Posted by PattiJo on July 24, 2001, at 16:28:52
In reply to Re: Obsessive Musical Tunes » PattiJo, posted by Mitch on July 24, 2001, at 14:25:54
> Mitch, in response to your questions: two years ago when it was discovered that I could not tolerate SRI's, the psychiatrist put me on Ambien to help me sleep and Ativan to diminish anxiety. My anxiety was pretty low level--no panic attacks. I took this medication since that time, but stopped the Ambien eight to ten weeks ago when I started to investigate the music thing. I kept taking the Ativan (1mg a day) because it helped to keep my irritation down regarding the music and the music didn't seem as loud or intrusive. There are days that I go without taking ATivan, but after three days of the constant music and no Ativan, I can't stand it so I relent and take the Ativan. Those are the only medications that I have been on in the past two years. I am not on any hormones. There is no history of seizures in my family. I have never had a head injury. The MRI was ordered by the ear, nose and throat specialist. I have not seen a neurologist--again, because I figured why bother
> no one seems to have heard of this disorder and since the MRI didn't show anything--I figured the neurologist wouldn't find anything.As for the music, it's there whenever it's quiet. It started last December and has been there every day since. I remember that I did have an incident of music that lasted for a couple of weeks last summer, but then it disappeared and reapppeared in December--never stopping. It's there when I wake up in the middle of the night. It's there when I wake up in the morning and continues throughout the morning until I am engaged with my clients--then it's not there. It's there when I drive home at night. I have difficulty sleeping at night because of the music. If I have not taken an Ativan, it can be quite loud and intrusive. When I take Ativan it's quieter and I can handle the music--it's more in the backqround. The music can be something that I picked up from the radio or something that I haven't heard in years. It ranges from Christian music to classical. The whole song is played--it's like I hear it exactly as recorded. I feel like it is playing somewhere back in my brain where I can't gain access to it. I don't feel anxious or depressed--except when the music gets to me. That is why I have a hard time believing that it's OCD--my life is pretty good right now--stress free (as stress free as life can be). I think the reason why the music is so distressing to me, is because I enjoy the quiet--listening to the wind blow, birds sing, I enjoy meditating--but now my mind is cluttered with music--like there is no room for quietness, sometimes no room for my thoughts. I am an intuitive person--interestingly, when the music first started to bother me--my intuition told me that the medication was causing it--I remember distinctly telling my doctor that I honestly believed that the medication was causing the music. But hey, who knows, maybe I am neurotic and since I am such a "unique" individual (LOL)my anxiety, which I am not aware of, is manifesting itself in the form of music. I've never considered myself a right brain person--I am probably pretty balanced between right/left. Gee, maybe my left brain will kick in and I'll start counting everything. Life is certainly interesting.
Patti
> Hi Patti,
>
> I suppose it could be OCD. The main things about OCD however involve intrusive *thoughts* (not music) that provoke *rituals* to reduce the anxiety which causes distress to the afflicted individual. The more you talk about the distress it is causing you the more inclined the OCD hypothesis becomes. Perhaps it may be some new right-brained "flavor" of OCD. It rarely causes any real distress for me and come to think of it-I have had this for over 20 years. But some meds do definitely worsen it.
>
> I hope you don't mind some questions:
> 1) Are you taking any meds now-and what are they?
> 2) When you had the MRI-was a neurologist involved?
> 3) Do you have a family history of epilepsy (frontal and temporal lobe E can be inherited).
> 4) Did you experience any head injury around the time you noticed it (or traffic accident)?
> 5)Are you taking any hormones/steroids (birth control, etc.)now that you weren't taking then or vice versa?
> 6) Could you describe the nature of the intrusive music more precisely-i.e. duration, frequency, intensity, etc.?
>
> It is quite possible that the Ambien modulated some receptor density differently and then when you discontinued it you had this problem. My guess is you have some underlying pre-existing proclivity for this which may have been exposed by the withdrawal of the Ambien.
>
> I am currently taking a tiny dose of Zoloft 12.5mg for social anxiety/panic with Klonopin and I have cut that tiny bit of Zoloft in half and my pdoc added a low-dose of Depakote to my Neurontin and I must say that it is just very *faintly* there-much quieter. If you were setup with the MRI by your GP, I would ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist. If you already have consulted with a neurologist what opinion did he/she have?
>
> Mitch
>
> > > Hi, Mitch,
> >
> > After you made reference to having this discussion before on this site--I thought that I would check back and see what was discussed...I haven't had time to review all of them, but I did discover a post on February 15, 2000 by Blue Cheer that caught my attention. It sounds like it could be OCD (I am assuming that you would have other OCD symptoms with it) or it could be triggered by psychiatric medications, not to mention the other suggestions of a possible seizure. I guess what bothers me, is the possibility that these musical tunes could be triggered by medications. Does that mean that you stuck with it forever? Is it possible that the medications that trigger this condition should have warnings about it? Usually, most of the side effects that are listed, go away if you stop taking them. What if this is a side effect that never goes away? Shouldn't we be warned about it?
> >
> > Well, I suppose I am "obsessing" about finding a cause--but I guess I am angry that it is possible that a medication may have caused it. Some days I can handle the music, other days, I want to shoot myself in the head--No, I will never intentionally end my life, but that's how I feel sometimes.
> >
> > I try to avoid listening to music, like you suggested, but it's hard to do. Music plays all day and every day outside my office door, for confidentially reasons.
> >
> > Thank you for your insights.
> >
> > Oh, by the way, I am a psychologist. I guess that is why I am so determined to find a cause. I have seen hundreds of people for treatment of mental illnesses and distress and have never heard of this condition--until my own experience with it. I have spoken to other mental health professions and it appears that they have not heard of it either. It must be a very rare condition since very little is known about it. Sounds like a good research project. I wish I had the time. Well, I might check out the research journals at a nearby university and see if I can find out anything more. You've been a big help to me.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Patti
poster:PattiJo
thread:71235
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71668.html