1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Vertigo and Dizziness

Antidepressants for vestibular problems

Posted , 6 users are following.

lynne85105
lynne85105

Hi, I have been on a rocky boat 24/7 for 1.5 years. I feel disconnected from my body a lot of the time. I went suddenly deaf and lost 100% of vestibular nerve after a gone wrong surgery on right side. I have tried EVERYTHING I went to a medical neurologist last week and was prescribed an antidepressans ( even though I'm not depressed) called CIPRAMIL I have only just started to take it as I'm desperate. I didn't want to go down the drug path. 

Has anybody had success with an antidepressant, particularly this one? 

 

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

  • ken_63099
    ken_63099 lynne85105

    Posted

    Hi there. I had a tooth extraction on my right side after a few days, I felt dizzy and just light headed. Sick all day every day. I did not feel sad, I had tinnus and felt my ear was full. I tried steroids for swelling just in case, serca medicin for ear problems. I went to a neurologist and he gave me cymbalta. I started feeling a little better every day and after 6 months I ca say I feel almost 100%. I can enjoy life again. I refused to get into antidepressants but nothing worked and I gave them a try. I'm glad I did.
    • lynne85105
      lynne85105 ken_63099

      Posted

      Thank you Ken! I really feel I have no other option but to try them, I hope in 6 months I can say the same as you.

      I also have very loud tinnitus... Did the drugs help with that? Everything I read suggests it's here to stay.. I never thought about deaf but I guess I imagined it to be quite .. Couldn't be further from the truth!

    • ken_63099
      ken_63099 lynne85105

      Posted

      It just diminished with the time after starting the antidepressants. I get tinnus sometimes still but it's extremely mild that I don't mind
  • johntran
    johntran lynne85105

    Posted

    Take Vitamin B12 and ptractice Vissapana meditation
    • lynne85105
      lynne85105 johntran

      Posted

      Thanks johntran, 

      I take B12 every day. I practice yoga and have done the last 30 years

      i have been doing a vestibular meditation given to me by a functional neurologist. Now 1.5 years of VTR (vestibular retraining therapy)

      I've been to acupuncture- sacrocrainal- naturopath- chiropractor (functional  neurologist) medical neurologist -3x ENTs -physiotherapists- 

      etc....I really don't want the drug road but I want to came back into my body and stop rocking!

      I've been swinging on kids swings, bouncing on gym balls, tapping on the beat in different sequences to music. ...

      I'm ready to go to South America to see a Sharman (joking) 

      the only thing I haven't tried is hypnotist...any thoughts?

      😩

       

    • ken_63099
      ken_63099 lynne85105

      Posted

      I tried all that too. Yoga helped, meditation, b12, Vitamin d, acupuncture, homeopathy, Ent, and another 5 different doctors and nothing helped me in a way that I could actually feel somehow I was recovering. :-(
  • marlene21102
    marlene21102 lynne85105

    Posted

    Hi Lynne ,I to have Mdds ( Mal de Dembarquement  Syndrome ) Im into year 5 ,no tablets etc has helped me ,i only take 1 BP med a day ,no antidepressants ,there are exercises you can try ,go onto You tube . Im on a couple of Dizzy support sites ,one just for the balance we have troubles with  i to have tinnitus . Stay walking as best as you can ,moving head side to side whilst looking at a point ahead of you ,sounds odd but it can be done . 

       It's a horrid condition to deal with ,drs don't truly know how to solve it to be honest . Have you had any neck issues at all prior to onset . ? It can be an isolating condition ,when others just don't understand how it affects people ,bit like any illness . Regards 

  • rocksolid
    rocksolid lynne85105

    Posted

    Have you looked into Verticle Heterphoria? It's an eye condition. Also I have heard of people who have an impacted wisdom tooth that when removed made them feel better. Good luck and I hope you feel better.
    • marlene21102
      marlene21102 rocksolid

      Posted

      Hi Rocksolid ,not spoke for ages ,how are you doing these days ? Keep meaning to PM you . I don't get on here as often  pop in and out to see how everyone is copeing , as you can see nothing's changed as far as myself . I can't believe how many have this condition ,and more joining the ranks daily ,here and elsewhere. Like its a right epidemic out there . 😁
  • victoria78511
    victoria78511 lynne85105

    Posted

    Hi Lynne I've been having trouble with my balance for over a year I've had MRI scan all came back clear. I have the rocking and swaying floating sensation Could you tell me if the antidepressants worked for you. I hope you feel better
    • lynne85105
      lynne85105 victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria !...its been almost 3 months since taking Cipramil ..I'm just starting to taper off as I found over time I felt worse ( something I didn't need.. lol) the rocking and moving a bit better but over all increased head pressure, more "off the planet" I have never felt depressed but while taking an "anti- depressant" I would say I felt was depression is, also I didn't need that.

      Specialist has another drug listed to try but I'm going to have a break and re assess.

      Ive been going to water aerobics... I really enjoy that as I can flop and fall in the water while excercising hard, I feel relief when I get into my car after so I keep going back for more! 

      Good luck, I think exercise is the way out of it!

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 lynne85105

      Posted

      Thank you lynne for getting back in touch do they now what causing your problem. ENT said i've got a weak balance system in my left ear Flickr in my left eye they do not know what causing my problem if I go out side I feel weird I do not like going in supermarkets I just feel like I'm walking on sponges. I Did try antidepressants for two weeks they made me feel worse.
    • lynne85105
      lynne85105 victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria , have you had tests..MRI, for the flicker?

      Caloric for your vestibular system?

