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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Hydrocodone and my hearing, what's going on?

C

Conquer9

Greenlighter
Joined
Nov 6, 2012
Messages
6
TL;DR: I took 10mg Hydro/650mg ace 3 days ago and experienced muffled hearing. It’s been 3 days and I don’t think my hearing is still back to normal. Anyone experience the same thing? How long before it recovers?

Hi all, can anyone tell me what’s going on?

So, almost exactly a year ago I had access to about 11 Vicodin pills (like 7.5mg Hydrocodone/500mg Ace). Over the course of two weeks I consumed them all, taking 3-4 pills a session (I think I had like 3 sessions) with a 72 hour break minimum to let my liver get back up to speed. After I finished them off I forgot about them, and I had absolutely no noticeable adverse effects.

Cut to last Saturday. A friend called me up and told me got a prescription for Norco’s, which are 5mg Hydrocodone/325mg ace. I took two of them (so 10mg Hydrocodone/650mg ace total). We started driving over to a hookah bar and I began playing some moderately loud music. 15 minutes after ingestion, my hearing suddenly became muffled over the course of about 2-5 seconds. It also felt like I had airplane ears (pressure in ears, you feel like you want to pop them but you can’t). We got to the hookah bar, which was playing super loud music, and I slept like 2 hours later. Anyway, when I woke up the next day (Sunday) I still had muffled hearing, and my ears felt like they were ‘full’ with pressure. Every time I swallow, my ears kind of crackle. Pretty much exactly like being on an airplane, though not as bad.

I went to the doctor on Monday. He gave me a sound test which showed that there was nothing wrong with my hearing. He also cleaned out my left ear (tons of earwax). My ear pressure and fullness began to fade throughout the day, though driving seems to make the pressure come back.
Woke up today morning with ringing in my left ear, but not much pressure/fullness (except when I drive and like an hour after). They are still muffled though.

Anyway, what’s going on here? I read that hydrocodone/ace can mess with one’s hearing – however, in all cases where people suffered hearing damage, they had been taking tons of these pills (one guy took 100-200mg a day for 2 months, another took 10mg a day for like 4 years). I only took 10mg once. How long before my ears fix themselves? Anyone got stories/experiences they wanna share?

Thanks.
 
Sounds like you have sinus trouble. I SERIOUSLY doubt it has anything to do with you taking a few hydrocodones.
 
^ this.

A lot of allergies can cause exactly what you are describing. If it's happening when you are driving, it's probably an outdoor allergy and the hydrocodone ingestion was coincidence, especially since prior use didn't affect your hearing. You should try an antihistamine with a decongestant, specifically pseudeoephedrine because phenylephrine is bullshit. Pseudoephedrine products are regulated most places so you will probably have to ask the pharmacist and show an ID. Just ask for generic claritin-D or allegra-D.

My girlfriend gets the exact same symptoms, usually when we go outdoors, and she feels like she has to keep sniffling to try to 'clear' or 'unplug' her ears.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I woke up today with no pressure in my ears, though the hearing hasn't improved.

I should add that my hearing hasn't been perfect. Very rarely my hearing in one ear would sometimes suddenly become muffled and I would hear a loud ringing noise. The ringing always faded away though and my hearing always came back within a few seconds, so I never paid it any mind. I've also had tinnitus for a few years, though it came and went and was only noticeable in silent environments (and even then I usually didn't notice it). Loud noises like dogs barking in very close proximity also hurt my ears with a pressure-like feeling, though I'm not sure if that's normal. I've never had issues hearing people though. Interestingly enough I went to the ENT like 3-4 months ago complaining of vertigo (turns out it was stress/anxiety related) and I got a hearing test; the results showed I had excellent hearing with no tones missed.

