Are there any antidepressants that do not have a side effect of tinnitus? I have tinnitus on and off. I have not been able to figure out any pattern to it. But the hissing in my ears makes me very depressed and I would not want to take an antidepressant that exacerbates it. In the past, I have been able to eventually get rid of the tinnitus, but this time it seems more difficult. Also, are there any antianxiety medications that do not cause tinnitus? The hissing also makes me very agitated. When I do not have it I am not at all depressed or agitated, but happy and relaxed. The hissing seems definitely related to stress, lack of sleep and depression.
The causes of tinnitus--a noise a person hears internally that cannot be detected by others-- are varied and not always easy to determine. It can be caused by an obstruction or damage or disease to any part of the ear. And as you pointed out, stress and lack of sleep can be confounding factors.
Since you are "very happy and relaxed" when you do not experience tinnitus, it is the problem requiring attention first. I would encourage you to consult your physician. You will probably be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist or an audiologist for an assessment of your hearing.
Prescription drugs can sometimes provide relief but many cause tinnitus as a side effect. Aspirin, ibuprofen, Excedrin Extra-Strength, Alka-Seltzer, Pepto-Bismol, and commonly prescribed antibiotics and antihistamines are just a few of the more than 200 medications that list tinnitus as side effect.
The majority of antidepressants used today and all of the SSRI drugs acknowledge tinnitus as a possible side effect.
The few that do not are older drugs with serious side effects of their own. The one antidepressant that does not exacerbate tinnitus is Remeron (mirtazapine).
Antianxiety agents pose similar problems. Although most do not cause tinnitus, they have other serious side effects and may be habit forming when used for a chronic condition.
Currently there is no "cure" for tinnitus. It can come and go or may be a permanent condition. Some people get relief from hearing aides, masking devices, cognitive therapy that retrains the brain to ignore the noise (called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy), and stress-reduction techniques.
Your question implies that antidepressants and antianxiety medications are either necessary or desirable for you, but it is important to know that psychotherapy alone is as successful in treating depression as medication. Further, tinnitus doesn't "cause" depression. It is a stressor, and depression can result when a stressor is chronic and not well-managed. Some people, and apparently you are one of them, react to tinnitus with depression, but that is not an inevitability. Therapy may help you adjust.
