Are Antidepressants A Dangerous Treatment For Your Ringing Ears?
http://www.healthmantra.net/articles/11893/1/Are-Antidepressants-A-Dangerous-Treatment-For-Your-Ringing-Ears/Page1.html
Bill Mann
When and how often you eat is only one of keys to completing your 6 pack quest. To learn more about a complete system that will give you abs to envy, visit this 6 Pack Quest blog. By Bill Mann
Published on 11/2/2008
This article discusses the potential benefits and risks of using tricyclic antidepressants as a treatment for tinnitus. It advocates exploring other options before turning to such powerful drugs.
Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for patients seeking tinnitus relief. Some studies show that antidepressants can reduce tinnitus symptoms or help people cope better with their ringing ears. Unfortunately, the kind of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used in these studies can have dangerous side effects. This article explains some of the risks inherent in using TCAs as a medical treatment for tinnitus and suggests the use of a natural tinnitus cure instead.
In a systematic review of the research into treating tinnitus with antidepressants (Baldo P, Doree C, Lazzarini R, Molin P, McFerran DJ. Antidepressants for patients with tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003853 ), two of four studies reviewed showed benefits from the treatment. However, TCAs like those used in the studies have several possible side effects. They include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and sexual dysfunction.
But there are greater concerns than the potential side effects listed above. Tricyclic antidepressants like these are typically only prescribed for a period of weeks, as they can be addictive when used for extended periods. That means even when TCAs do help, they are usually only a short-term treatment for ringing ears. Even more worrisome is the fact that antidepressants of all kinds can sometimes cause people, particularly those under the age of 18, to think about causing harm to themselves or even of committing suicide.
So while tricyclic antidepressants may have a place in the medical treatment of tinnitus, it makes sense to look for alternatives to these powerful drugs. There are several possibilities, ranging from use of white noise generators (to mask the sounds) to surgical interventions.
A natural cure for tinnitus would be ideal. Such a cure would need to be at least as effective as TCAs, without the risk of major side effects. It would also need to be something that could be continued indefinitely, providing long-term relief, not the short-term relief of TCAs. And because tinnitus symptoms often have multiple simultaneous causes, this cure should treat the major causes all at once.
We've seen that there is some research indicating that tricyclic antidepressants may provide at least short-term tinnitus relief. We've also seen that such relief comes with the risk of various side effects, including some rather serious ones. Fortunately, there are other ways to treat this problem, including at least one all natural cure for tinnitus. It seems prudent to at least investigate other approaches to treatment before bringing powerful TCAs like nortriptyline and amitriptyline into play.
In a systematic review of the research into treating tinnitus with antidepressants (Baldo P, Doree C, Lazzarini R, Molin P, McFerran DJ. Antidepressants for patients with tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003853 ), two of four studies reviewed showed benefits from the treatment. However, TCAs like those used in the studies have several possible side effects. They include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and sexual dysfunction.
But there are greater concerns than the potential side effects listed above. Tricyclic antidepressants like these are typically only prescribed for a period of weeks, as they can be addictive when used for extended periods. That means even when TCAs do help, they are usually only a short-term treatment for ringing ears. Even more worrisome is the fact that antidepressants of all kinds can sometimes cause people, particularly those under the age of 18, to think about causing harm to themselves or even of committing suicide.
So while tricyclic antidepressants may have a place in the medical treatment of tinnitus, it makes sense to look for alternatives to these powerful drugs. There are several possibilities, ranging from use of white noise generators (to mask the sounds) to surgical interventions.
A natural cure for tinnitus would be ideal. Such a cure would need to be at least as effective as TCAs, without the risk of major side effects. It would also need to be something that could be continued indefinitely, providing long-term relief, not the short-term relief of TCAs. And because tinnitus symptoms often have multiple simultaneous causes, this cure should treat the major causes all at once.
We've seen that there is some research indicating that tricyclic antidepressants may provide at least short-term tinnitus relief. We've also seen that such relief comes with the risk of various side effects, including some rather serious ones. Fortunately, there are other ways to treat this problem, including at least one all natural cure for tinnitus. It seems prudent to at least investigate other approaches to treatment before bringing powerful TCAs like nortriptyline and amitriptyline into play.