Hi, I've come to Bluelight because of the wealth of valuable experience this forum offers to many.
My situation is this. I have severe noise-induced tinnitus/hyperacusis which is preventing me working/functioning over last 14 months.
Research by prof. R.A.Levine at Harvard has suggested loss of gabaeregic inhibition in the auditory pathways and limited studies
have shown Clonazepam to quieten tinnitus. I experienced a mild but significant improvement with Clonazepam but am concerned
about tolerance/rebound issues. Some highly reputable people like Levine, Nagler (connected with American Tinnitus Association), etc,
have recommended taking Xanax daily for life and openly said that the fuss about tapering off is over-blown and can be achieved
sensibly without repurcussions when the time comes. I am naturally worried because rebound means worse tinnitus. It's difficult to
know who to trust especially since the dangers of dabbling with benzos has been so warned about by the likes of Dr. Heather Ashton.
So, some questions.
1. Is it realistically possible to develop a long-term gabaergic program, cycling say between GabaA and GabaB receptors, in order
to balance up-regulation? Has anyone ever done this? Anecdotes welcome. How do you think I could do this?
Has anyone come up with a list that could be cycled (klonopin, baclofen, gabapentin,etc) in such a way to maximise positive effects
and minimise problems. Suggested dosages?
2. Much is said of the dangers of constant up-regulation of Gaba receptors....what goes up must come down. But what if one is
dealing with a Gaba deficiency? Does this this alter the ground-rules in any way, permitting more 'artificial' Gaba production?
3. What of those guys on Xanax for ten years+? Has the drug lost its efficacy by then for most users? What's going on here?
Is it possible for the drug to remain potent, carrying out a valuable compensatory role for under-production of gaba in the tinnitus brain?
4. Non-drug paths. Exercise can increase Gaba naturally. Eventhough I can barely stagger between rooms, I'd be willing to train for a marathon
to increase any chemical that can suppress tinnitus. Does anyone have figures. How much strenuous exercise exercise required
to produce x units of Gaba? Also electrical stimulation (Fisher Wallace,etc) has claimed to boost GABA/serotonin by 60%
A combo-strategy would seem attractive, if it works.
So you know, I did have very bad 'untreatable' unmaskable noise-induced tinnitus years ago which completely disappeared after
about 5 years, so even if the hardware is damaged the software is plastic and can fix itself. Enhancing gabaergic inhibition
may be critical to this process, which is why the answer to these questions will be so important.
Many thanks for reading my post. Any opinions/ advice will be valued/respected and will prove of benefit to many others.