Nice to Meet You All. My Story.

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk, Janet! We're a great group of people, and very supportive. We're glad you've joined us, and I'm sure you'll find lots of information here that will be useful.

I certainly understand what you mean about the drug-induced tinnitus. I had mild tinnitus for over 25 years, without it causing me any problems. Then, four years ago, I took a blood pressure drug for the first time. It caused my tinnitus to become much worse, and I ended up with pulsatile tinnitus, as well. I have since gotten myself off all blood pressure drugs, and I still have tinnitus, but it's much better.

For me, the hearing aids didn't work. Maybe it's because I have pulsatile tinnitus, because the hearing aids only seemed to amplify what I was already hearing. My tinnitus sounds like a high-pitched, steady hissing noise, and I have the pulsating undercurrent all the time.

I'm glad you're going to get a second opinion, and also that you've been weaning yourself off the Celebrex. It's good that you're not having any sleep problems, too. A lot of people on this board use maskers and/or sound systems as background noise; you might want to try that, if you haven't already. Also, distraction works best for me --- I find that if I keep really busy and keep my mind active, I don't focus so much on the tinnitus.

Magnesium has been a good, calming supplement for me. I've also (in the past) used holy basil and pharma GABA -- also calming. Others may have additional suggestions for you.

Glad you've joined us!!

Best wishes,
Karen

 

Hi, Janet,

I take about 1,000 mg. of magnesium chloride, about 1 hour before bedtime. I've had trouble sleeping in the past, and it helped me a lot with calming. The brand I take is Alta magnesium chloride, available through Amazon and other sites.

There are a couple of other types of magnesium that others on here have tried. Perhaps they have recommendations, too.

 

Hi, Dana,

The blood pressure drug I took first, that I believe started it all, was Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. Then, the doctor switched me to propranolol, then another beta blocker (Toprol XL), and finally a diuretic. I got myself off all of these a few months later, but the damage had already been done. I still have tinnitus today, but the good news is that it is much better than in was in the beginning.

 

@Dana,

No, I didn't take any anxiety drugs, only a blood pressure drug. The Lisinopril actually started it all. I got myself off that drug when I had a bad reaction to it. The tinnitus was only part of it; I had many other side effects, including a pounding heartbeat before time to take the next pill, etc. I still wasn't feeling well, with fluctuating blood pressure, so the doctor put me on propranolol, in the hope that I would feel better. That didn't work, so I was switched to Toprol XL. I went to another doctor, who finally helped me get off the Toprol XL, by substituting a diuretic for it. It took me months to get over the effects of these drugs after I got off them. As a result, I ended up with adrenal fatigue as well.

Now, four years later, I'm over the adrenal fatigue and doing much better. The tinnitus and PT remain, but both seem more manageable now.

I don't want my experience to discourage you from taking a blood pressure drug if you need it. My experience was probably not typical, as I'm really sensitive to most medicines. Just take care, start slowly, and notice your reaction to the drug. I'll be interested to hear what drug you will be taking, and how you are doing.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

Yes, I do, and I think there might be some relationship between my problems with the blood pressure drugs, my tinnitus, and my hypothyroidism.

 

Janet,

I've read that there may be some connection between hypothyroidism and tinnitus. Are you on any medication for thyroid, and if so, how long have you been taking it?