Birth Control Pills and Tinnitus

[TheDanishGirl]

I suspect I might suffer from PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and my doctor has suggested that if I keep feeling as utterly awful as I do around my period, then birth control pills may be an option, to stabilize my mood.

But I'm scared of the ototoxic effect.

Are birth control pills bad when you have tinnitus? Which one carries the lowest risk?

 

[jeas]

@TheDanishGirl
I've been on birth control pills for 13 years, and I do not believe it caused my tinnitus or made it any worse.

I hope this helps!

 

[Lilah]

I've been taking birth control pills on and off due to irregular cycles, but don't like them since they cause me anxiety. Once my cycle becomes regular after a few months of taking them, I stop them. I have not taken them since tinnitus though.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Not much response :/

I will say in my 2 years on this forum I have rarely, if at all, seen any discussion about birth control pills causing tinnitus or worsening it, so maybe they are not as bad as AD's........I don't know.......just guessing here.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Nobody else have experience with this?

I think I will have to go on them.

 

[astaff14]

No experience personally but from everything I've seen on here no one has had any bad effects. I have seen a couple posts where people have thought going off of birth control might've affected their tinnitus though so that's something to consider.

 

[FGG]

I suspect I might suffer from PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and my doctor has suggested that if I keep feeling as utterly awful as I do around my period, then birth control pills may be an option, to stabilize my mood.

But I'm scared of the ototoxic effect.

Are birth control pills bad when you have tinnitus? Which one carries the lowest risk?

Magnesium helps with PPMD.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Magnesium helps with PPMD.

Hmm, I have been on that for about 2 weeks and it has had zero effect on that. Does the effect take a while to kick in?

 

[FGG]

Hmm, I have been on that for about 2 weeks and it has had zero effect on that. Does the effect take a while to kick in?

Caveat: I don't think i have PPMD just somewhat worse than normal PMS (maybe mild PPMD?). A friend told me Magnesium Chloride specifically helped with hers. I started taking the liquid form a few years ago regularly (I can't emphasize enough how revolting it tastes, try masking it in cranberry juice if you try this) a week before my period and stop the day of. Normally I take magnesium glycinate.

I feel the difference within 2 hours when I take the liquid chloride, something that doesn't seem to happen with the glycinate I take the rest of my cycle.

If you happen to take benzos, ask your doctor about this by the way. I read magnesium can affect the receptors and withdrawal.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Caveat: I don't think i have PPMD just somewhat worse than normal PMS (maybe mild PPMD?). A friend told me Magnesium Chloride specifically helped with hers. I started taking the liquid form a few years ago regularly (I can't emphasize enough how revolting it tastes, try masking it in cranberry juice if you try this) a week before my period and stop the day of. Normally I take magnesium glycinate.

I feel the difference within 2 hours when I take the liquid chloride, something that doesn't seem to happen with the glycinate I take the rest of my cycle.

If you happen to take benzos, ask your doctor about this by the way. I read magnesium can affect the receptors and withdrawal.

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can get my hands on some Magnesium Chloride. Normally I also take Magnesium Glycinate.

I am 15 months out of benzos. I don't know if Magnesium Chloride could effect withdrawal. I know some people have used magnesium during their withdrawal to ease some of the symptoms just a little, and that it has helped some.

 

[Shera]

I've only been on birth control for a small while as it totally messes me up. But I've also wondered what birth control would do to T.

I know my period totally messes with my T.

 

[Kriszti]

Magnesium

I've only been on birth control for a small while as it totally messes me up. But I've also wondered what birth control would do to T.

I know my period totally messes with my T.

If it's not too noisy of a question, could you say how? My low hum noise which was raging got quiet precisely the moment I got my period. The high pitched monster I developed 2 weeks after the low hum is still loud.

 

[Shera]

If it's not too noisy of a question, could you say how? My low hum noise which was raging got quiet precisely the moment I got my period. The high pitched monster I developed 2 weeks after the low hum is still loud.

I guess I should say my cycle messes with it. During the first few days of my period my T calms down. Or as much as it can. Then after it stays a bit chill and I notice I don't get as many spikes. When I ovulate my T becomes louder, crazier noises, and so on. In fact, when I'm ovulating is when I usually get spikes and new noises. Which I think is odd. I thought the inflammation and water retention when my period is happening would make it worse.

