Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking or whistling in your ears. Tinnitus has a variety of causes, including inner ear damage, hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, stress, depression, a condition known as Meniere's disease and benign brain tumors.
Function of treatment
There is no medication that can cure tinnitus; however, some drugs have the ability to reduce the symptoms of the condition and improve your quality of life.
Types of medications
Tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline and nortriptyline, the anxiety medication alprazolam and a drug used to treat alcoholism called camprosate are all possible medicinal treatments for tinnitus.
Time frame
Doctors try to avoid prescribing alprazolam for use in treating long-term cases of tinnitus, as the drug has the potential to be habit-forming, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Risks
Common side effects of drugs used to treat tinnitus include dry mouth, blurred vision, loss of appetite, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, menstrual irregularity, changes in libido and changes in weight. Risks associated with the medications used to treat tinnitus include heart problems and the development of suicidal thoughts or actions.
Considerations
Because of the potential side effects associated with medications used to treat ringing in your ears, your doctor is likely to try other treatments first, such as hearing aids, ear wax removal and masking devices worn in the ear to drown out tinnitus. If a prescription medication may be the cause of the ringing in your ears, your doctor is also likely to try changing your prescription before giving you a new medication to treat tinnitus.
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