My Pain Hyperacusis 100% Resolved from Tamsulosin (Flomax)

Holy shit!!! Thank you for the update, and I’m thrilled you are feeling better. I know you’ve been through the ringer with hyperacusis. Please do keep us posted on your progress.

 

That's amazing! Please keep us posted.

How did you get your doctor to prescribe it?

 

Congrats on your recovery!

I've never used Q tips. However my wife uses them and encourages our children to do so too. One of a few things she does that freaks me out.

 

My father is on them for prostate. Got some from him. 0.4mg.

 

Good luck! I hope you get a good result.

 

Really interesting and glad to see people getting results from this drug.

The question now is whether this can shed some light on the underlying pathology of hyperacusis. It seems that Tamsulosin is a selective α1 receptor antagonist. A quick google search suggests that

"α1A-adrenergic receptor subtypes increase inhibition at dendrodendritic synapses".

Apparently, these type of receptors are found throughout our nervous system and in the cochlea as well. What isn't clear is where exactly in the cochlea these synapses are found - are they the same the ones connecting OHCs to the type II afferents?

Here's some more info on these type of synapses for those interested.

@100Hz, @serendipity1996, @FGG thoughts?

 

I hope someone is reporting this to Hyperacusis Research's official website.

 

So far we have had two people get good results from Flomax? I’m going to try to get a prescription soon.

 

Have you had any change in your tinnitus? Tinnitus is labeled as a side effect of this drug, but I’m guessing many would happily take much less pain for the same or increase in tinnitus. I know I would.

 

No change.

 

Awesome! No change is certainly better than a worsening.

 

Could this also tie into why benzos provide some people with relief? Please excuse me if I’m WAY off base with this:

Binding, Partial Agonism, and Potentiation of α1-Adrenergic Receptor Function by Benzodiazepines: A Potential Site of Allosteric Modulation

https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/291/3/1164

 

Hey everybody, I am SO sincerely sorry from the bottom of my heart. I did not see all of these comments until right now. I’m going to read through them right now and reply. Please forgive me for such a delay. My truest apologies!

 

Seriously so excited to hear that it started working for you, that is amazing!

Again I am so sorry for such a late reply. My hyperacusis pain never came back yet and it’s been about two weeks since I’ve had Flomax. I’m not sure if it was a combo of everything or just the Flomax but it has resolved my pain even after two weeks off of any type of med at all. It does not seem real! But it truly is. I used to have severe sensitivity to sound, severe fullness in my ear, severe pain 24/7... now all I have is a slight sensitivity to sound in my ear and nothing else. It truly is a miracle for me.

I’m not sure if it will come back but so far I am still healed! I want this for all of you!

 

How is your hyperacusis now? Any more changes?

 

This is nuts. The fact you've come off this and it hasn't come back is really promising, as I don't think any of us would want to be on any drug for the rest of our lives. Can you please give us regular updates? We don't want to be left behind and any additional insight into how these drugs may be helping will bring us all closer to relief.

I suppose what I would like to know the most is whether this is giving you long-lasting relief while not having to take it again (i.e. a cure) or whether it has simply masked your symptoms temporarily (i.e. a treatment).

 

It seems like I can tolerate noise a little better. Give me over x-mas to really tell if it works.

I should try and stop at some point too, to give me a clearer picture.

 

Damn this is interesting. Can't be any harm in trying.

Is it OTC?

 

Just that you can say goodbye to your sex life. If you have any.

 

No hyperacusis >>> sex

 

Kills sex drive?

 

C'mon man, what? I'd rather kill myself at this point honestly.

 

I'm sure it's not for everyone. If you are young it's probably not going to be a problem. Read the label if you are going to try it.

 

My sex drive was fine! Truly... I’m sorry if you’re going through that. It can cause you to have less semen production but it’s a side effect for only some. But I was fine!

So just an update... my pain is still gone... my inflammation is still gone... my sensitivity is gone besides a slight amount of sensitivity with really loud sounds. And the crazy overwhelming fullness and desire to pop my ear because of the pressure is gone still.

Still can’t believe it... haha.

Also going through posts I just wanted to say that my tinnitus is also about 25% better. It’s not as loud and more tolerable. Somehow something happened in my ear that helped everything in different ways. But I’m ok with the tinnitus, it was the hyperacusis that was killing me. But still to get the noise level down on the tinnitus is also a major blessing for sure! Super excited to keep reading these posts!

I also encouraged someone else who wasn’t getting relief to try Flomax together witg 500 mg of Ibuprofen and 500 mg Acetaminophen. I had that for my first two days on Flomax only but possibly it helped in the combo? I am unsure but it’s worth a shot and is over the counter.

 

I turn 25 in July, in the middle of my 20s, prime lol, I'm not about to not have sex anymore.

 

Anyone else seeing any improvements? Or understand why this might be working?

 

@100Hz, Flomax is an Alpha-1 blocker... I'd love to hear your take on how this drug may be alleviating hyperacusis symptoms? You seem to be the SME on hyperacusis research here...

 

I think I can say now it is not working for me.

My noxacusis is extreme at the moment after 7 days on it. It is the benzo that did it for me.

I'm tapering and today it is grusome.
I'm sorry! I was hoping it would work.

Without a benzo problem? Who knows!

 

Some additional food for thought for you all: alpha-1 adrenergic activity has been connected to fear and startle responses, and there are alpha-1 receptor antagonists, such as Prazosin, that are sometimes used in PTSD treatment.

This definitely raises some interesting questions about the brain's role in hyperacusis and/or how the brain controls some of the middle ear muscles.

I can testify that my personal emotional/anxiety triggers cause extreme fluttering in my right ear and my hyperacusis becomes 10x worse, although I don't usually experience that kind of fluttering on a regular basis.

 

I take that much myself each day for an enlarged prostate. It had no effect on my tinnitus, but that's different than what you guys are suffering.