 

[BuzzyBee]

I guess I should say my cycle messes with it. During the first few days of my period my T calms down. Or as much as it can. Then after it stays a bit chill and I notice I don't get as many spikes. When I ovulate my T becomes louder, crazier noises, and so on. In fact, when I'm ovulating is when I usually get spikes and new noises. Which I think is odd. I thought the inflammation and water retention when my period is happening would make it worse.

@Shera this is my exact pattern. Have you (or anyone else whose tinnitus follows this pattern) found a way to curb the hormonal spikes? I've been wondering if birth control would flatten out the cycle and stop spikes, but that might not be the case. I feel like it has something to do with neurotransmitters as opposed to water retention and/or inflammation.

 

[Shera]

@Shera this is my exact pattern. Have you (or anyone else whose tinnitus follows this pattern) found a way to curb the hormonal spikes? I've been wondering if birth control would flatten out the cycle and stop spikes, but that might not be the case. I feel like it has something to do with neurotransmitters as opposed to water retention and/or inflammation.

I've wondered a lot of the factors. I can't take birth control so I can't experiment that way. Those this last cycle it's been calmer. Didn't go crazy with it.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Caveat: I don't think i have PPMD just somewhat worse than normal PMS (maybe mild PPMD?). A friend told me Magnesium Chloride specifically helped with hers. I started taking the liquid form a few years ago regularly (I can't emphasize enough how revolting it tastes, try masking it in cranberry juice if you try this) a week before my period and stop the day of. Normally I take magnesium glycinate.

I feel the difference within 2 hours when I take the liquid chloride, something that doesn't seem to happen with the glycinate I take the rest of my cycle.

If you happen to take benzos, ask your doctor about this by the way. I read magnesium can affect the receptors and withdrawal.

I take liquid ionic magnesium now. Have had no effect on me sadly

I don't know if magnesium chloride is any different. I've tried different kinds of magnesium and no effects whatsoever from any of them.

 

[BuzzyBee]

I've wondered a lot of the factors. I can't take birth control so I can't experiment that way. Those this last cycle it's been calmer. Didn't go crazy with it.

It sounds like you are handling it really well, and I'm glad you had a calm month .

 

[Shera]

It sounds like you are handling it really well, and I'm glad you had a calm month .

Yeah, I'm glad it was too. I think it's a matter of having to adjust and cope. Plus, certain aspects have calmed down enough that I'm not constantly trying to bash my head in. Hopefully it's like everyone says and you just cope no matter what your T is trying to do to you.

 

[Shera]

I take liquid ionic magnesium now. Have had no effect on me sadly

I don't know if magnesium chloride is any different. I've tried different kinds of magnesium and no effects whatsoever from any of them.

I don't think the magnesium has helped my T, but it definitely helps with muscle aches and sleep sometimes.

 

[screechesilence]

I have a question for all my fellow sufferer ladies out there on the combined birth control pill:

I have been on the pill for over a decade now, no problems whatsoever and lots of benefits. For many months lately, I have taken it without a break AT ALL. Now that I got tinnitus, since I take no other medication, I wondered if I stopped the pill, maybe it would help my tinnitus. The thing is, this is no double-blind study. As with my supplements, I feel my tinnitus could have got better or worse even on its own. I have not had it long enough or tested each parameter individually to determine their efficiency. I stopped the pill for a week and I am the same as before...

I wonder if there is any point in stopping the pill altogether and what your experience is.

 

[Atalya]

I have been on low dose birth control pills for years and never had an issue. When I switched to Depo Provera and gained my 30 pounds A few month ago, tinnitus began happening and it may be Pulsatile Tinnitus. I'm no longer on Depo Provera and will have to see what happens when it is out of my system. I have lost some weight but still have more to lose.

 

[Shelbylynn]

I have a question for all my fellow sufferer ladies out there on the combined birth control pill:

I have been on the pill for over a decade now, no problems whatsoever and lots of benefits. For many months lately, I have taken it without a break AT ALL. Now that I got tinnitus, since I take no other medication, I wondered if I stopped the pill, maybe it would help my tinnitus. The thing is, this is no double-blind study. As with my supplements, I feel my tinnitus could have got better or worse even on its own. I have not had it long enough or tested each parameter individually to determine their efficiency. I stopped the pill for a week and I am the same as before...

I wonder if there is any point in stopping the pill altogether and what your experience is.

I was wondering how this worked out for you? I am stopping birth control because I no longer have insurance and I really can't afford the extra medication. I already spend some on blood pressure and allergy meds every month.

Did quitting the pill change your tinnitus or make it worse? I'm on my last day and I'm kind of antsy.