How Can Benzo Fully Remove Tinnitus and Hyperacusis and Hearing Distortion for a Few Hours?

Hey everyone, same as many people, I was prescribed benzo as soon as tinnitus started last month (after acoustic trauma).

Didn't take much as I quickly read about its side effects (basically took maybe 1/3 of a daily dose every 3-4 days when things got pretty bad and it already helped with symptoms there for a few hours).

Today was my birthday, and I really didn't want to deal with tinnitus, so I chose, for once, to take the benzo as the dosage they were prescribed originally.

I expected tinnitus would subside, it did, and more than that, disappeared fully within 1 hour of taking the pill.
But more than that, hyperacusis disappeared as well, no issue whatsover with glass or metal sounds today.

I put a fan on, reactive T didn't trigger the way it always does usually, just silence and the fan.

So I thought I'd take the experiment further. Since the trauma, I haven't been able to handle youtube or movies / TV shows. It just sounds somewhat distorted and unpleasant.

Well, guess what, it's gone too. I just spent the last 5 hours watching the 3 final Doctor Who episodes I hadn't been able to see and many other short shows afterward (still at low volume just in case of course).

I'm now enjoying the evening by listening to quiet music that only this morning sounded fully distorted and is now as perfect as I always remembered.

So, what's the deal, I understand it interacts with the brain but can it mask every single issue so easily ??

 

Benzos are tranquilizers and they can even knock a mule out. I will never touch that stuff ever again....

 

It temporarily calms down those overexcited neurons that are causing tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Happy birthday!

 

They don't seem to tranquilize me much.

I've had the 6 move active hours i have had ever since i got T.

It can understand improving H et T via its tranquilizing effect. But how can it mask my hearing distortion.
I mean, i can watch TV or a youtube video for the first time ever in a month.

 

I am going to say that benzos can be VERY useful (life saving?) when used in moderation. I am aware of the side-effects, I am aware of the potential dangers, but when used in situations where people are close to the edge, the risk/reward seems to be a no-brainer to me.

 

So far, ive been stuck at home with severe H / reactive T, and only see a specialist ENT in august (vacations time).

My days are doing nothing at home, trying to go out, spike T and go home and roll in bed until i can sleep to forget.

If i could at least take benzo once or twice a month to get out / bing on tv shows during the following night until i get more help, i think i'd help me greatly.

Surely twice a month isn't that much.

There's something else, i was convinced somehow that my high frequency loss what was making music to distorted.

Since benzo make it fine again, it means that it's not, and maybe i can hear normally again without them eventually.

 

Doesn't work for everybody. Nothing I have encountered changes my distorted hearing, the constant tones can be lowered or spiked to a degree, but are never anywhere close to silent.

When I've taken a benzo, and it lowers my constant tones, but I still have the other hearing symptoms, it makes me pretty depressed because I realize how manageable tinnitus by itself could be without the hyperacusis and whatever the hell the distorted hearing and heavy/fullness is.

I don't know how you can find a benzo improves your hearing, but lucky you I guess.

 

This is interesting to me because I have a stash of Xanax but am too scared to use it because I worry about a rebound effect -- that the T and H will go down for a few hours but come back stronger.

 

It isn't. Stay strong.

 

It won't hurt you that bad if you moderate. Sometimes I'll take a .25mg dose of Xanax and I'll up it another .25mg if it gets really bad. It typically gets better for a couple of days after that and then it comes back full force. The max I will take it is 3 or 4 times a week and I haven't had any major spikes (b/c of the benzo). The key is to be strategic about it - it can help you sleep if you really need it so long as it doesn't become a crutch because withdrawal will make it 5 times worse.

 

They sure will if you take the right dose! They'd have Andre the Giant drooling out the corner of his mouth with the right amount. I guess they just work on the brain - best advise, do NOT take them regularly. Firstly because - like you said - there's the addictiveness and side effects but also, you're body gets used to them VERY quickly and they won't have the same effect. If you only take them when you absolutely need them it's for the better. Always good to know there's an Option B!

 

Does this drug turn off T for a couple of hours for everyone who takes it?

 

This drug sedates people and your attention is not on the tinnitus. Your tinnitus is still there, but since it sedates the mind, your focus is not on the tinnitus...

