal was rough. The cure was worse than the disease. Even though they have their place, I would exhaust non drug options first. You don't want what I went through. After that was all over then it was back to looking for a real solution, I lost a lot of time masking the problem.

How we react to our tinnitus has a big impact on how it affects us. Here is a thread with an approach to changing your relationship with your tinnitus that has helped some on this forum:

Back to Silece

I am not a doctor so I am unqualified to assess what your medical needs are but be careful looking for healthcare that relies solely on these medications, it's not a solution.

All the best, I hope you find lasting relief.

George

Thank you for your concern. To me it's very clear when taking Valium FOR ME would help and when it would hurt. If I were to take it to treat the ringing, it would hurt. This is to treat the anxieties that trigger spikes. That's what this is about. I have many anxieties that trigger the spikes. You don't understand their extent. This is about treating spikes not tinnitus. There are other things I'm using to treat the tinnitus. But Valium is like with music. Your warning not to mask is very well taken. It's top of mind with me. If I listen music to mask the ringing it will do more harm than good. If I listen to calm myself it will help. Valium should not be used to mask the ringing. Really nothing should be used to mask the ringing. Maybe that's what people don't seem to understand about tinnitus. For example, I've been spiking all day and I didn't take Valium, not once. Why? Because I'm spiking because I'm upset with the interaction I had with my current soon to be former psychiatrist. Valium would not help me right now. It would not help me to just drown out the ringing. And today's spikes are not really about anxiety. I just have to just accept she's bad at her job, admits she won't help me with disability application if I end up losing my job and a bigot (long story). It's exhausting to discuss medications that treat pain and anxiety. You have to run through your whole history and dispel misconceptions.

 

[GeorgeLG]

Thank you for your concern. To me it's very clear when taking Valium FOR ME would help and when it would hurt. If I were to take it to treat the ringing, it would hurt. This is to treat the anxieties that trigger spikes. That's what this is about. I have many anxieties that trigger the spikes. You don't understand their extent. This is about treating spikes not tinnitus. There are other things I'm using to treat the tinnitus. But Valium is like with music. Your warning not to mask is very well taken. It's top of mind with me. If I listen music to mask the ringing it will do more harm than good. If I listen to calm myself it will help. Valium should not be used to mask the ringing. Really nothing should be used to mask the ringing. Maybe that's what people don't seem to understand about tinnitus. For example, I've been spiking all day and I didn't take Valium, not once. Why? Because I'm spiking because I'm upset with the interaction I had with my current soon to be former psychiatrist. Valium would not help me right now. It would not help me to just drown out the ringing. And today's spikes are not really about anxiety. I just have to just accept she's bad at her job, admits she won't help me with disability application if I end up losing my job and a bigot (long story). It's exhausting to discuss medications that treat pain and anxiety. You have to run through your whole history and dispel misconceptions.

My bout with anti-anxiety medicine and its brutal withdrawal was for anxiety problems back in the 90's, long before I had tinnitus. My tinnitus got better when I changed the way I view and respond to it, my emotions towards it. I do not pretend to know your challenges and the extent of your suffering, I am just trying to help you find lasting and safe relief.

All the best brother, I hope you get better.

George