What Meds Have People Had Success with?

[Nick07]

I was wondering about taking medication for tinnitus. I know I've read about people using certain anti-depressants to reduce or even eliminate tinnitus for while on them.

I was just wondering which ones people have had success with.

It feels like if don't get some advice first I would just be going down a list to see which one works best.

I don't particularly like the idea of being on medication, but the possibility of feeling normal is incredibly appealing.

 

[JurgenG]

Well, not really medicine, but you can't hurt yourself (in normal dosages) with the following: Zinc, MAG, Ginkgo, VIT B Complex, NAC..
If you haven't tried them I would.

 

[Paul10]

Medical treatment is dependant on the reason for your T. Some people get success with anti-D's because their T has been brought on by depression, others get success with anti-anxiety medication because their T was brought on by anxiety. For hearing loss, I've read reports of different drugs also. Me? I know Valium (an anti-anxiety) will help. Yes, it's not for everyone, but knowing it's there is reassuring, and I don't take it too much. The important thing I have learned is that you need to see a psychiatrist who will be able to evaluate your mental health and advise on the best treatment option (which often does not need to involve medication). Secondly, you need to see a audiologist/hearing therapist who specialises in tinnitus and have them link in with your GP and psychiatrist (which the doctor will likely want to do anyway). Building up a network of professionals is very important; T is so unique to the individual and you will get more help through professional means than the internet in my experience.

 

[Nick07]

Thanks for the replies. I am taking ginkgo, bilberry, NAC, and a multi-vitamin. The bilberry was a lot cheaper and is supposed to have similar effects to ginkgo. I did try lipo-flavoids. It seemed like it had an effect but wasn't significant enough to really be worth it and gave my ear a feeling of fullness. Also I noticed it started to sound less like air moving and more pulsatile.

As far as a network of doctors goes, it sounds expensive and I have neither the money nor the insurance for it. That's kind of why I didn't get this treated at the first sign as well as the ambiguity of information online. I would like to get an MRI just in case but fear it will go just like my visit to the ENT. As far as medications go I read bill 112 had a 98% reduction with them and may ask my doctor to let me try the same.

 

[lymebite]

There are lots of reasons to avoid benzos, but Harvard Medical School claims they quiet T in about 75 percent of patients.

And, they say the drugs will work in minutes to hours - so you will know quickly if you are in the 75 percent that will be helped.

Here is a protocol for using clonazepam (klonopin) and diazepam (valium) to quiet tinnitus.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...VzdGlubml0dXNzaXRlfGd4OjQ5OGU3M2M0NDY1NjM0YTU

 

[PaulBe]

As far as medications go I read bill 112 had a 98% reduction with them and may ask my doctor to let me try the same.

I don't think its as simple as all that. Bill had reached the point of profound psychological injury and in his state I don't think he could even begin to extract himself from his T & H as it had become hardwired into his attentional response. The drugs snapped some circuits, giving him breathing space. That's where I think he's at just now anyway, I'd love to think for his sake that he was permanently better but T always has a bitchy response prepared. I got a similar relief with clonazepam two years ago. It didn't cure anything but at the time it subdued my anxiety and distress enough to help me pick up my life and reduce my obsessive focus on T & H.

 

[Nick07]

I don't have any illusions. I don't think Bill was cured, but he was able to hear silence at least for a while. I would be willing to take drugs for the foreseeable future if it means I could feel normal. I hope a cure is discovered with stem cells or otherwise within ten years, but I don't want to wait till I'm an old man to feel normal.