Anyway, I find it hard to believe that it was a coincidence. I pop two of the pills and 15 minutes later I get these symptoms I've never had before in my life - they have to be connected. 4 weeks ago I got a liver function test that showed I had elevated AST/ALT levels (10x the normal amount!). Hepatitis/mononucleosis/HIV came back negative. 2 weeks ago I got another blood test, my AST/ALT levels had dropped to 2x the normal amount. I believe this was caused by me just starting an intense exercise regiment (I started the day before my first blood test, which explains a lot):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/

Is it possible that weird liver function somehow screwed up my ingestion of the Norcos? I kind of assumed that in the two weeks since my last blood test my ALT/AST levels dropped down to normal. Just to check though I got a blood sample taken on Monday but haven't heard back yet.
 
Conquer9 said:
Thanks for the responses guys. I woke up today with no pressure in my ears, though the hearing hasn't improved.

I should add that my hearing hasn't been perfect. Very rarely my hearing in one ear would sometimes suddenly become muffled and I would hear a loud ringing noise. The ringing always faded away though and my hearing always came back within a few seconds, so I never paid it any mind. I've also had tinnitus for a few years, though it came and went and was only noticeable in silent environments (and even then I usually didn't notice it). Loud noises like dogs barking in very close proximity also hurt my ears with a pressure-like feeling, though I'm not sure if that's normal. I've never had issues hearing people though. Interestingly enough I went to the ENT like 3-4 months ago complaining of vertigo (turns out it was stress/anxiety related) and I got a hearing test; the results showed I had excellent hearing with no tones missed.

Anyway, I find it hard to believe that it was a coincidence. I pop two of the pills and 15 minutes later I get these symptoms I've never had before in my life - they have to be connected. 4 weeks ago I got a liver function test that showed I had elevated AST/ALT levels (10x the normal amount!). Hepatitis/mononucleosis/HIV came back negative. 2 weeks ago I got another blood test, my AST/ALT levels had dropped to 2x the normal amount. I believe this was caused by me just starting an intense exercise regiment (I started the day before my first blood test, which explains a lot):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/

Is it possible that weird liver function somehow screwed up my ingestion of the Norcos? I kind of assumed that in the two weeks since my last blood test my ALT/AST levels dropped down to normal. Just to check though I got a blood sample taken on Monday but haven't heard back yet.
Click to expand...


Go to the store and buy an ear cleaning kit with those bulbs.
Fill the bulb up with water and put it in your ear angled up toward the top, with your head leaning down. Read the directions on the package.
I had this issue once in one ear and cleaned my ears out and it was a miracle.
 
houseonfire said:
Go to the store and buy an ear cleaning kit with those bulbs.
Fill the bulb up with water and put it in your ear angled up toward the top, with your head leaning down. Read the directions on the package.
I had this issue once in one ear and cleaned my ears out and it was a miracle.
Click to expand...

Agree with this post.

I do not believe the Hydrocodone has any direct link to your hearing being "muffled". An earwax cleaning kit could be exactly what you need. I have natural wax build up that occurs a couple times a year. I have used the self-cleaning kits a couple times and they do work wonders. Just remember not to use Q-Tips in your ears, doing so may cause the wax to get pushed back even further and make it even more compacted. They even have been linked to punctured ear drums - OUCH! Doing so will make it even harder to get that built up wax cleared out. A tip for using Q-Tips in your ears in a safe way is to put it in just a tad bit (nice and soft), and spin the Q-Tip around.

If you are not satisfied with the self-cleaning kit, go to the doctors and get it professionally flushed out. I've done this plenty of times - while it is a tad bit uncomfortable (and not to mention loud!), it works wonders and your hearing will just pop back to normal levels! It's amazing.

Good luck, hope you are feeling and hearing better soon!
 
I am not sure how many of you here get these two symptoms while taking opiates, but I for one, ALWAYS get a muffled hearing and a weird blocked out voice (like I have been yelling loudly for a day). My hearing quality always lowers when I am on opiates, music sounds shitty and my hearing is blocked. I can't talk loudly and basically become a sitting mute. The thing is my hearing and voice always come back the next day so I can't relate with that one.

I have read a report about Codeine causing hearing problems before...
 
First off, I appreciate the advice, I will go get my ears cleaned out. When I got my left ear cleaned out on Monday my hearing was way better, but now it’s back to how it was yesterday.

