Can Prednisone Cause Your Tinnitus to Increase While Taking It?

quietatnight

Member
Author
Jul 7, 2014
346
Rockford IL
Tinnitus Since
1990
Cause of Tinnitus
Acoustic trauma / firecracker
Hi everyone,

I just started to take Prednisone yesterday and I was wondering has ANYONE ever had their tinnitus increase from taking it?

I know it's supposed to help lower the tinnitus, and prevent hearing loss. I have spoken with doctors and pharmacists and they say it is NOT an ototoxic drug, So I'm assuming that it's safe to take.

After I took my first dose yesterday afternoon, about 12 hours later I seemed to have developed a bad spike and increase in my tinnitus, which makes no sense to me. I have taken Prednisone a couple of times before over the years with no problems.

Please let me know. Any input or information would be helpful and appreciated from people that have taken Prednisone.

Thank you very much!
Louie
Quietatnight
 
I've taken it many times with no adverse tinnitus effects. From my experience of taking the drug I don't think there is any connection to your spike from taking the meds.
 
I've been on Methylprednisolone 3 times in the last few months for tinnitus and ALL 3 times it spiked my tinnitus temporarily for a couple of days about 2-3 hours after taking the first dose but eventually went back down. If yours spikes, I wouldn't worry. It will likely go back down after you're off the medication.
 
@racerfish, is Methylprednisolone the same as Prednisone? How long did you take it for and what was your dosage? Did you complete your 3 treatments?
Both drugs do the same thing. Methylprednisolone is a little easier on the body and has slightly fewer side effects according to my doctor. I was put on a 6 day taper course and completed all of them. The first time I took it I almost stopped because the spike in my tinnitus was so bad, but my doctor told me to finish it off.

I do think that the medication helped me. In all 3 instances my tinnitus went back down to baseline after I finished taking it.

Here's a picture of what I took:

steroid-pack-for-back-pain-1.jpg
 
@teacher34, yes, it did finally go back down. It took about 3 days, but it returned back to about 95% of my baseline. Even so, I have decided to not take it anymore in the future. I just don't trust it, and I suggest that you do the same. I feel that the gain is very little, and only temporary. To me it's just not worth the chance, besides it has a lot of nasty side effects.

I hope that this is helpful for you, I'm sorry that I did not get back to you sooner. I hope that you're doing better.
 
I'm on day 9 of Prednisone and my tinnitus started spiking on the second day with an increase in hyperacusis. I'm so scared it's going to stay this loud. I can't handle it!

And the side effects could make me kill. It makes my balance issues much worse, too.

The last time I took steroids, they did the same thing and I found it never went back to what it was before. The doctor told me today to stop taking them.
 
I'm on day 9 of Prednisone and my tinnitus started spiking on the second day with an increase in hyperacusis. I'm so scared it's going to stay this loud. I can't handle it!

And the side effects could make me kill. It makes my balance issues much worse, too.

The last time I took steroids, they did the same thing and I found it never went back to what it was before. The doctor told me today to stop taking them.
What amount are you taking? Try a very slow taper.
 
Prednisone is a miracle drug. It always helps my tinnitus and completely eliminates my ear fullness from Ménière's. Sadly it is temporary relief.
 
@kingsfan, I was on 50 mg for 5 days, then was supposed to go to 25 mg for 6 days after that.

I stopped yesterday after 2 days on 25 mg as it spiked my tinnitus and hyperacusis big time and it hasn't settled yet and I don't think it will unfortunately, back to the habituation process shit.

The prednisone made it much worse for me and affected by balance problem and anixety. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a bit of a better day.
 
Matt9

I have taken Prednisone many times over the years. The few times that it seemed to cause a spike, it was a mild one and it always went back down to my normal baseline. I know it doesn't seem like it now but it will settle in a few days. Try and stay busy is the best advice I can give you, in a few days you won't even think about it.

Hang in there.

Louie
Quietatnight
 
I'm on day 9 of Prednisone and my tinnitus started spiking on the second day with an increase in hyperacusis. I'm so scared it's going to stay this loud. I can't handle it!

And the side effects could make me kill. It makes my balance issues much worse, too.

The last time I took steroids, they did the same thing and I found it never went back to what it was before. The doctor told me today to stop taking them.
Did your tinnitus ever decrease since this incident? I'm worried I fucked myself over with Prednisone as well.
 
Did your tinnitus ever decrease since this incident? I'm worried I fucked myself over with Prednisone as well.
Hi there, unfortunately no. But that doesn't mean your case will be the same as mine.

In the beginning stages when I took Prednisone it did not aggravate it. Only last spring, after sound exposure, it made it worse, but so did Cephalexin, an antibiotic.

I've had recent noise exposure and tinnitus is much worse but I'm not going to take Prednisone this time around.

I hope your situation improves.
 
@mrbrightside614, I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner about your question about Prednisone, I have not been on here for awhile.

I have taken Prednisone many times over the years for acoustic traumas and it has never caused a spike that lasted after I finished the course. You should not worry about it.

I hope that you are doing well.

Louie
Quietatnight
 
Hi there, unfortunately no. But that doesn't mean your case will be the same as mine.

In the beginning stages when I took Prednisone it did not aggravate it. Only last spring, after sound exposure, it made it worse, but so did Cephalexin, an antibiotic.

I've had recent noise exposure and tinnitus is much worse but I'm not going to take Prednisone this time around.

I hope your situation improves.
Are you sure it was Cephalexin?
 

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