Xanax Quiets My Tinnitus — Are There Any Other Similar Drugs Without Psychoactive Effects?

Xanax drops the volume of my tinnitus significantly. It goes from something I can hear over almost anything to being something I have to actually listen for in a moderately quiet room. I don't want to take it long term though because it makes me spacey and the fact that you can become addicted and dependent.

Are there any similar drugs that don't have the psychoactive effects and addictive qualities? I had read something about GABA receptors being a part of why this quiets tinnitus for some people.

Are there any other medicines that do something similar?

 

@withintention, have you tried L-Theanine?

 

No, I will add it to the list, thank you @BuzzyBee!

I also learned Kava has some similar GABA effects; I was going to try that.

 

No.

 

Yes but it's variable with each patient.

• Clonazepam
• Gabapentin
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Retigabine
• Nortriptyline
• Amitriptyline
• Acamprosate
• Oxazepam

 

Good luck! Let us know if they work.

 

Probably anything that acts on GABA, but they all have similar dangers.

I'd start with Gabapentin, personally.

You've only had tinnitus since October? I'd give it more time before messing around with medications. They can do some serious harm if you are unlucky.

 

I had a very weird experience with a Melatonin (0.5mg), L-Theanine (100 mg), chamomile (25 mg) and lemon grass (25 mg) sleep supplement I tried.

I basically experienced really extreme depersonalization and slow/stupefied thinking.

It went away after a few hours but was terrifying in the moment. I threw the bottle out.

 

Baclofen.

 

I guess I meant supplements or natural remedies. I don't want to take medicines like Xanax.

 

@withintention, no supplements.

 

I wouldn't say Gabapentin is like Xanax.

 

There are some supplements, but they also downregulate GABA receptors/increase Glutamate and can cause addictions.

One such supplement is Magnolia Bark. It works similar to benzos.

The other one is Bacopa Monnieri. It is supposed to upregulate GABA receptors but increases Glutamate too!

Do your own research on these if you want to test them. Learn about the side effects and the potential habit forming they could cause before using them, if you ever want to try!

 

Palmitoylethanolamide.

 

Is this working for you? I read the old threads on it.

 

I just started 3-4 days ago.

I'm taking 3 x 400 mg daily.

This may take up to 1-2 months to see results.

If it works, I should definitely notice it, because my tinnitus is making my ears burn and I have tingling sensations all over the skull and face all day long.

 

Oh, I'm sorry the sound is triggering pain like that. As if the tinnitus wasn't bad enough. Keep us posted on the PEA.

 

Because my tinnitus is so bad, I already switched back to Gabapentin. I will probably add Clonazepam (0.25 mg) in the evening, too, every other day.

 

What dose Gabapentin are you taking? Do you have hyperacusis?

 

Last time 3 x 400 mg. Now I have to taper up again.

I have hyperacusis, they go hand in hand. Like you, I have been playing the trumpet and later drums, too, since I was 15-16 years old. But I had an extreme sound blast from a monitor in 2004 on the left side. I immediately felt a sharp pain. This trauma probably ripped the stereocilia of the OHCs out of the tectorial membrane (my theory for the cause of hyperacusis).

 

I'm one-sided as well. I think I stood in front of a speaker for too long at nightclub, and that's how I got here. Zero warning signs through years and years of gigs and abuse. I cringe now when I think of the sound the snare drum makes or a crash cymbal.

So you've been dealing with this for 20 years? I need some wisdom, man. I developed this one year ago at age 30. How have you managed? Anything else beyond gabapentin help? Is there any pink noise therapy or just a permanent ear plug in that left ear? Have you tried a round and oval window reinforcement?

I am a hermit and a shadow of my former self, and no one can possibly understand the frustration of when every waking sound feels uncomfortable. So far, only red noise/brown noise feels okay to the right ear. I'm sort of actively trying to redesign my life at this point. It's time to leave the US cities behind I've been living in and head West to live quietly and peacefully, but it just sounds so daunting and depressing to go it alone from here on out. But not sure what choice I have at this point.

 

I’ve also been taking PEA for two weeks now. No benefits yet.

Two modifications need to be made for tinnitus and hyperacusis: increasing GABA in the hippocampus and the amygdala. Autonomic nervous system relaxation, breathing exercises, or stellate ganglion block are also included.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all.

I did an SGB, and the tinnitus went away by 90% for 48 hours, but it returned. I need something longer-acting.

You could do parasympathetic breathing exercises with a specific focus of mind on breath. Or take low-dose Naltrexone + GABA-agonist.

 

I like your approach. The use of single treatments is outdated.

 

The best choice to keep tinnitus from getting worse is no medications, time, and quiet. Live inside your comfort zone that doesn't spike tinnitus. Do nothing loud. Benzodiazepines are especially dangerous medications that cause tinnitus on their own. Don't burn down your GABA receptors. A straight-edged and quiet life is best to keep tinnitus down. Damage control is all we have. Don't poison yourself. Learn to live with it soberly.

 

SGB = Stellate ganglion block?

Do you have a preferred GABA agonist?

I'm also trying to figure out what the deal is with my unilateral hyperacusis and tinnitus. Should I be approaching treatment or nerve blocks any differently?

 

I've often wondered how sustainable it is to cycle benzos indefinitely without building tolerance and withdrawal. Maybe once per week? Twice per week? It probably depends on the benzo.

 

It depends on the genetics, the current status of the CNS (previous drug use, etc), and the brain of the user.

 

Translation: Russian roulette.

 

Do we need just to Google all this or can you explain more? Are you a doctor? I'm just wondering because you've thrown out some innovative-sounding treatments that aren't really discussed. I would be interested in hearing more!