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Are Lexapro And Seroquel The Right Medicines For Tinnitus?
About 4 years ago I got very ill with Sepsis and PRES. Was in a coma for over a month. Luckily I survived but I lost all of my hearing. I have horrific tinnitus 24/7. Loud roar, firecrackers popping and many many nights it sounds like a jet engine. SO I never sleep. On a lot of meds for Dystonia. So the doctor finally tried Seroquel 100mg twice a day. It definitely helped some but the tinnitus still keeps me awake. Of course this drug causes weight gain along with the Lexapro I ve been on. So I want to go off both...Lexapro and Serequol. I know I have to do this very slowly and most likely just one of the meds at a time. Any suggestions?
Fri, 28 Aug 2015
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic
I can understand your concern. You were having symptoms like hearing roaring voices, firecrackers like voices, jet engine like noise etc. If other organic causes were ruled out then most likely the cause of these sounds was hallucinating voices. You have responded to Seroquel or Quetiapine which also support the diagnosis of hallucinations. Your symptoms have reduced after taking Seroquel and Lexapro (Escitalopram) so in my opinion these were right drugs for the symptoms you were having. These were not due to tinnitus.
If the weight gain is issue and your symptoms are decreased so in my opinion you can think of to reduce the doses of the drug. Best way to get off these drugs is reducing the doses gradually over 4-6 weeks. You can start with Lexapro and once you quit it then Quetiapine can be tapered. Doses should be reduced by 20% every two weeks. Consult your psychiatrist before making change in your drugs.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Take care
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Psychiatrist
I can understand your concern. You were having symptoms like hearing roaring voices, firecrackers like voices, jet engine like noise etc. If other organic causes were ruled out then most likely the cause of these sounds was hallucinating voices. You have responded to Seroquel or Quetiapine which also support the diagnosis of hallucinations. Your symptoms have reduced after taking Seroquel and Lexapro (Escitalopram) so in my opinion these were right drugs for the symptoms you were having. These were not due to tinnitus.
If the weight gain is issue and your symptoms are decreased so in my opinion you can think of to reduce the doses of the drug. Best way to get off these drugs is reducing the doses gradually over 4-6 weeks. You can start with Lexapro and once you quit it then Quetiapine can be tapered. Doses should be reduced by 20% every two weeks. Consult your psychiatrist before making change in your drugs.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Take care
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Psychiatrist
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