2C-I side effect: inner ear disturbance

This is very bizarre, and probably also very idiosyncratic, but I'll put it out there anyway, for novelty value and as a word of warning.

I have only done 2C-I at high doses twice: once at 30mg and once, quite recently, at 26mg. Both times, I immediately noticed an inner ear ache in my left ear. Not piercing pain, but kind of a dull awareness of discomfort that occasionally ramps up to wince-inducing. This started during the peak of the trip, and continued for several WEEKS afterward.

I did go to the doctor the first time, two docs actually, and neither could find a shred of a problem with blockage, swelling, etc. anywhere in the outer ear. Unless it got worse, they both told me, take some antihistamines and get over it.

At first I wasn't sure which substance to blame, but the fact that the ache returned immediately during my second high dose of 2C-I makes me pretty suspicious of that particular character.

My only theory is that maybe it has something to do with circulatory stimulation putting pressure on a membrane somewhere. For sure, no psychedelic I've taken to date is as physically stimulating as 2C-I. But, FWIW, I did a blood pressure check during the peak of my 26mg trip, and although it was elevated, it wasn't TOO far into the scare zone (143/84 if I recall). So, I really don't know.

And that's my puzzler of the week.

Maybe this pain has been there for so long that you
finally got used to it, like when putting on a bracelet or
necklace for the first time you feel it all the time then
2 months later you don't notice it anymore. And upon taking
a psychedelic your senses were amplified so you felt the pain again?

Has it ever happend on any other psychedelic?

I recall reading more than one report on Erowid of 2C-B users experiencing nasal congestion. Maybe you're getting something similar, which for you manifests in the left ear because that's where your plumbing is a little big clogged anyway.

I always get nasal congestion while on 2C-I. I also produce lots of mucous. Probably is just congestion.

i experienced something quite similar i believe, although with 2c-c, lasted about a week and a half after a 50mg dose. (i might add i did a 45mg trip exactly one week prior to that). I also noticed when taking piracetam in that period made it more pronounced during the effect of the piracetam. it did feel like some type of congestion indeed, not pain. it went away but i havent done any 2c-c since. it doesnt occur with 2c-e however, but i never used that with only a week inbetween doses
edit: it was my right ear btw

It might have something to do with the Eustachian tube and nasal congestion.

yes... the sinuses are located in a bone called the sphenoid bone. It is essentially the faceplate of a human, contained are the eye sockets, sinuses, part of the cheekbone or something....

stress causes the sphenoid to warp, compressions can occur that warp the socket of the tmjs, causing the pressure/pain to be felt around the ear.

my advice is be conscious of positioning and balance of your body.

I notice the same things on all phens, minus extacy, all 2Cs at least.

do you clench your teeth alot? any anxiety?
I recommend this product: http://serenitol.com/

i recently (1 1/2 yrs ago) had a bout of chronic TMJ/D and had all the ear pain and whatnot... plus facial pain usually localized to one side, and shoulder/chest/neck pain.

i recommend that product if you continue to have problems. I also recommend staying away from any amphetamine-type substances, as by my experience, they tend to aggrivate nervous disorders.

^^ Interesting. Yes, I am a nighttime teeth-clencher. My dentist is routinely appalled by how worn down my molars are from constant grinding in my sleep.

Thanks for the link.

all i know is TMJ/TMD conditions are hell to live through. The symptoms of the disorder(s) relating to sphenoid and jaw orientation/balance can be very confusing. When I first started experiencing my problems, they started feeling exactly like previous 'sinus' infections I had had.

I went back and fourth to immediate care locations in my town and other places, always complaining of the same thing. I was put on like three times the recommended limit of antibiotics. That to say, I took 6 rounds in a period of two months... which to say the least wore down my immune system and aggrivated the disorder even further.

One of my symptoms to this day is a feeling of drainage from the ear/sinus area. I have since realized this is all related to the disorder and is not infection.

Try that product, and I mean even if it feels better in the first day or week, continue regimen. If you have any problems with your TMJs they will heal, but it takes time and sometimes a little extra help/stress relief.

If you need to talk, have any questions, whatever... just PM me. I'm glad to have the opportunity to help someone with that dreaded disease... that is, if you have it.
Sounds to me like you might have upset your TMJs while at the peak intensity of the 2c-i... funny thing (not really)... I actually self-diagnosed my TMJ on a pretty high dose of 2C-E.

