Alternative to Antidepressants?

So... I've hit the rock bottom. Unless this depression and anxiety is addressed I don't see myself being here much longer.

I know I need something but I'm scared to take proper AD.

Are there any alternatives that you guys maybe had success with?

 

I'm sorry that you are at this stage. Tinnitus is never easy and if your tinnitus is intrusive, then it can be quite difficult. I have very loud/intrusive tinnitus and it has been louder lately too. So I fully understand how you feel.

I am not a fan of meds either due to their side effects or possible side effects. Some folks use herbal solutions, I am not making any recommendations here, just saying what some folks might use. I makes me feel bad to see another person suffer and get dragged down by tinnitus.

It is hard dealing with this ordeal, but never give up. You can find the strength to cope and live with tinnitus.

Maybe @Michael Leigh and @glynis and@billie48 can chime in and offer you more advice.....

 

Thank you @fishbone.
I’ve just returned from another useless trip to emergency presenting suicidal, after hours of waiting I left and went home.
I can now fully understand how people decide to take that final step when nobody cares or shows slightest concern for a human life.
As if it’s not enough to be ignored by ENT’s, even when life is truly in risk still nobody cares!

 

@fishbone

HI @valeri

I am sorry to hear of your circumstances for they must truely be difficult. When tinnitus impacts on our life to the extent, where we feel that we can't go on, the only options to us are usually the following: Taking an antidepressant to help the low moods. Trying medication like clonazepam or counselling. A combination of all three are sometimes required. It is a sad fact that these are the only options and I understand the reasons, some people may not want to pursue them. When I reached a very low point in my life with tinnitus, back in 2010, and thought that I couldn't go on. Clonazepam gave me the hope and will to carry on, and I will always be thankful to my ENT consultant for prescribing it.

Michael

 

Hi Michael,
Today I went to see a GP, explained the situation and he had to look in some book about antidepressants.

Few choices he suggested I questioned because of ringing in ears as side effect and he said: oh yeah I better check about that.

When I asked about remeron he wouldn’t prescribe it because it comes with high risk of suicide and since I’m already there he said no.
Gave me melatonin instead!!!!

Appointment with private psychiatrist not until 7th March!!!
I’m speechless! I just keep hitting one brick wall after another.

Do you mind me asking your regime for clonazepam? Was it daily in the beginning?

 

Hi @valeri,
Sorry to hear your feeling so bad but you have made the first step now reaching out for help and slowly but surely you will get through this wobble in your life and be stronger .
Depression can take away your confidence and self worth but they will come back.
You might not feel like eating but make sure you do to keep your strength up .
I hope you have family and friends to help you and we are here also.
MIND and Mental Heath are a great support if you have them to call also.
Try stay relaxed and off load and pressure and go at your own pace .
Sending you lots of love and hugs and we are here for you.
Love glynis x

 

Mistake: appointment with psychiatrist 7th May

 

Hi @valeri

My ENT consultant advised that I take clonazepam every other day at first for two weeks. The dosage was two 0.5mg tablets a day. After this she recommend only taking it when my tinnitus was severe. This medication can be addictive if taken too regularly but is known to help some people with severe tinnitus. It will either reduce the noise or silence it completely until it wears off. In my case it reduces the tinnitus to complete silence. I found it very helpful and still use it whenever my tinnitus reaches very severe levels. I haven’t had any problems regarding dependency.

Some people are adverse to taking an anti-depressant to help with managing tinnitus, because they believe it will increase the noise. This is not necessarily true. In some cases it does but usually this is temporary. One of the biggest problems a person has coping with intrusive tinnitus, is advice from negative thinking people and unfortunately, there are quite a few of them in this forum. It is perfectly fine for them to say don’t take this medication or that one because it’s ototoxic but they are not experiencing what you are.

I take blood pressure medication. The information leaflet inside the box lists ringing in the ears as a possible side effect. I would rather take this than risk having a stroke, kidney failure, heart attack or reach an early demise. It hasn’t made my tinnitus worse.

Some people choose not take any medication thinking they can cope without taking prescription meds. They do not realize over time this can have a detrimental effect on their mental wellbeing if the tinnitus is constantly intrusive. It wears them down. Eventually everything becomes too much and some form of professional help will be required. This can mean seeing a Hearing Therapist, Audiologist or psychiatrist for counselling. They may suggest taking medication and I advise you to follow this advice.

