Prednisone Horror Stories and Worries — Seeking Advice

[spedgas]

Today my ENT gave me a 10 day cycle of Prednisone.

My tinnitus started four weeks ago.

I have a normal audiogram.

I was diagnosed today with TMD and will be starting treatment. I've always suspected my tinnitus has a somatic cause, but who knows. My ENT tells me there's a slim chance the prednisone could help me given the normal audiogram and the time that has passed since the tinnitus started. I really want to take the meds to see if it helps the swelling go down so I can be assured it' somatic in nature.

However, I've read horror stories about this medication spiking people's tinnitus and it not returning to the normal tone. I can't handle tinnitus any worse than I already have it.

Can anybody dispel or confirm my worries on this? Thanks.

 

[kmohoruk]

It's a tough call.

I am currently on a 7 day prednisone treatment right now, but I am going to try and taper off over the next couple of days.

I've heard for some people that it does help, and for other's it doesn't. It may also depend on how you react to it in regards to side effects. In my case, for the most part I haven't had many besides feeling a bit groggy, and it has helped my T - however it only seems temporarily.

As my ENT said when she gave me the meds, if any side effects pop up, then stop taking them.

 

[another sean]

I had both Prednisone and Medrol and they both spiked my tinnitus at a certain point after taking it but it always came back down. I was terrified of the side effects but it was worth the risk to me if it could help my tinnitus.

 

[spedgas]

I haven't taken it. Still thinking about it. I feel it has a greater risk of making my tinnitus worse instead of better. Distraught and terrified.

 

[Bill_]

I haven't taken it. Still thinking about it. I feel it has a greater risk of making my tinnitus worse instead of better. Distraught and terrified.

did you end up taking it? I'm at that point right now

 

[spedgas]

I took it. I tolerated it well. Toward the end of the ten day run I was feeling some increased anxiety. I don't know if it was a side effect or me just being anxious about the medication.

While I was on it my tinnitus decreased by a good 80 percent in volume. The tone also changed. It went from a high single tone to a low whoosh or rushing sound.

When I was done with the ten days the original tone and volume returned.

Nothing changed long term. I'm glad I took it. It gave some insight into causality and how to proceed.