Later my ENT doctor sent me to a specialist to get custum made splints, which ended up making me have a strange bite (no bite at all really). My teeth no longer fit together when i close them, they either hit in the molar region, or on the front, depending on what i am going for.

So stay away from splints at all costs, and surguries. A night-time mouthguard might give some relief, it did for me, but not permanent.

Maybe it's pressure you're putting on your eardrums or something?
Like when you go up/down quickly in an elevator...

I had a big personal breakthrough of sorts today...
I realized that all these "head-feelings" I get are definitely just my head making different pressures on my ear drums
(I had many inner ear infections as a young child...my mom says she thinks these were mostly somewhat self-induced because I had some separation anxiety issues)

And I know that these head-feelings I get are related to me feeling guilty, me acting wrong, my OCD, etc.....

So I think perhaps your discomfort is some kind of psychological "wrongdoing" that the 2C-I could be amplifying.
(I know weed definitely used to give me profound headfeelings.)

Maybe everyone in this thread already realizes this...hmmmmmz...
But I mean...don't try to fix physical discomforts that you encounter during trips via other physical routs...I'd say look into your mental state, instead.

I've never tried 2C-I, but I am pretty sure that things like LSD produce no side-effects if your body/mind are at peace.

just my 2 cents

^^ That's a good point but the worrisome part has always been that the pain continues for weeks after the trip. It really does seem to be some kind of lasting damage.

I have come to think that everythinginside's theory that it is jaw clenching-related is the most likely hypothesis. I've been wearing my mouth guard more regularly and that seems to be helping a lot.

Oh, yea...jaw-clenching could also be related...
Heh...
I dunno, there could be a variety of reasons, I guess.

You could also try chewing gum, it tastes good (if you get a kind you like), and I do it at work just so I can blow off steam at my boss instead of getting a headache. It works for that well.

everythinginside said:

yes... the sinuses are located in a bone called the sphenoid bone. It is essentially the faceplate of a human, contained are the eye sockets, sinuses, part of the cheekbone or something....

stress causes the sphenoid to warp, compressions can occur that warp the socket of the tmjs, causing the pressure/pain to be felt around the ear.

Click to expand...

Just for the record, there are 4 sets of sinuses. There are the frontal sinuses located in the forehead area, there are maxillary sinuses located on each side of the nose, there are ethmoid sinuses, located inside the nose, and there are sphenoid sinuses located somewhat behind and above the ethmoid sinuses. These sinuses are composed of BONE. They cannot warp. If there is sufficient force, they can be broken, but not warped. Mucous can fill up inside the sinuses like a teacup, thats where you feel all of that pressure from. Also, there are no such compressions that "warp" the socket of the of TMJ (madibular fossa). The tissue surrounding the area can become inflamed from infection or other causes, causing pain and pressure, but the actual anatomic structure never "warps" or bends. If it did, you wouldn't be able to walk because all of your bones would be like that. Just a little factual FYI.

Has anyone experienced sharp ear pain,followed by hearing loss or loss of balance from any psychedelic? rc or classic.
Not that I have.Just wondering if any rc is possibly ototoxic.

I usually get very cold from 2c-i and tend to tense up making myself get nauseous and get muscle cramps, never had any ear problems though. I usually dose around 15-20mg the most I've ever done in one dose was roughly 50mg. I have also IM'd around 10mg of 2c-i which was almost a completely different high. Intensely fast onset almost like a rush with far more intense visuals, and a noticeable crash (overall a much shorter intense trip than any others before).

everythinginside said:

all i know is TMJ/TMD conditions are hell to live through.

Click to expand...

Amen.

If I hadn't cured my TMJ by religiously using a mouthguard at night, I probably would have killed myself-- it was that painful and annoying.

^i grind my teeth at night.
its probably why my jaw hurts all the time.

never really had it interfere with my psychedelic journeys though.

What was the route of administration used?

Are you asking the OP from 6 years ago?

if so Victor hasnt been on in al ong time, in fact i miss the guy, he used to be a regular in 03-04.

but i think it was orally that he took it.

Wow I didn't realize this was a post from 04...

But yea, I made the mistake of insulating 2c-i once... DAMN was like a semi crashed into my face at full speed while I had rusty needles stuck in my nasal cavity... I could see that causing ear pain.. DO NOT SNIFF RESEARCH CHEMICALS!!!