I wish you well.

Michael

 

Hello valeri and Michael. I completely respect our individual experiences and views. I was unlucky that my change of AD caused my T to worsen and I know this is not the case for everybody.
It seems that having to wait three months for psychiatric help when suicidal is medical neglect. Those who OD and don’t die are seen pretty sharpish when they are recovering in Hospital.
I’m so sorry that valeri is not receiving support, can the crisis team help if you are in the UK? Your GP can action this for you.
Eve

 

I actually always wonder how someone got to that state of mind but I did after T and it consumed me every day and then it bothered me for i did not like that state of mind which was good. So, I started to do little things like dot to dot books, it was to help my mind, and it helped greatly. I also kept a schedule of things to do and I did them slowly. I eventually had to go to a therapist and went on a med for anxiety that also came after T. So, you need to slowly pick yourself up and move forward with life.

 

I hear you @Nanny chocolate AD will not suit everyone. I have known Valeri for quite some time and feel that if she is advised by her health professionals to take an Antidepressant then she should seriously consider it because, at this moment, nothing else seems to be working.

Take care
Michael

 

I quite understand the situation Michael. A tragedy must be avoided and Valeri has not been given the care she could expect.
My GP played hit and miss with my care, hence my situation.
We are on this forum with only the best interests for other members.
Best wishes
Eve

 

I think people are being a little unfair to doctors @Nanny chocolate and I'm not referring to you. As far as I know, I am the only person in this forum that has written the following: ENT doctors are physicians they are not tinnitus experts. They know about the anatomy of the ear and can treat it medically or surgically. I believe the majority of them do this well. When there is no underlying medical condition causing the tinnitus, a patient should be referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, that specialises in the management and treatment of tinnitus and hyperacusis. There are quite a few treatment options. However, when tinnitus is severe, the only treatments that are known to help are: Counselling, medication such as Antidepressants or benzo such as clonazepam. There isn't much more health professionals can do.

Michael

 

Unfortunately there are limited treatments for T an H. Personally I have found Hospital personnel to be kind and helpful. My GP, was a bit out of his depth which is to be expected as he is not a Specialist.
We are here to learn from each other and I respect your level of expertise Michael.
Eve

 

Thank you for your kind words @Nanny chocolate

Over the years I have seen quite a few doctors and I believe have all tried their best to help me. My current ENT doctor I have the utmost respect for and have a very good rapport with. She once told me that I know more about tinnitus than her. She is an Audiovestibular physician and one of the best in the country. I was quite taken aback by this and asked her why? She said because never having experienced tinnitus. This is the thing. Unless a person has experienced tinnitus for a period of time they cannot really know much about it - by this I mean how it affects a person. It is for this reason, it's not unusual to find: Hearing Therapists and Audiologists, that practice tinnitus treatment and management/ counselling with tinnitus patients, were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life.

Michael

 

@valeri have you ever went to a naturopathic doctor in your area?. I went to one a week ago in regards to tinnitus,not being able to sleep at all etc... All they do is listen..write down your issues and then they tell you what natural health products that may help you. I think I paid $40 cdn for that visit. Was in there for good 30-40 mins. Dr wrote down a list of about 4 products to try. I haven't bought them yet though. Maybe worth a shot to see if one of those drs can help you

 

Hi Eve,
Last time I went, mid January, the same thing happened. On arrival the nurse said: We can't help you with tinnitus so what do you expect us to do!!!
I was not crying, I was in a very bad state of mind so I was sobbing.
And that's what you get from emergency nurse.
After my last night experience I really have no doubt in my mind how this negligence can push someone over the edge.
It reminds me of a poor tinnitus victim in UK who, after waiting for 3 months to see ENT, was told on arrival that they didn't get the referral from a GP. He killed himself.
I think it's tragic how they play with human lives.
As I said before I don't think i'm a priority over somebody with cardiac arrest but my life is equally in danger.

 

I just ordered few things that I want to try before antidepressants.

 

I’ve been trying really hard to continue with normal activities. I have family so I have no choice but to keep pushing through.
The last few months have been more than difficult and at this level I doubt anyone would be functional.
I’m hoping the noise will back off at least a little so I can catch my breath and continue.
Do you mind me asking how you got anxiety under control?

