Bad Sleep Worsens Tinnitus, Sleeping Medication Can Worsen Tinnitus: What Do I Do?

After having ringing in my ears for a while, I was advised by an ENT to get more sleep in order to improve symptoms. I find that in the morning the ringing isn't as bad, but I wake up several times a night.

I was prescribed Amitriptyline (Elavil) to sleep by a normal doctor. After looking up the side effects, apparently it can cause ringing in the ears. I didn't take it.

I was then prescribed Zolpidem (Ambien) instead to sleep. After looking up the side effects, apparently it can also cause ringing in the ears. I didn't take it.

Which of the two has a higher risk of worsening tinnitus? Amitriptyline (Elavil) or Zolpidem (Ambien)?

I don't know what to do, is there any sleeping medication that is low risk for making tinnitus worse?

 

@PlaceHealth:

The Mayo Clinic does not include sleeping medications on their list of tinnitus-causing drugs.

 

Hi Ken! Thanks for this information.

Mayo Clinic states that Amitriptyline (Elavil) can cause tinnitus: "Incident not known: continuing ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noise in ears". Which is odd, since it seems to be contradicting itself? I could be wrong though I don't know much about medication.

Would you say it's safe to take if I don't want to worsen tinnitus? Or should I take the Zolpidem (Ambien) instead?

 

First, you already have tinnitus so reports of something causing tinnitus I would not let worry you. Remember there is a lot of bullshit online. These reports are a few hundred/thousand out of MILLIONS and all anecdotal.

Now I would drop Ambien as it's a Z benzo type. Amitriptyline has more chance of improving tinnitus than making it worse. Mirtazapine is a good option too. SSRI medications are often recommended by doctors but not tinnitus experts. Neither Amitriptyline or Mirtazapine are SSRIs.

 

I've taken Zolpidem for 25 years with no side effects that I know.

 

Mirtazapine doesn't list tinnitus as a side effect and is more sedating than Amitriptyline at low doses up to 15 mg. Benzo or Z drugs are more likely to cause tinnitus when you stop them than when you are on them.

 

Give Trazodone a shot - it's been a game changer for me.

 

Did it have any impact on your tinnitus?

 

I'm curious to know @blamingeverything's experience, but I had taken Trazodone as a sleep aid for months and it didn't affect my tinnitus positively or negatively. It did help me sleep though.

 

Same, as you @Joe Cuber - no impact to tinnitus. I've been taking it nightly for 9 months now. I started at 25 mg and I'm up to 75 mg now, which I think is the sweet spot. Maybe just a tad bit too much as I feel the effect slightly in the morning, but it's worth it for better sleep overall.