Glad to Have Found This Site! Tinnitus for 4 Months

[Karie]

Hello!

I am a 37 yo female that started with T about 4 months ago. The only thing that changed during that time is Blood pressure meds. I was put on Carvedilol and about a week later the loud wind sound in my Left ear started. I describe it as like I am holding a seashell up to my ear all day to "listen to the ocean", it is so annoying and I have cried more times then I would like to admit. Around the same time, I had an issue with my teeth adjusting out of the blue and my bite was off. My dentist adjusted my teeth but the Tinnitus is still there.

I have been to an ENT and he says everything is fine, I went to a TMJ specialist and he says that my jaw is a little tight but enough to warrant problems. So, I went to my family DR on Monday and broke down in her office. She is going to wean me off of the beta blocker and see if it helps.

Has anyone else had issues with tinnitus after starting a beta blocker? and did it get better once stopping?

Thank you, and nice to meet all of you! Sorry that we all have to be here

 

[attheedgeofscience]

Has anyone else had issues with tinnitus after starting a beta blocker?

Tinnitus is a possibility from beta blockers - yes.

I believe member @Karen developed her 2nd round of tinnitus from this type of medication.

She is going to wean me off of the beta blocker and see if it helps.

It would have been even better if your doctor had been more careful before commencing the treatment. I hope there was a good justification for doing it.

 

[Karie]

My DR put me on the Beta Blocker to help with Palpitations and mildly high BP. I just really hope that coming off of it helps. I am also going twice a week to have jaw/head/neck massaged to help relax the muscles. The TMJ specialist that I went to wanted to put me on a strong muscle relaxer and pain meds. That is not an option that I am willing to do.

 

[Ricky81]

If you are breaking down, then you need anti depressant meds like Zoloft or Remeron.
I think Remeron is safer for T patients.
My T has reduced significantly in the past month and i just go to sleep on my own now, no meds, no music needed.
I do take NAC pills. Get NAC pills from any drug store, I think NAC has helped lower my T.

 

[Karie]

Thank you, I will check into NAC. I don't think I need an anti-depressant, I cried in the DR office because its annoying and I just want it to go away. I feel like Medications just cause more issues in the long run. I look for more natural ways of doing things first, then if all else fails I turn to medication. An Anti-depressant may mask the issue, but it won't make it go away (at least I don't think it will), so I'm steering clear for now

 

[Ricky81]

Yes i too stay away from meds unless really needed, However NAC and vitamins can't do much harm as long as you don't over dose so those oTC meds are ok to take.

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Karie ,

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk! I read your post with great interest, because my tinnitus (I had mild tinnitus before) got much worse after taking blood pressure medicine for the first time. Like you, mine started about a week after I began taking the blood pressure medicine. In my case, I was first prescribed an ACE inhibitor, Lisinopril. I had a lot of problems with this drug, including rapid pulse, etc., so I went back to my doctor. The doctor switched me first to Propranolol (a beta blocker), then to Toprol XL (another beta blocker). My tinnitus got even worse, and I also ended up with pulsatile tinnitus (hearing heartbeat in one's ear).

After many problems, I weaned myself off the Toprol XL. I did it very gradually, but even so, it was difficult. Beta blockers suppress adrenaline, and when I got off the drug, I had horrible anxiety for several months. I ended up with adrenal fatigue, too, and it has taken me a couple of years to get to where I feel better again.

Today, I am no longer on any blood pressure medicine, and my blood pressure is now in the normal range. I've been controlling it with diet, exercise, and natural supplements.

I do still have tinnitus, but it has improved greatly since it began four years ago. If you do decide to get off the beta blocker, I'll be interested to hear whether your tinnitus goes away, or is improved, after being off the drug. Be sure to wean yourself off it gradually, so you don't experience any problems.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[James]

I don't know if I can correlate it, - Lisinopril and my Tinnitus. Not sure if Lisinopril is considered a Beta-Blocker.
It is suppose to do something to blood flow - enlarging blood vessels.

