Struggling with Tinnitus, Anxiety: Frightened to Try Antidepressants

[Doobz]

I have had tinnitus for many years. I first noticed it in my teens when the room was quiet. However, in my early 20s, I took antimalarial drugs for a holiday, which led to a massive increase in ringing that has never gone away. I have managed to get used to it, but I do not think I could cope if it got worse.

Recently, I have experienced a breakdown, and I know I need some help because I am struggling with anxiety and panic. However, I am terrified. My GP prescribed me Venlafaxine, but the leaflet says that one in ten people may experience tinnitus as a side effect.

Can anybody give me any advice on antidepressants? From what I can see, they all appear to be ototoxic, but I think I may have to try something.

 

[FXBG]

I am in the same situation. I have been researching SSRIs and tricyclics, but the reported side effects and the uncertainty about whether they increase tinnitus make them seem too risky to try. Like you, my main issues are anxiety and frequent panic attacks. I found that a low dose of Xanax (0.25 mg) was extremely effective for managing these symptoms, with no side effects, and it significantly improved my quality of life.

However, I had heard that Xanax "could" increase tinnitus, possibly for those taking higher doses. Because of that, I decided to taper off it two months ago to see if it would help. Unfortunately, it did not make any difference. I now have a doctor's appointment to discuss going back on it. Although I am aware of the concerns about physical dependence, I have also noticed that SSRIs and tricyclics require a tapering process when discontinuing them.

I also wanted to mention that since tinnitus can be triggered and worsened by stress and anxiety for many of us, I found that the calming effect of Xanax seemed to help keep the tinnitus volume at a lower, less overwhelming level.

 

[RocketJSquirrel]

Welcome to the forum.

I am not qualified to give you medical advice, but I can share what has helped me. I take 1 mg of Lorazepam before bed and at other times as needed. This is an anti-anxiety medication, which sounds more like what you might need rather than an antidepressant.

1 mg is the smallest available dose, and it actually seems to help. It does not affect my tinnitus, but it does help me care about it less.

 

[Varda]

the leaflet says that one in ten people may experience tinnitus as a side effect

That is huge for a leaflet number. If it were me, I would consider that almost a guarantee of a permanent worsening of tinnitus.

In my opinion, science has not yet developed a "harm-free happy pill." I believe that if you take any psychiatric medications regularly, you may end up worse off than when you started. This perspective applies solely to your mental state, without even considering tinnitus. On top of that, there is always the potential for tinnitus to worsen.

Personally, I only use benzodiazepines on rare occasions for severe, acute panic attacks. I feel I am better off learning how to manage my mental health mostly without medication. Instead, I would recommend counseling and exploring any adjustments you can make in your life to help reduce anxiety and panic.