 

I am pretty sure the author of this thread is saying that he is listening intently and yet can hear only silence. In addition, his senses are telling him that his H and sound distortion are gone. Look at the title of this thread:
"Benzo Fully Remove(s) Tinnitus and Hyperacusis and Hearing Distortion for a Few Hours"
I know that many people would give anything for a couple of hours of silence....

 

As someone who has used both Ativan and Xanax since getting T, I would have to disagree.

 

I stand by my statement and i been on benzos as well and my tinnitus is high frequency. benzos did not make my tinnitus disappear at all. Maybe OP has a low hiss/low tone, i have demon based/high frequency tinnitus, so i careless if you agree or not....

 

Did you hear silence too after you took these? Is Ativan considered to be a benzo?

 

If you could care less about others opinions, why are you on a forum? I too have the high pitched "electric T" that I can always hear (except in the shower or around loud music).

 

Yes, it is a benzo. No I didn't hear silence, but it did quiet down, which honestly was almost as good. And it was NOT just my releaxation. I am very familiar (as are most of us) with the level of my T. The first time I took a xanax, it was the most quiet I had experienced in the 2 years since I had come down with chronic T.

 

I had taken Ativan, and I didn't notice any impact on my T...

 

I can hear my DAMN tinnitus on a busy freeway, give it a break...

Benzos might silence a low hiss or low tone..but my level of tinnitus did not get silenced and still LOUD, even on benzos.

BTW, i contribute 10 times more than u do on this forum...........

Making blanket statements that benzos silence "ALL" tinnitus is just false and utter BS.........

 

The benzo: Clonazepam/Rivitril is sometimes prescribed for people with severe tinnitus and it can be helpful. However, it can lead to dependency if taken regularly. When my tinnitus is severe it helps reduce it to a very low level and sometimes to complete silence. I only take it when my tinnitus is severe and usually for a maximum of up to 3 days. Taking 2x0.5 tablets per day. My tinnitus naturally varies in intensity from: silent, mild, moderate and severe. It no longer reaches extreme severe levels that would last for many days. When it was like this I was taking clonazepam more regularly but still not every day. Clonazepam will not work for everyone that has tinnitus and I am not aware that it helps hyperacusis.

Michael

 

I am on benzos and they dont do anything to my T, but they calm me and make me more indifferent to it.

 

I never claimed it'd work for eveyone of course.

But yes, i was actively looking for it every few minutes and it wasn't there.
I heard T starting to very slowly come back up around 5AM (so after 7 hours of perfect silence) and though i'd better go to sleep.

It's 1 PM, i woke up after a very nice sleep and T is back to its usual self.

It's not a long term solution, but it's nice i have a way to take an afternoon/ evening off the thing if i ever need to.

 

@flobo
All that you are experiencing is nothing unsual regarding tinnitus. You have to give it time and it will settle down. You are in the very early stages of tinnitus. Anything up to a year is still the early stages of tinnitus.
Michael

 

I don't believe benzos silence or even tone down tinnitus. Benzos relax you and slow the brains response to tinnitus. A little like laughing gas at the dentist, you still fell it but don't care.
PS, for me they were a terrible idea. I already have a problem and didn't need another one caused by side effects, dependance and increasing tolerance of a psychotropic drug and I am so much happier drug free.

 

Of course you are entitled to your opinion even if it's the wrong one as in this case. I assure you that Clonazepam does reduce tinnitus for some people quite significantly as in my case and others that I regularly keep contact with. However, as I've mentioned, it shouldn't be taken too regularly due to dependency and it can have unpleasant side effects. If the drug is taken often the body will quickly habituate to it and more needs to be taken to get the same relief which isn't ideal for reasons I've mentioned.

Michael

 

Is this true for people with severe hearing loss? Or will the t remain the same all the time because of the hearing loss.

 

As others have mentioned, there is anecdotal evidence and some clinical studies regarding:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8343245
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22626945

Benzos do not lower my volume; only relax me (as intended).

 

I cannot say for sure Jake as I don't have hearing loss. However, many people that have hearing loss with tinnitus, have found when fitted with a suitable hearing aid/s their tinnitus can reduce significantly.

Michael