Posted by JohnL on July 3, 1999, at 16:08:51
In reply to Re: Response to Elizabeth/Tinnitus? Help!, posted by Deb on July 3, 1999, at 9:53:43
> Could it be true? Is there really a drug, or combo of drugs out there that relieves tinnitus? I had a very large brain tumor partially removed in 1983, and had to have the whole left inner ear removed and sewn shut. Ever since then, I have a loud dishwasher-type noise in that deaf ear. I am currently taking Prozac for depression and Xanax for panic attacks. But if there's something out there that will let me hear blessed silence for the first time in 16 years, I'll try it. I was told right after my surgery that this kind of tinnitus is one of the major factors in suicides for post-op patients of my type. I laughed it off at the time, but believe me, I'm not laughing now! Any helpful information welcome.
Hi Deb. I don't think there is a cure for tinnitus, but there are several drugs which can lessen it drastically. Hypotensives (like Pindolol) are on a list of drugs to try. My tinnitus sounds like a jet plane taxiing down the runway. With Pindolol it sounds much quieter, very far away. A higher dose might work better, haven't tried, I don't know. This drug is a new one for me.
I researched a bit. These are used: hypotensives, antibiotics, vasodilators, fluoride, thyroxine. I don't know about any of them. The most reliable though is intravenous lignocaine, and that works even better when potentiated with a TCA antidepressant. Intravenous lignocaine though is more often used as a trial on tinnitus, because if it works, it is a good predictor that a mood stabilizer will do the same. Pretty neat huh? There is hope! I saw titles of research reports (no abstracts to read though!) that said Valproic Acid for Tinnitus.
Anyway, want to become an expert? Follow these steps:
- go to www.mentalhealth.com
- on the left side, choose HELP
- after it takes you there, again on the left choose SITE MAP
- after it takes you there, go to the right side and choose RESEARCH directly under DISORDERS
- after it takes you there, on the left choose a disorder, any, doesn't matter
- then, on the left click on ALL TOPICS, then at the bottom push SELECT
- Now you are where you want to be. BOOKMARK the page to get there easier next time.
- Finally, erase the name of the disorder you chose which is displayed in the box at the top of the page. Type in whatever you want to research. Try TINNITUS VALPROATE, or TINNITUS TREATMENT, or the names of the above mentioned drugs, or whatever.Hey, hope this helps! You'll probably know a whole lot more than your doctor. And if you are battling depression or bipolar, it looks like there is a connection with tinnitus and some of the same drugs might work. Check it out and best wishes for some sweet silence. JohnL.
- If anywhere along the way you get lost, just poke around looking for RESEARCH. It's a confusing site, but it's there somewhere.
poster:JohnL
thread:7974
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991028/msgs/8207.html