My tinnitus started after my prescription to Lisinopril too, not right after, but a little time after.
I tried not taking my BP medicine for a few days, Doctor said ok - just stop taking it.
I didn't feel good at all, my BP was up. So I ran back and took another pill and still have awful P-Tinnitus.

Anyway @Karie I feel for you. It's a terrible thing. I hope you get better.

 

[Karen]

@James,

Your tinnitus problems sound so much like mine! Lisinopril isn't a beta blocker, it's an ACE inhibitor, which does relax blood vessels, as you stated. Mine first began after taking the Lisinopril for maybe just a week or so. The pulsatile tinnitus started about a month later -- or at least, that's when I first noticed it. Before that, though, I experienced much more severe tinnitus (ringing/hissing) than I had ever had before. For awhile there, it was roaring!

Are you still taking Lisinopril, James? Or did you switch to another blood pressure med? Did you experience louder ringing, too, right after you started the Lisinopril?

Just wondering if there is a connection. For me, I am pretty certain there is!

 

[James]

@Karen
Yes, I take a daily Lisinopril pill. You got my curiosity up again, the blood vessel thing.
I'm going to skip a pill or reduce my dosage, see if it makes a difference.
My doctor didn't seem to care because when I was in the office my BP measured ok.

And let's hope for @Karie that reducing her medication does diminish her T too.
That would be great.

 

[Karen]

@James
I'll be interested to hear if reducing the dosage makes a difference in your tinnitus. I hope it does!

Here's some general information about Lisinopril:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a692051.html

It doesn't show tinnitus as a side effect, but I've found a couple of forums where people said it did either cause their tinnitus, or increase their tinnitus.

The doctors don't seem to care about the side effects, as long as your blood pressure is improved. I experienced that from my doctor, too.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

 

[Karen]

Here is a link to a forum about lisinopril and tinnitus:

http://www.medications.com/lisinopril/28889

 

[Karie]

@James and @Karen, thank you for your replies and concern. I have only been on the beta blocker for about 4 months at a low dose 6.25mg twice a day, so I am hoping that coming off of it is not too much of an issue. I started the taper down process on Monday to 3.125 mg twice a day for a week then it will be 3.125mg once a day for a week (DR gave me the instructions). Karen, how long were you on a beta blocker?

I will let you know if it gets better (praying that it will), once my taper is complete. I am also not sure if it is all related to my jaw. Right around the same time as Beta blocker and the Tinnitus, my jaw started really bothering me and my bite was off. In fact, I thought the beta blocker was having a negative effect on me and I went to the hospital because my jaw and teeth hurt so bad. They said it was not related, so who knows. I just want it all to go away!

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Karie,

It sounds like you are handling the tapering down off the beta blocker in the right way. It's good that your doctor is monitoring you during this process. I wasn't on the beta blocker very long; I think it was about 3 - 4 months.

Yes, it is possible that your tinnitus could have something to do with your jaw problems. I don't know if the beta blocker would have a direct effect on the jaw or not; I just remember having a lot of strange muscle aches, etc., while I was on it. I was very glad to finally get myself off that drug! Hope your jaw problems begin to settle down after you get off the drug.

Please take care, and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[Ken219]

Anybody have issues with Plavix and "T"?

 

[Karie]

@Ken219 sorry, I am not familiar with that drug

 

[BobDigi]

Don't take anti depressants. You'll cope in time. If you're suicidal go for it. If your not, then head down, be strong and let time be your friend.

 

[nogood]

I did, tht thing caused me very bad brain fog followed by bed cold and weakened immune system, low blood pressure low heart rate, Panic attacks depression.
It took 2 plus months to recover from the side effects after stopping the pills
Still ended up with bad ear infection and T. Hearing loss in higher frequency.

If possible stay away from that medication. Diet and exercise can fix the majority of issues.

Anybody have issues with Plavix and "T"?

