Are Antidepressants A Safe Treatment For Tinnitus?
Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for patients seeking tinnitus relief. There have been some studies that show antidepressants can treat ringing ears or help people cope better their ringing ears. Unfortunately, the kind of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used in these studies can have dangerous side effects. In this article, we’ll talk about the risks inherent in using TCAs as a medical treatment for tinnitus and discuss a more holistic and natural approach to a tinnitus cure instead.
In a systematic review of the research into treating tinnitus symptoms with antidepressants, two of four studies showed at least some benefits from the treatment. However, TCAs like those involved in these studies are known to have several possible negative side effects. They include dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.
In addition, antidepressants like these are usually just used for a period of weeks, as they can be addictive. In other words, even when tricyclic antidepressants are effective, they are usually only a temporary treatment for ringing ears.
Even more worrisome is the fact that all kinds of antidepressants can sometimes cause people, particularly those under the age of 18, to think of hurting themselves or even contemplate suicide.
So while tricyclic antidepressants have a place in the medical treatment of tinnitus, surely it makes sense to look for alternatives to these powerful chemicals. A safe natural cure for tinnitus is the ideal solution. Such a tinnitus 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 without time limits on its use, providing a long-term cure for tinnitus, not the short-term relief of TCAs.
We’ve seen that there is some scientific evidence that TCAs offer 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.
