2 Months of Ringing. Because of Lexapro or Nicoderm Patch?

Hello everyone.

I’ve had non stop ringing in my ears for 2 weeks now. It started in early January when I had a mental breakdown from work and personal life. My doctor prescribed Lexapro, and in 3-4 days the ringing started. I quit the Lexapro a week later, but then had vertigo for a day shortly after.

The only other explanation is the nicotine patch I was on. The ringing has gotten worse since I stopped.

I am very angry that my primary physician is unaware of this side effect in SSRI’s, there’s nothing I can do about it though. Seeing specialist this week. Hopefully drug induced tinnitus has a high chance of healing.

It’s just crazy to think about this noise in your head the rest of your life. Especially when your already prone to depression. Very scared.

 

Wow, same story. Stressful job beyond the imagination, prescribed drugs to help, and a nicotine patch... Then bam! Caught tinnitus. Really loud at first, weeks and weeks. Came off everything, started vitamins.

I'd been sworn off Clonazepam years prior, but got a hold of some from a friend during a tinnitus mental break down and the sound lowered tremendously. I worked hard on vitamins, slept with sleep phones/you tube white noise videos, learned to relax, and my tinnitus was almost unnoticeable for months.

I got comfy, started drinking and smoking, took Kratom, and now I'm not so wonderful.

I do believe we who have it come on due to inside elements, rather than acoustic trauma, have a little more control.

I wish right now I didn't dare to play around with taking things again. I, and you, can get to a good spot with diet and support.

It scared me to pieces before. Now I've habituated, and it's just really annoying half the time, and life is great the other half.

 

Sorry to hear. I’m baffled as to how this started. Seeing a specialist Thursday.

 

@Jim Goose
I've been thinking of you, I really believe you have a good chance of getting past the loud beginning. It takes time, but if you're ears aren't damaged from noise, your body just needs time to heal and habituate.

Relaxing is key. Quality vitamins made from powder in capsules are far better than solid vitamins. I take large doses of vitamin B12, and then a B complex 100. Epson salt in a hot bath allows for the magnesium to absorb into your body. Stay away from ibuprofen, NAC, and mood enhancers (unfortunately).

Also, look up Michael Sealy sleep hypnosis. He has a ton and they will take your mind away from the ring, I just can't listen to his lucid dreaming recordings, but the other ones have saved my night sleeps 100 times over. I use headphones.

I'm so sorry this tinnitus is even a thing. You'll likely get it under control, and feel safe and content again. It took 6 weeks for me, and it was only the use of Clonazepam that started the spiral to cease. Everything else now keeps it lower on a regular basis.

 

@Jim Goose - Welcome aboard, Kim. Like others said, the key is to habituate. It varies from person to person, but it took me around 4-6 months. As for the depression, I am taking Lexapro and has enabled me to sleep through the night.