Originally posted 04/13/2009:

There is little doubt that the benzodiazepine class of anxiety medications work well with many tinnitus sufferers.  This class of medications includes Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and many others.  From documented studies to many case reports, they reduce anxiety, muscle tension, stress levels, and ultimately improve tinnitus control.

On the flip side, the down-side to these medications are many.  Dependence and tolerance are two big issues.  Others include tiredness and memory problems.  Getting off a benzo is not easy for many people, especially after taking higher doses for longer periods of time.

My experience with benzos has been with Klonopin (clonazepam is the generic).  I started taking Klonopin due to panic attacks and anxiety.  So, I was already on a benzo when my tinnitus started.  Today, I am only on a very low dose of Klonopin as my panic and anxiety problems have been controlled mostly with Zoloft.

Tapering down on the Klonopin has been a tedious and somewhat difficult process for me.  But in the end, it is worth it to either get off the medication or to reduce the dose to as low as possible.

What have been your experiences?

5/13/2009 Louis wrote:

I agree with the Huckleberry, the previous poster. Benzo's for emergency use do work. Xanax XR 0.5 works well, but these drugs are highly addictive if used every day. I would never use them daily, as I'm currently dependent on them for another medical issuue, and trying to withdraw. I'd rather deal with the tinnitus than the torture of withdrawing from a benzo. Yes, they can work in an emergency, but please don't use them daily no matter what a Dr says. If you look on the internet Benzo support groups you will find users that never had tinnitus until they started withdrawing from a benzo, and for some the tinnitus has never left.