      Audiogram for hearing?

      Without testing its hard to know what you are dealing with but in saying that no one can do anything for me- I just know of the problems I have from a gone wrong surgery. I had spasms on one side of my face called "hemifacial spasms" I had a MVD, when I woke up from anesethtic I was profoundly deaf with 100% vestibular loss on that side. Only a 1% chance of going deaf, unfortunately I'm the statistic.

      i know my hearing loss  and the loud tinnitus are with me to stay but I am hoping the rocking, spinning, head pressure, aching behind ear muscles lessens over time

      I know only to well the weird feelings you mentioned..supermarkets, malls, cluttered shops, busy streets ( I could go on and on...) just existing!😞

       

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 lynne85105

      Posted

      Hi Lynne sorry to hear about your problem I've had all the test done they all came back clear they just say there is a under lying problem. I do not have the spinning Sensation just feel off balance to the left my hearing is ok and my eyes test they are ok. They just do not know what causing it. Thank you I hope you get better soon.
    • dizzyear
      dizzyear victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria,

      You might want to look into a condition called Superior Canal Dehiscence.  One of the symptoms is cronic imbalance.  I have this condition so if you read about this and would like to know more just let me know.  FYI, this condition cannot be identified with MRI.  Have you had other tests?  

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 dizzyear

      Posted

      Thank you for getting in touch I've had MRI scan came back clear I've had the balance test were they put the goggles on a put the water in your ears they said it was not my ears what causing the problem they seen the Flickr in my eye.I do not have the spinning Sensation just feel off balance to the left I have trouble changing surface e.g, tile to carpeting. When I seen the EnT he said to close my eyes and march on the spot when I opened my eyes i turned to the left he said I've got a weak balance system. I do not like noise when I'm on the phone my body start to shake because of my ear. I've still go no answers can you tell me move about semicircular canal dehiscence. What are your symptoms.
    • dizzyear
      dizzyear victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria,

      The inner ear has 3 canals used for balance.  These detect head movement/position.  With Superior Canal Dehiscence the superior canal that senses movement in the vertical plane (nodding) has developed a hole.  This small hole can cause a lot of symptoms that vary among people that have this condition and can also mimic the symptoms of other conditions.  It also happens to be pretty rare which makes this  hard to detect and is often misdiagnosed.  There are two main tests that are used to diagnose this condition.  A CT scan of the canals to look for the hole and a VEMP test which helps to confirm the finding.  MRIs are not able to see the hole and are not typically used to diagnose this condition.  However, glad to hear your MRI was clear.  This should help rule out Acoustic Neuroma (tumor) and multiple sclerosis (MS) other causes of balance issues.  One other possible cause would be Migrane Associated Vertigo (MAV).  However, most of the time people have migranes with this condition and antidepressents are often helpful for the dizziness.

      Symptoms of Superior Canal Deniscence (SCDS) include.

      - Cronic imbalance/unsteadiness/dizziness

      - Noise induced dizziness/vertigo

      - Autophany (hearing own voice loudly in ear with a Kazoo type of distortion) May be able to hear other body sounds, like heartbeat, blinking, eye movements, etc.

      - Hyperacusis - over sensitivity to certain sounds (like clapping)

      - Aural Fullness - a sense of fullness/pressure in the ear

      - Tinnitus - a high pitch ringing in the ears.

      Each person is different.  For me I had the imbalance for 6 years, then one morning I woke up with the aural fullness, hyperacusis, autophany.  I have never had the Tinnitus, Vertigo, or headaches thankfully.  These symptoms for me are fairly constant and don't come and go like the might with meniere's disease.  SCDS doesn't really come with attackes of dizziness.  

      Hopefully, this information is helpful,  there is lots more on the web. Let me know if you have any questions.

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 dizzyear

      Posted

      Thank you for getting back in touch if I move my eyes left to right it affects my ears I have the same sensation when I blink feel it in my ear. If I pick anything up it affects my ear. I've got tinnitus. I will look on the web.Thank you.
    • dizzyear
      dizzyear victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria,

      If the room is quiet, can you hear your eyes move or can you hear your eyes blink.  Approxiately 25% of people with SCDS can hear their eyes moving.  This is a fairly unique symtpom of SCDS.  This just started for me about 6 months ago (very strange).  Could you elaborate on the sensation in your ear when you blink or move your eyes left to right.

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 dizzyear

      Posted

      When I move my eyes or blink, the hissing worsens and I can hear the blink.

      when using the vacuum cleaner it feels like my ears are mimicking the sounds,

      Everything goes crazy.

      My daughter's hay fever sneezing (very loud)feels like my ear is going to explode.

    • dizzyear
      dizzyear victoria78511

      Posted

      Hi Victoria,

      This sounds like 2 different symptoms to me.  The vacuum and sneezing seems to be to be a Hyperacusis (sensitivity loud sounds) symptom.  And hearing your eyes blink may be related to Autophany.  Most people cannot hear their blinks.  I point this out because some people have had this symptom a long time and don't realize it isn't normal.  I don't have the hissing sound you describe, maybe this is related to tinnitus.  For me sounds of the eyes sound like a gritty swoosing sound.  I have heard others describe the blinking sound as a click.  How does blinking sound to you?  Either way, you may want to get tested for SCDS, to know if this is the cause of your symtpoms or whether it can be excluded.  The sound sensitivity for me is only certain loud sounds.  For me clapping, kids squealing, plates banging in a resturant can drive me quite nuts.  I carry ear plugs in case I am stuck in a loud environment for any length of time.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.