My Positive Experience with Lamotrigine — It Keeps My Tinnitus Under Control

Hi. I found Tinnitus Talk when I Googled tinnitus & Lamotrigine. I saw a lot of discussion about Lamotrigine and want to add my experience. That particular thread appears dormant, so I am posting here and hope someone can point me toward an active thread about Lamotrigine or a thread that I can add to.

I was taking 600 mg all at once for depression for several years. I went off of it and my ringing became very noticeable again (I've had the ringing since I was 13 due to an aspirin overdose.)

I now take 200 mg every 5 hours and keep a note pad to stay on schedule. If I forget my 5 hour window, I don't realize it until I hear the ringing again. At that point, it is as if I need to get back on the 5 hours a few times around before I get it under control. Sleeping 8 hours (past the 5 hours) messes me up & usually puts me back to ringing when I wake up.

I thought I was the only one to have success - not 100% - but it definitely helps. I will never know how well it works percentage wise because I can not keep on this 5 hour schedule.

 

Hey @jacksprat, thanks for this info. I'll add this medication to my list to try.

 

Is Lamotrigine the same as Lamictal?

 

Yes, one of the brand names for Lamotrigine is Lamictal.

 

Do you take the regular or extended release version of the med?

 

I started on 25 mg of this yesterday. Will probably titrate to 200 mg with my neurologist. Will report back.

 

How did it go?

 

Did it help?

 

Any word?

 

It seems to have lowered my reactivity and volume level a bit, actually. Not sure if it would have occurred on its own but I am incrementally better. I can stay up later because the sound doesn't seem to ramp up as much in the later evenings, and it's a bit less intrusive in the day. DEFINITELY not worse as I know some have reported - not saying their experience is not valid, it just has not been my experience.

That said, tinnitus is still a strong force, I still have really tough periods where I come back here searching and reading for breakthroughs, but I would not go off Lamictal if there were no compelling reason. Also, it did nothing for the visual snow, palinopsia etc... so still trying to improve vision as well as tinnitus. Still looking for Dr. Shore's results