Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline, are two of the most commonly prescribed medications. If you have severe tinnitus, you can use one of these medications. Many medications have been studied to treat tinnitus. For some, treatment with low doses of anxiolytics, such as Valium or antidepressants such as Elavil, helps reduce tinnitus.
Using a steroid placed in the middle ear together with an anti-anxiety medication called alprazolam has been shown to be effective for some people. Some small studies have shown that a hormone called misoprostol may be helpful in some cases. Medications can't cure tinnitus, but in some cases they can help reduce the severity of symptoms or complications. To help relieve symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat an underlying condition or to help treat the anxiety and depression that often accompany tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that helps people with tinnitus learn to live with the condition. Instead of reducing the sound itself, CBT teaches you how to accept it.
