Treatment for post-Finasteride Tinnitus?

Symptoms Physical
#1

5 days the withdrawal from Finasteride i’ve got Tinnitus. I’m now 2 month off without any side effect, except tinnitus. How to fight this monster?

I know Fin changes the GABA-Levels in the brain l that can cause Tinnitus. Wikipedia: “In vitro and animal models suggest subsequent 3alpha-reduction of DHT, DHP and DHDOC lead to steroid metabolites with effect on cerebral function by enhancing gamma-aminobutyric acid GABAergic inhibition. These neuroactive steroid derivatives enhance GABA at GABA(A) receptors and have anticonvulsant, antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and also alter sexual and alcohol related behavior.”

i’ve talked to a user on a Tinnitusforum about this, she said: “Similar to benzo withdrawal. Talk to your doc about this. I have heard of t fading away in some of these cases, but it can take a while. What happens is your body is used to a certain level of gaba (inhibitory neurotransmitters), but then stopping suddenly, the excitory neurotransmitters start going wild, as the gate of inhibitory neurotransmitters is suddenly dropped. The excitory neurotransmitters is what causes the t sound. BMaybe one answer might be to go back on and then taper off again. Not sure…” (more excitory than inhibitory neurotransmitters, the unbalance resulted in Tinnitus)

What should I do?

idea 1: i get back on Finasteride and then slowly taper off?
idea 2: try to take taurine, l-theanine, picamilon, lipoflavonoid, N-Acetylcysteine to raise my GABA, because GABA produce the inhibitory neurotransmitter? (because when excitory / inhibitory neurotransmitters are in the balance, there is no Tinnitus)
idea 3: do nothing and wait, it may get better over time."

I’m thankful for every idea.

#2

Don’t go back on. Give it some time. Supplements probably won’t help much but no harm in trying so long as none of them are endocrine disruptive.

#3

Its my only Symptom i am feeling. My last pill was 15.02.14. The funny thing is, when I close my mouth and keep my nose shut and breathing in, I’ve got negative pressure in my ears. But when I do this my Tinntus is 90% gone. Does this trick work for any other propecia-tinnitus-sufferer??

I think there is a little chance that my Tinnitus is not Gaba-Brain-Issue. Because when the Tinnitus is brain, I think this trick will not work.

#4

Hey there,

I am new to the forum. I took Propecia for 14 years. I have been off it for two years now and in the last 3 weeks my tinnitus has gotten progressively worse. Like you though, it’s the only side effect I have ever had. I only stopped taking Propecia because I was 32 and less concerned about my hair loss than when I was 18 and started taking it. I also figured taking a pill every day for that long can’t be great for the liver, regardless of the pill.

I am going to a Doctor on Tuesday for a full physical but I imagine he will probably just send me to a Ear Nose Throat Doctor. I think I am going to start by cutting out all caffeine and alcohol and see how that works. Let me know if you were able to sort things out and if so, how. Cheers,

#5

I still have tinnitus. But no other side effect. The tinnitus is not so intence like in the beginning, because i accepted it and live my life again. The Ear,Nose,Throath-Docter (in Germany) said that i have Problems with my Eustachian Tubes (pressure). He prescribed me Rhinog.Dexameth (nose drops). I must take it through my nose so that the drops are going in the eustachian tubes. The pressure got better (not the tinnitus), i think i will continue the medicine. I have often pressure in my ears, a lot when is drive and the street goes up or down. Today i´m not 100% sure, that propecia is the source of my tinnitus.

Sometimes i can here a grumble in my ears, like a musce in my ear is working (i dont know if this can be a muslce spasmin my ear = possible tinnitussource). And when i drink Alcohol it lowers my tinnitus (maybe the alcohol relax my muscles) :wink: - but this is all a theory