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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cloud 9 on November 26, 2001, at 17:44:43
Just wondering if anyone has experienced a mild form of tinnitus (chronic ringing in the ears, when nothing apparent seems to be making a sound) while on/increasing effexor XR? It just started two days ago and won't stop. Apparently a biochemical change in the brain can trigger this... seeing as though i've just increased my dosage to 37.5 it seems viable.
-Cloudy as ever
Posted by Mary-Teresa on November 26, 2001, at 18:47:09
In reply to Tinnitus as a side effect???, posted by Cloud 9 on November 26, 2001, at 17:44:43
Please be careful. I developed tinnitus as a side effect to Zoloft. I have been off it for 11 weeks, and still have tinnitus. It was supposed to be caused by spikes in seratonin. No one can tell me how long this will last. I have been having a very difficult time with it.
Mary
Posted by CincyJack on November 26, 2001, at 21:58:28
In reply to Tinnitus as a side effect???, posted by Cloud 9 on November 26, 2001, at 17:44:43
This is an interesting thread. I developed tinnitus as a result of a 2 A.M. panic attack that scared the hell out of me. My ears rang for weeks and I lost a lot of sleep. After seeing my doctor and an ENT doc, I finally went to my shrink from 6 years ago, because neither of the other docs had a clue. I was put on Effexor and the tinnitus all but disappeared. I have occasional mild bouts but nothing like I had before I began taking Effexor.
You don't find much info about tinnitus and depression or "brain tinnitus." So, if a serotonin spike can cause tinnitus, I wonder if a serotonin deficit can also cause it? I feel for anyone suffering from this. It was a living hell.
Posted by Mary-Teresa on November 30, 2001, at 10:42:26
In reply to Tinnitus as a side effect???, posted by Cloud 9 on November 26, 2001, at 17:44:43
Hi Just wondering if the tinnitus cleared up for you. Did you stop the med, or are you still on it?
Mary
Posted by Cloud 9 on November 30, 2001, at 23:47:50
In reply to To Cloud 9 How are you making out with tinnitus?, posted by Mary-Teresa on November 30, 2001, at 10:42:26
Hey Mary,
Thank you for your concern, it really does mean a lot to me. The tinnitus is no where near the extent as it was when i first posted. It has subsided, although in complete silence, i can still hear a faint ringing, which makes bedtime a barrel of monkeys. But as i said, not like before when it over-powered just about any sound. I'm still on the meds now at 75mgs i want to see if the effexor will at least help with some of my depression/anxiety symptoms. I'm a little scared i just hope it doesn't get any worse.
You mentioned it could be a result of seratonin spikes, what exactly is a "spike"(sudden increase?) and how can i avoid them?
I can't even imagine the trouble this must cause you after having it for 11/12 weeks now - 3 days was hell for me. I truly wish you the best. There are tons of sites out there that discuss tinnitus. Apparently, increasing your vitamin A intake will ameliorate your symptoms. Although too much vit A can also be toxic so be give it a little research. If i find any new info you'll be the first to know.
Thanks again and i hope you feel better soon.
PS- did you find an alternative for the Zoloft?
> Hi Just wondering if the tinnitus cleared up for you. Did you stop the med, or are you still on it?
> Mary
Posted by Mary-Teresa on December 1, 2001, at 9:42:49
In reply to Re: To Cloud 9 How are you making out with tinnitus?, posted by Cloud 9 on November 30, 2001, at 23:47:50
To Cloud 9, Hi, the tinnitus is finally beginning to subside a bit for me to. Its now down to a quiet pulsating wisper. The worst part is my fear of it elevating, and constantly checking to see where its at. I'm hoping it will completely pass in time, and I can get on with my life. Right now I am only taking lorazepam (3 mg daily if needed) most days I take 2 mg. SSRI's focus exclusively on seratonin inhibition, and the explanation I got was that the spikes in the seratonin caused the tinnitus. Most people don't have it as long as I have though. Effexor focuses on neoprin, and seratonin, so you may not experience the same surges. It might have been a better choice for me in hindsight. I can't switch right now, as my doc wants me to stay away from anything that effect seratonin. I'm glad yours in subsiding. Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate that.-Mary
Posted by Angel-2 on March 6, 2002, at 1:31:11
In reply to Re: Tinnitus as a side effect???, posted by Mary-Teresa on November 26, 2001, at 18:47:09
Tinnitus seems to be related to Prozac as well... Because of an acute dystonia crisis, I had to go off Prozac cold turkey about 2 months ago. Just as I was starting to feel better (I've done the cold turkey thing before, with lots of other medications including Prozac... but this time, it was AWSOME), the tinnitus started. It's been there for 2 weeks now. And even though I have been able to cope with terrible situations and side effects in the last 10 years, I just don't know how I'll be able to cope with the tinnitus. It just feels like it'll NEVER go away. And if my depression and other physical problems have not yet driven me totally nuts, this tinnitus thing might do the job. It really is UNBEARABLE.
Please someone out there: tell me you experienced that ear ringing problem and that it went away!
A-2
Posted by Angel-2 on March 6, 2002, at 1:44:10
In reply to Tinnitus Started with Panic Attack, posted by CincyJack on November 26, 2001, at 21:58:28
Ti CincyJack,
My tinnitus started during a sleepless night while washing off Prozac. So I guess it might have something to do with a serotonin decrease as well as the spikes.
A-2
Posted by DThompson on March 7, 2002, at 21:55:16
In reply to Re: Tinnitus as a (Prozac) side effect???, posted by Angel-2 on March 6, 2002, at 1:31:11
Angel,
This is AMAZING -- I have the same exact problem as you.
Last August I got off Prozac -- I did 20mg/day in Jan-Feb, then 10mg/day Mar-Apr, then 5mg/day May/June, then in July and August I went on and off of it (some days just a half of a 10mg pill; I know your not supposed to do that but I did)...then in August after being off for 2 weeks, for some reason I took a 20mg and the next day I fainted and have had Tinnitus every since then....it's very hard to deal with....it seems that ATIVAN is the only things that makes it better....I'm thinking of going to the Ear Institute and having Ladicain Local Injections and Intervenus Ladicain; a treatment which is supposed to have a 70% success rate.
Please let me know how you are doing -- It's been so hard to find someone with the same thing I'm going through, I think we need to stay in touch and see what works.
This is the end of the thread.
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