Hello all

It's been two weeks since I started Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, which is the tinnitus therapy provided by the Royal National ENT Hospital, London. I thought I'd post short, bullet point updates, so that it's easier to chart progress.

Background: I've had T for 10 months from inner ear decompression while scuba diving. Take 75mg Amitriptyline for T-induced insomnia

Current regime: 2 x 20 minute meditations per pay. Am also using free MBCT podcasts available from iTunes. Also practicing being mindful during the day

T volume: No change. My T remains highly variable, but when I listen out for it the volume and pitch are unchanged.

T intrusiveness during day: Improved quite a bit. I had already started to habituate naturally before staring MBCT, but over the past two weeks I have observed a positive change in:

a) the frequency of T 'episodes' is somewhat improved
b) the emotions I exhibit towards are more than somewhat improved.

T intrusiveness during night: Unchanged. Still taking 75mg Amitriptyline every night but plan to taper now that I am doing MBCT.

Other changes: MBCT has literally cured 100% the dermatophagia/obsessive skin biting (OCD spectrum) I have battled everyday for 37 years. This outcome has been shocking as I thought I would have this for life. Major improvement in mood, awareness and enjoyment levels of everyday tasks both as a result of fixing my dermatophagia and in general.

Difficulty in complying with regime. Meditation: Mostly easy to accommodate but requires giving up other activities (gym). Mindefulness: Very difficult to practice 24/7. Requires lots of effort at this stage.

Summary: Quite dramatic changes in a very short space of time. To be clear my T volume/pitch is not changed. The benefits so far are ones I was not expecting.

Background on MBCT:
http://www.rnid.org.uk/community/forums/tinnitus/unexpected_trt_at_royal_national_hospital/ (external link, opens new browser window)

Fascinating, Jason.

How long have you been on the Amitriptyline now? As the medication seems to agree with you I can't help wondering if it might be behind your improvement in your mood?

75mg Amitryptiline is a low-level anti-depressant dose as opposed to 10-25mg more typically used for insomnia/muscle relaxant. Good luck with the tapering.

Thanks for post re MBCT.

The typical daily adult dosage for Amitriptyline used as an antidepressant ranges between 25mg to 150mg, so 75mg is really an “average” antidepressant dose.

Concerning dosages – especially of antidepressants – EVERYONE’S DIFFERENT and 75mg might suit one person’s needs but not the next person’s.

Woops, remove the word "typical" from my above post and it makes sense.

RNID, please can we have an edit function?

RE; amitryptiline I has a conversation with my GP about this drug. She originally recommended it to me and I said I would think about it. In the meantime she came back to me to let me know that another of her patients who didn't have tinnitus before now has this as a side effect of this drug and has had to scale back the dosage. She has written to the company and now has recommended prozac to me (haven't looked yet to see if there are side effects of tinnitus to this) Obviously people like yourself Jason don't find this an issue and can get relief from this.

Hi all. Re questions:

1) Have been on amitrip for 9 months already. I developed very severe insomnia with my T. I was referred to an NHS sleep consultant at St Thomas' and Ami. was one of the few considered safe for long-term use (apart from Mirtazapine which I hated because of the carb-craving/weight-gain thang.). Consequently, the improvement in mood is in addition to any benefits from Ami.

2) Amitrip is definitely ototoxic for many users (makes tinnitus worse). I have reported on here how Ami. sends my best mate's T through the roof (it's because Ami dehydrates the body - it's actually prescribed for teenage bed-wetting). Fortunately, I'm in the group of people for whom Ami. is not ototoxic. I drink about 3-4 litres of water a day; which may or may not be relevant.

Anyway, am posting this from my iPhone. Sorry if it's a bit messy.

Jason

Hi. I meant to say: I BELIEVE Ami is ototoxic for many users because it dehydrates the body. That's my own personal hunch. As ever, there is no known medical reason why Ami is theraputic for some T sufferers and ototoxic for others.

Hi. I meant to say: I BELIEVE Ami is ototoxic for many users because it dehydrates the body. That's my own personal hunch. As ever, there is no known medical reason why Ami is theraputic for some T sufferers and ototoxic for others.

Hi. I meant to say: I BELIEVE Ami is ototoxic for many users because it dehydrates the body. That's my own personal hunch. As ever, there is no known medical reason why Ami is theraputic for some T sufferers and ototoxic for others.