Beeley L.
Benzodiazepines and Tinnitus.
BMJ 1991; 302: 1465.
" In his discussion of the causes and managements of tinnitus Mr M
Hawthorne points out that benzodiazepines should not be used to treat
tinnitus because their long term use is detrimental.

I should like to add to this that withdrawal of benzodiazepines after
long term use is a well documented but often unrecognized cause of
tinnitus. It may be realated to the hyperacusis characteristic of
benzodiazepine withdrawal, and it usually disappears once withdrawal
is complete - but I have seen patients in whom tinnitus persisted for
many months after withdrawal from benzodiazepines was complete, and
similar cases have been reported. In one of the reported cases the
tinnitus was relieved by diazepam.

Tinnitus is common and has many causes, but questioning patients about
their use of benzodiazepines may elicit a cause that usually has a
good prognosis. "

[Key words; addiction, dependence, withdrawal, tinnitus]