Misc Tinnitus cause?

[Man67]

About a year ago I developed tinnitus overnight and it's still there 24/7. Why? My Dr. and Psychiatrist don't have the answers and I can only guess which medication caused it (if any)? At the time when it started I was taking: 100mg Amitriptyline, 10-20mg Zolpidem and 6mg Bromazepam. Any guess is much appreciated.

 

[For_All_Seasons]

Did you get it checked out right away at the time? May have been triggered by an ear infection that since cleared up. To be honest it could be a myriad of things, it's not at all an uncommon symptom of disease or, as you say, medication. Might be worth asking your pharmacist.

 

[Snafu in the Void]

If it was any of those medications I would blame amitriptyline. I don't think benzos can cause tinnitus, other than during withdrawal. Benzos used to be prescribed to treat tinnitus I believe, but they don't really do that anymore.

I was born with tinnitus, certain drugs make it a lot worse. SSRI, SNRI, and SARIs definitely make it worse for me.

 

[LargeAppetite]

Ummm, I am really unclear why the obvious link has not been made between Tmj, Bruxism, and Tinitus. They don't prescribe benzos for tinnitus anymore is because it does in fact cause it. Any substance that alters the brain in a way that causes the jaw and ear region to act differently, inhibitions decreased or over stimulated, should be a definite contributor. The mechanism in your brain which causes your jaw not to clack, grind, or clench is altered by benzos, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and sleep. For example at night the mechanism cuts off while you sleep drugs or not, causing these symptoms to happen. I wear a mouthguard which helps immensely. Otherwise I wake up in the morning with a tightness, ringing, and pain in my inner ear and jaw.

"There is a close relationship between certain problems with the jaw joint (TMJ) and tinnitus. Scientific studies have shown that people with TMJ problems are more likely to suffer from tinnitus. Similarly, people who have sustained an injury to their neck may also suffer from tinnitus."

-Tinnitus.org.uk

 

[Man67]

Did you get it checked out right away at the time? May have been triggered by an ear infection that since cleared up. To be honest it could be a myriad of things, it's not at all an uncommon symptom of disease or, as you say, medication. Might be worth asking your pharmacist.

I checked it immediately and there was no an ear infection. It's most likely Amitriptyline which I'm taking for almost 10 years.

 

[Man67]

Ummm, I am really unclear why the obvious link has not been made between Tmj, Bruxism, and Tinitus. They don't prescribe benzos for tinnitus anymore is because it does in fact cause it. Any substance that alters the brain in a way that causes the jaw and ear region to act differently, inhibitions decreased or over stimulated, should be a definite contributor. The mechanism in your brain which causes your jaw not to clack, grind, or clench is altered by benzos, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and sleep. For example at night the mechanism cuts off while you sleep drugs or not, causing these symptoms to happen. I wear a mouthguard which helps immensely. Otherwise I wake up in the morning with a tightness, ringing, and pain in my inner ear and jaw.

"There is a close relationship between certain problems with the jaw joint (TMJ) and tinnitus. Scientific studies have shown that people with TMJ problems are more likely to suffer from tinnitus. Similarly, people who have sustained an injury to their neck may also suffer from tinnitus."

-Tinnitus.org.uk

Thanks for the useful info mate.

 

[Man67]

If it was any of those medications I would blame amitriptyline. I don't think benzos can cause tinnitus, other than during withdrawal. Benzos used to be prescribed to treat tinnitus I believe, but they don't really do that anymore.

I was born with tinnitus, certain drugs make it a lot worse. SSRI, SNRI, and SARIs definitely make it worse for me.

I think that you're right. But both Doctors (plus Neurologist) don't think that tapering down is a good idea.

 

[Mr. Krinkle]

the covid vaccine causes tinnitus in some ppl (true story)

 

[Man67]

the covid vaccine causes tinnitus in some ppl (true story)

Didn't get it.

 

[snmfmy]

If it was any of those medications I would blame amitriptyline. I don't think benzos can cause tinnitus, other than during withdrawal. Benzos used to be prescribed to treat tinnitus I believe, but they don't really do that anymore.

I was born with tinnitus, certain drugs make it a lot worse. SSRI, SNRI, and SARIs definitely make it worse for me.

Actually certain benzos (XANAX) can cause tinnitus, and not related to withdrawal.

And they do still prescribe clonazepam for tinnitus.

I myself have tinnitus from excessive alcohol use and MS and chlordiazepoxide and clonazepam both resolve my tinnitus.

There are a lot of ototoxic medicines that can cause tinnitus and people and they don't even realize it. Aspirin is a big one, pretty much actually any NSAID. Gabapentin can cause tinnitus.

Tri-cyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline. Stimulant abuse. Alcohol abuse, just like alcoholic neuropathy. It's basically neuropathy of your auditory nerve and nerves in the internal ear.

Extremely minor head injuries can also cause it as can viral infections, bacterial infections , sinus infections, autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and lupus, and neuropathies like trigeminal neuralgia.

High blood pressure is another one.

 

[Man67]

Thank you for the excellent analysis. Even my Dr. didn't give me so much info. I guess I will never know the answer as tinnitus is almost impossible to diagnose.

