How to Get Prednisone Prescribed in Time After Tinnitus Onset?

I developed a new unilateral tinnitus during ENT treatment using Fluticasone nasal drops. The ENT doctor didn't think they were related and basically felt the tinnitus was untreatable. I went back to my GP (I'm in the UK), who did nothing but agreed with the ENT doctor's judgement. I showed him some research papers, and reiterated that I am deeply distressed by tinnitus because I am an extremely light sleeper, but he was not empathetic.

Now I'm almost 2 weeks into tinnitus and I think I'm running out of time to save my neurons, feeling extremely sad. My only hope now is on finding another ENT doctor who can analyse the cost and benefit for my specific case. But how should I persuade them?

I'm considering medical tourism, but I'm wary of the risks too. Are there any countries that are relatively open to trying the Prednisone treatment if no remarkable hearing loss is detected under regular audiometry?

 

Many people new to tinnitus feel the way that you do @Imai, so I understand how you feel. I don't think taking Prednisone or medical tourism is the answer. Tinnitus can be a very complex condition depending on the cause and one false move, especially in the early stages of onset can making it considerably worse. Believe me I know whereof I speak.

Listen to the advice of your GP and ENT doctor. If your ENT was private, then wait to be seen by an NHS ENT doctor. You will get the best help and long term aftercare for tinnitus under the NHS that no private practice in the UK can match, I assure you. You are very new to tinnitus. The best treatment in this early stage is to do absolutely nothing, except to follow the advice of your GP and when you are seen by an NHS ENT doctor for tests, if necessary, they refer you to Audiology to see an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus managment. Various treatments are usually available.

Although it reads on your profile cause of tinnitus unknown, something usually causes it. Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of tinnitus and typically, it's listening to audio through headphones, earbuds, headsets, AirPods, at too high a volume without realizing it. Other types of exposure to loud noise can cause it too. If your tinnitus isn't noise induced, then it's likely to be an underlying medical problem within your auditory system that is responsible for it.

Please click on this links below and take your time to read my posts. Go to my started threads and read: The Habituation Process, How to Habituate to Tinnitus, Tinnitus and the Negative Mindset, Acquiring a Positive Mindset. Hyperacusis, As I See It.

Tinnitus can often make a person feel stressed in the early stages, so talk to your GP if things are getting too much. Start using low-level sound enrichment, especially at night. More information about this is in my posts. If you have been using any type of headphones, then I advise you to use them even at low volume as you could make your tinnitus worse.

All the best and take care,
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Prednisone does divide opinion on this forum.

2 weeks is within the recommended 4 week window so you could see a benefit from taking the steroid.

I'm not surprised GP/ENT didn't give it to you. By policy, UK NHS doesn't issue Prednisone for tinnitus. Though as you point out, other countries give it without delay. In fact, some sell it in pharmacy without prescription!

Your 'only' sure fire way of getting it now would be to see a private GP. They don't operate under NHS guidelines so can and do issue Prednisone for tinnitus.

No guarantees it will work for you though and some (not many) on forum have reported Prednisone making their tinnitus worse.