To those stating that hydrocodone/ace combinations affect hearing: yea, they do – however, those who experienced adverse effects were either abusers and/or chronic users who popped a ton of these pills every day (the shortest time I’ve found for hearing loss to occur was 2 months, but the guy was taking 100mg-200mg a day. Others can go on for years at the 100mg level).

Which is why I’m so confused right now. Is there any reason that it could get worse? My theory is that these people who experienced decreasing hearing had so much of that ototoxic shit building up in their system that eventually their liver/kidney couldn’t handle it, and the buildup caused ototoxins to constantly circulate throughout their ear. I only took 2x 5mg hydro/325mg ace though, so it’s not like I could have a build-up that causes decreased hearing? Basically, there’s no reason my hearing should go downhill from this, right?
 
Hydrocodone causes a histamine release which produces effects like an allergic reaction. You said it was also happening when you went outside which again, points to outdoor allergy and sinus problems which can (and commonly do) produce exactly what you are describing. I don't understand why you ignored the people above who proposed sinus/allergy explanations because it offers the most comprehensive explanation.

Try an antihistamine with pseudoephedrine and see if it helps or get an allergy test. This is pretty easy to confirm.
 
Never had hearing problems in the past few months of me doing it weekly (almost daily) but i do get reeeaallyy itchy. but even that has pretty much passed now. i may even feel kinda "hot" temperature wise. but thats normal for a daily user, may even be kinda a sign of doing too much. I wouldn't be suprised though if it messed with your hearing. Get it checked out if it begins to bother you. Vicodin can lead to problems if done to much. stay safe man ;)
 
teological said:
I am not sure how many of you here get these two symptoms while taking opiates, but I for one, ALWAYS get a muffled hearing and a weird blocked out voice (like I have been yelling loudly for a day). My hearing quality always lowers when I am on opiates, music sounds shitty and my hearing is blocked. I can't talk loudly and basically become a sitting mute. The thing is my hearing and voice always come back the next day so I can't relate with that one.

I have read a report about Codeine causing hearing problems before...
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree, except the part about music sounding shitty.

Sometimes while high I get random, fairly loud, ringing in different ears at different times. But then other days while high it doesn't happen.
Also get that slightly blocked ear feeling.
 
UPDATE

Background
Hi guys. So, I hate it when people post up a health problem they had then don't follow up. Thus I thought I would inform you guys of my progress in case any of you are going through something similar.

A year and 2 days ago I made the poor decision to ingest those 3 Norco's (hydrocodone) pills. 15 minutes after taking them, my hearing became muffled. At night I noticed a very mild tinnitus. My left ear was especially affected by both the tinnitus and muffling effect. I waited 1 week before I went to an ENT to get a hearing test done. My word recognition rate in my right ear was 96%, which was good. However, in my left ear it was now 92% (88% is considered the threshold for hearing loss).

2 weeks after getting these results, I made yet another poor decision to take a prescribed dose of Ritalin. After taking it, my tinnitus became worse. It used to be that I would have to shut my ears to listen to hear it, but now it was clearly audible even with open ears. Since that night I've been sleeping with the fan on to cut the noise.

Results
So it's been almost exactly one year, and my hearing is still muffled. It hasn't gotten worse, thankfully, but it hasn't gotten better either. The tinnitus also remains and is slightly worse than before, though that can be attributed to my loud car + alcohol. I used to worry about this shit so much and keep myself awake at night, but now I've just stopped caring. Since I've stopped caring about it, my quality of life has improved a lot. Something can only bother and stress me if I let it.

Let this be a warning to you all that when shit goes wrong, it's your one and only body on the line, so better make sure it's worth it. I know it wasn't in my case.
 
Morphinans in general are known to be ototoxic in extreme abuse...

Acetaminophen is another...

You can get long acting generic antihistamines by the hundreds to thousands of pills for little to nothing.

When you are clogged up in the nasal, pressure is exerted on your hearing from inflammation.

You know the feeling of super hearing you get on cocaine, cathinones or amphetamines? This is partially because they cause a sharp reduction of swelling in the sinuses especially when snorted.
 
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