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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 15:59:43
Has anyone else experienced this? After having been on Prozac and various other SSRIs since 1990, I have been phasing off Lexapro, six weeks at 10 mg, six weeks at 5 mg, and now it has been about 3 weeks since I stopped completely. About 3 weeks after I reduced to 5 mg, I had a period of about two days where I experienced ringing in my ears. Now that I have been off for 3 weeks, I have experienced LOUD ringing in my ears for about 5 days now. It is getting quite annoying and irritating - and making me irritable as well.
I realize this is a relatively minor withdrawal effect, and I am lucky that I am not experiencing rebound depression at this time. To be truthful, this is about the fifth or sixth time I have tried to get off Lexapro/Prozac or various other SSRIs, and this is the *first* time that I really feel I will be able to do it. Nothing like getting pissed off at your shrink to give you motivation to get off the meds! *L* I'm just really, REALLY tired of this ringing. It is so bad that I have to turn the TV up louder to be able to hear it. I'm also experiencing some tingling around my lips. I'm concerned that there may have been some brain damage from being on the SSRIs for so long. Another slightly unusual withdrawal effect I have been experiencing is nightmares. I very, very seldom have had nightmares in the past, but now I'm experiencing them at least every other night. Anyone else with this problem?
Additional info - I am still on Xanax (began taking Xanax in 1990 as well) but phasing off that, too. I have been reducing by 0.5 mg, at 3-week intervals, from 2.5 mg to now 0.5 mg. I had hoped to be completely off the Xanax by the end of next week, but I started on the Xanax because of insomnia, and with the ringing in the ears and nightmares, it has been very difficult for me to get to sleep. So I'm thinking maybe I should continue at 0.5 mg Xanax for a couple more weeks, then reduced to 0.25 mg for 3-4 weeks, to give my brain/body a chance to "relearn" how to get to sleep without any interference with drugs.
Any insight/advice/sympathy would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 17:58:58
In reply to Lexapro withdrawal - ringing in ears???, posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 15:59:43
I have experienced ringing in the ears when I went off SSRIs previously, but it was usually minor and only lasted a couple of days. I guess I'm concerned about this because the husband of one of my coworkers has severe tinnitis, and has been going through all kinds of hell trying to get some relief from it. I don't want that to happen to me! :(
Posted by john1022 on November 8, 2003, at 18:17:12
In reply to P.S., posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 17:58:58
I experienced tinnitus (ringing in the ears) the first time I was on effexor years ago. It would come and go though, and was more of a screeing metallic noise. 4 years later, I developed tinnitus right around the time I sunk into another depression. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone away this time in over 3 months and remains a constant ringing. so I can sympathize with you on that as it is terrible. I think it might go away in your case as it seems to be a withdrawal effect.
I also have developed hyperacusis which is an extreme sensitivity to hearing along with the tinnitus which adds to the agony even more. now when I try to take an AD, both get worse. I have also been experiencing having nightmares when I am on AD's as well. My advice to you would just to be hang in there, as in your case it seems to be part of the withdrawal and not the actual symptoms...which seems to be a better a chance of things getting better once you are past the withdrawal. best of luck to you and just hang in there...let us know what happens. good luck
Posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 21:07:37
In reply to P.S., posted by MoonWitch629 on November 8, 2003, at 17:58:58
Three MONTHS!! I can't imagine what it would be like, going on for that long. I would go crazy (pardon the expression) for sure. If yours is medication-induced, surely there is some other medication you might try which would not have the side effect? If it is organic, there are treatments out there. My friend's husband has a device like a hearing aid that emits white noise and basically trains the brain not to hear the tinnitis sounds. He is a pilot and also races cars, so his tinnitus is environmentally induced.
Anyway....thanks for your support. I hope your tinnitus gets better soon.
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