 

@valeri have you had any success any time you went to emergency?

My Mum wanted me to go a while back. Maybe even just to monitor me for 48 hours but I didn’t go

 

@valeri hello, my anxiety was the type that I was zoned out and I really felt like an out of body experience. So what I started to do was the dot to dot books, adult coloring books, etc.., just to get my mind too focus. I also drove my car with music low, just to adjust. I was afraid to go to restaurants, but the I did with family I said to myself I will enjoy and focus concentrate, and I will be the last one to leave the table. And I did just that. I kept working I took breaks and walk around the building it help me. I also only think 3 months out jan.feb,March just think in those three than the next three, I also keep to a schedule meaning I just keep on going and have to music, fan, noise. Now I tried vitamins and St John's wort until I decided to go to a therapist I gave her my speech of T concerns and showed her other meds docs have given me, for which i did not do She gave me lithium carbonate and clonazepam only for a week, which I still do. I've had T for 8 months. I hope you catch a break soon. Sorry I'm late with my post.

 

No. I was urged to go by my family as well and both times I went I was left to wait.
Both times I waited for 2 hours and left. God knows how much the wait would be.
That’s my sad experience through public system in Adelaide, maybe things are better in Melbourne.
Second time I went to, what they say is in top 3 most expensive buildings in the world, new royal Adelaide, same shit!
Yes it’s bright and new but the system is old and unchanged!
How are you feeling?

 

I am very sorry to hear Valeri of how you are feeling,

I am in a bad space too. I understand about arriving at an appointment and been told theres nothing they can do. I am desperate to get help. I, like you waited for a psychiatrist appointment, at first I was refused twice so my anxiety went higher again over a period of two months, in turn increased my T to an all time level. I was in A and E three times in three weeks.
Hang in there, as I have thought of the worst case too and its not that we want too, its being so desperate .

As MBH said about anxiety, I have been spaced out for three months, and was afraid to go into shops, drive or even go outside. I have been told I have an anxiety disorder.

I meditate nearly every day, journal, I walk every day and keep on going, and plan my trips out and do small things, and each day I set an intention for the day, and try to plan one thing to do that day so it gives me some sense of achievement. Mabye one of my ideas might help you in a small way?

Is there any way you can get a phychiatrist appointment somewhere else? I made a private appointment as I was so desperate to be seen.

Hopefully you have support of family and friends

 

I hit it hard at first, as related to me by another musician sufferer who saw a Doc who put him 750 (one and a half) twice per day for six weeks then scaled him back to one, then half twice day. I thought that was heavy handed and settled on one (sometimes one and a half) a day, then for better, consistent coverage without being a zombie, broke it down to half twice a day (morning and night) with an emergency extra half for bad moments added in. I did that for a year, then scaled it down over a few months. Barely take it at all now, though I went back to it for a few days after my latest diagnostic gift from life.

 

HAHAHAHa! You're funny.

 

Having been through 3 bouts of serious depression in my life I found each time I pulled out of it was the same way each time. The trouble is I think it took me a while to remember how I did it the previous time as the bouts were many years apart!

Basically. I realised that every morning I woke up, I initially felt Ok, but then the thoughts about my depression from days before crept in and I quickly sunk back into the vicious cycle of being depressed about the depression.

I then started making a point of not letting those dark thoughts in. I just got out of bed, made a plan and got on with stuff. In a sense I was using will power to block any negative thoughts.

At first I didn’t feel much change deep down, but by persisting, I found the dark cloud just lifted all by its own. A week or two later I just suddenly realised I was happy again.

It really is a choice. Wake up and think “I feel Ok but I remember I have a problem, oh yeah, I’m depressed!” or...Wake up and think “I feel Ok.... no bugger off dark thoughts...right what shall we do today?”, get out of bed and do something positive

Actually you could replace the words ‘dark thoughts’ with tinnitus or any other ailment if you like!

The words ‘positive thinking’ get a hard time these days because people think it’s too easy. It does work, but it’s not easy. We have to do something, we have to make a choice, use a lot of inner strength and will power. Also we have to be patient and let time heal. Difficult in a world where instant gratification is the order of the day