paddington82: Zoloft and tinnitus

[paddington82]

I've only been on Zoloft since July 2020, and I've decided to come off of it, very long story. Currently I'm tapering from 150mg and I've developed tinnitus in my left ear, it went from loud crickets to a quiet buzzing. How common is this? 

 

Will it go away within a couple of weeks when I'm completely off of it? 

 

I'm so desperate. 

 

 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, paddington82.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  Please include the rate at which you're tapering and your current dose.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

How fast are you tapering?  We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tinnitus is an extremely common withdrawal symptom. The fact that you've developed it indicates you're tapering too fast.   Withdrawal symptoms fade with time, but there is no way to predict how long it will take.  I've had it off and on.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by Gridley

[gdtrfb]

Paddington,

 

As someone who suffers from tinnitus (I believe unrelated to Zoloft usage), it will probably improve.

 

When my tinnitus first started it was extremely distressing. The noise wasn’t masked by anything. The radio, the tv, even the shower couldn’t make the noise dissipate. All my brain could focus on is the loud ringing in my head. 
 

While this may not be precisely what you want to hear, no pun intended, is that tinnitus is only a symptom. The ringing in and of itself is not dangerous. Tinnitus won’t harm you. 
 

Once i allowed myself to accept the ringing — to acknowledge that it exists — the tinnitus became less distressing. As time as passed since it’s onset there have been gradual improvements.

At first it was 10/10. When I say I could hear it over the car radio with loud music on I am not kidding. The ringing was in the center of my head and it felt like my head was buzzing. Left ear was much louder than the right.

 

The center of the head buzzing has generally stopped. My right ear is nearly healed. My left ear is still a bit loud but I feel like there has been good improvement. 

[paddington82]

I'm so glad it's gotten better for you and thanks for writting to me. I'm 100% convinced there is a source and it's definitely from tappering too quickly, I'm hoping it will go away with time. 

[Krisseyb]

@paddington82 same with me. When I tried getting off my medicine 3 1/2 years ago I started having tinnitus. I had no idea why?!?!?! And it about drove me crazy. I finally learned to live with it...and now it's just a part of me.
The way I look at it....this is my destiny in life. God could have given me something way worse....so I can live w/ringing in my ear. Although it makes it hard to hear my students when they talk quietly. That's the only annoying thing! haha!