 

[emkee_reinvented]

About a year ago I developed tinnitus overnight and it's still there 24/7. Why? My Dr. and Psychiatrist don't have the answers and I can only guess which medication caused it (if any)? At the time when it started I was taking: 100mg Amitriptyline, 10-20mg Zolpidem and 6mg Bromazepam. Any guess is much appreciated.

When the point was reached that hearing became almost impossible. Just a continues noise.

I was by luck put on Pregabailin, for GAD, as soon as the first 75 mg 1/ 2 hours later took effect. My Tinnitus was gone. Why? Certainly worth a try. And never came back.

 

[Man67]

When the point was reached that hearing became almost impossible. Just a continues noise.

I was by luck put on Pregabailin, for GAD, as soon as the first 75 mg 1/ 2 hours later took effect. My Tinnitus was gone. Why? Certainly worth a try. And never came back.

Thanks a lot. I try that as soon I see my Dr.

 

[emkee_reinvented]

Any

Thanks a lot. I try that as soon I see my Dr.

Any idea why that happened. The Tinnitus I got was caused by pure anudulteradted unacceptable chronisch stress.

So super high Nor-Epinephrine, Glutamate, Cortisol. Mayhem in my brain. As Pregabalin at least 1.5/ 2 hours needs to start working. At excact that moment it started the Tinitus was gone.

No idea if this is caused by the voltage gated Calcium channel's. Or I am a oddity.

 

[Man67]

Any

Any idea why that happened. The Tinnitus I got was caused by pure anudulteradted unacceptable chronisch stress.

So super high Nor-Epinephrine, Glutamate, Cortisol. Mayhem in my brain. As Pregabalin at least 1.5/ 2 hours needs to start working. At excact that moment it started the Tinitus was gone.

No idea if this is caused by the voltage gated Calcium channel's. Or I am a oddity.

No, I have no clue. I just woke up one morning with the ringing in my ears.

 

[OceansState]

I recently got a script for Gabapentin and had some very loud ringing in my ear after taking it. I usually have a ringing in my ears but not loud. At night its worse trying to sleep so I have a fan on and cant hear it.

 

[snmfmy]

Any

Any idea why that happened. The Tinnitus I got was caused by pure anudulteradted unacceptable chronisch stress.

So super high Nor-Epinephrine, Glutamate, Cortisol. Mayhem in my brain. As Pregabalin at least 1.5/ 2 hours needs to start working. At excact that moment it started the Tinitus was gone.

No idea if this is caused by the voltage gated Calcium channel's. Or I am a oddity.

People report gabapentin resolving tinnitus, so it would follow that pregabalin might have the same action since it's such a closely related gabapentinoid.

Also, gabapentin blocks the release of norepinephrine from chromaffin cells, and has an antagonistic action on NMDA receptors and tends to reduce glutamate.

Contrary to popular belief, gabapentin, and likely pregabalin, cause the increased expression of extra-synaptic gaba receptors and also induced a Tonic inhibitory current in neurons.

"Gabapentin enhanced expression of δGABAA receptors and increased a tonic inhibitory conductance in neurons."

Gabapentin increases expression of δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors

Gabapentin is a structural analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Its anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic properties suggest that it increases GABAergic inhibition; however, the molecular basis for these effects ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

That is likely one of the reasons people have seizure like actions or seizures upon gabapentin withdrawal.

 

[emkee_reinvented]

Not really a consensus. Seems like Tinitus has more then one path. Mine went slowly till the point hearing someone speak was nearly impossible to hear.

@Man67 got an acute kind.

@OceansState GABAPENTIN seems to have been the cause.

But the info of snmfmy does indicate there are reports like mine.

Go to the dr. Man67, or if possible as I hate dr's in general, D.I.Y. (know anyone with said medication's?) Hopes up for you man.

 

[Man67]

I will. Thanks mate.

 

[DesertHarp]

I noticed a rhythmic sound in my left ear 13 years ago. I got thoroughly checked out, including a Doppler scan of my neck arteries and a CT scan of my head. I was tested by an audiologist and seen by an ear, nose, & throat MD specialist. I was diagnosed with tinnitus. No one can tell you what the cause is. It is believed that a major cause is simply the process of aging. But drugs have also been implicated, with amitriptyline being one that's been cited.

It interested me that you've been on amitriptyline because I too am on amitriptyline for most of my adult life. So I am suspicious of the amitriptyline as a possible cause or contributing factor.

Mine has gotten a lot worse over the years. There really isn't any effective treatment. When my mind is engrossed in something, I lose awareness of the sound in my head. The sound I hear is not horrible, so I'm grateful for that.

I've also heard that opioids can cause tinnitus. I take hydrocodone daily. I do not believe that my tinnitus would go away, if I cut these drugs out of my life. I believe it's permanent. I still hear okay, so I just live with it.

Much earlier in my life I got tinnitus after 3 days of taking a lot of aspirin for a badly sprained ankle. I stopped the aspirin, and the tinnitus completely went away. Aspirin has long been notorious for causing temporary tinnutis.