 

[gary]

Anybody have issues with Plavix and "T"?

Hi Ken, I have been taling Plavix for Hmmm 12-15 years and does not seem to bother my T. Well I'll put it this way I did not get T until 2.3 years ago, so I don't think Plavix is the cause. I must take them anyway so I never read up on it or asked anyone.

 

[Ken219]

Thanks @gary. I've taken Plavix for many years(7) too. Over the 24 years of my Tinnitus I have had relapses that I must habituate to. Just thought I'd ask about Plavix.

 

[gary]

Thanks @gary. I've taken Plavix for many years(7) too. Over the 24 years of my Tinnitus I have had relapses that I must habituate to. Just thought I'd ask about Plavix.

OK Ken, better to ask and know. I also take 81mg of aspirin too....

 

[Ken219]

OK Ken, better to ask and know. I also take 81mg of aspirin too....

Hi @gary I take beta blocker, ace inhibitor, lipitor, plavix, 81 mg aspirin That is for my heart. Then there are at times prozac, xanax, ambien. Nice cocktail i break it up morning and night. Yes I have a job. I am in the tech field.

 

[Karen]

@Ken219,
Do you think it might have been the Plavix that caused your tinnitus (or made it worse), or any of the other drugs? Beta blockers can also cause, or worsen, tinnitus from what I've heard.

 

[gary]

Hi @gary I take beta blocker, ace inhibitor, lipitor, plavix, 81 mg aspirin That is for my heart. Then there are at times prozac, xanax, ambien. Nice cocktail i break it up morning and night. Yes I have a job. I am in the tech field.

Yeah, I take the other stuff too. Got a bum heart & a bunch of other stuff wrong too. T is at the very bottom of my list.

 

[amandine]

Yes i too stay away from meds unless really needed, However NAC and vitamins can't do much harm as long as you don't over dose so those oTC meds are ok to take.

Please can anyone tell me what ''NAC'' means.

I am from the UK originally so maybe we use different terminology or it may just be that I never had any medical problems at all until this suddenly happened to me do am not up with all the terms. Either way I feel like I am in a nightmare that I cannot wake from and I am desperately trying to find a way to diminish or get rid of this. However I have to admit that for 3 months now I have done nothing but look at the web and consult this site etc...first thing in the morning, all day, last thing at night before I sleep. That is the other thing that I dont understand. I used to sleep like a baby for a good 7 hours at least. Now I can sleep no more than 3.5 hours and even with a sleeping pill it is 3.5 hours and without the same time. I took a xanax and got 4 hours, took another xanax and got another 3 hours. My xanax are 0.25mg and I cut this tablet in half so am taking 0.125mg - hope this is not a dangerous or addictive amount to be taking. Anyhow if anyone can help me please and what does NAC mean. Thank you to everyone on this site. (by the way, do you think that it could be damaging to be reading this all the time all day.....?)

 

[lapidus]

Please can anyone tell me what ''NAC'' means.

Here's the thread about NAC
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/n-acetylcysteine-nac.395/

 

[amandine]

thank you for posting this. yes someone sent me the link for wikipedia - looks like dangerous stuff and not at all natural. Also says it can cause tumours! Why are people clamouring to take it? I dont understand when it seems so lethal......what am I missing here?

 

[lapidus]

thank you for posting this. yes someone sent me the link for wikipedia - looks like dangerous stuff and not at all natural. Also says it can cause tumours! Why are people clamouring to take it? I dont understand when it seems so lethal......what am I missing here?

Post that question in the NAC-thread instead. I'm sure @jazz can answer your questions over there.

 

[Ken219]

@Karie Rehoboth Beach off season is our vacation spot. Relaxing.

 

[Ken219]

Yeah, I take the other stuff too. Got a bum heart & a bunch of other stuff wrong too. T is at the very bottom of my list.

DO you find you get dry mouth from all the medications? If yes, can you recommend remedies?
Thanks,
Ken