Is Medication Induced Tinnitus a Brain or Ear Problem?

[ramza97]

I have tinnitus from screwing around with various ototoxic psychiatric drugs (Zoloft and Remeron). I started hearing beeping over my music and it just devastates me.

I was wondering if anyone knew if medication induced tinnitus is damage to the brain or ears (or both) and how it differs from sound induced tinnitus or other types.

I'm interested because potential treatments may not work for both if the two differ in physiology.

 

[Contrast]

The brain rewires its central auditory pathways after the ear is damaged.

 

[CountryMile]

I was wondering if anyone knew if medication induced tinnitus is damage to the brain or ears (or both) and how it differs from sound induced tinnitus or other types.

This is a question I would be interested in knowing the answer to as my situation involves both.

 

[GoatSheep]

This is a question I would be interested in knowing the answer to as my situation involves both.

@Contrast already gave you the answer. Whether it was noise induced, induced via ototoxic medication, or in your situation possibly a combination of the two it would affect the ear first and the brain would respond to the damage done to the ear.

 

[CountryMile]

@GoatSheep Heh..one of those "if it was a snake it would have bit me" deals...so either way the injury occurs, the resulting response of the brain is the same... @Contrast am I getting it?

 

[GoatSheep]

Yes

 

[CountryMile]

Well hell, ain't nuthin' like having your wires scrambled I guess...

 

[ramza97]

I have a follow up question: if the brain rewires itself, will fixing the ear damage 'fix' the brain rewiring?

 

[GregCA]

I have a follow up question: if the brain rewires itself, will fixing the ear damage 'fix' the brain rewiring?

We'll only know once we manage to fix the ear, won't we?
If we believe in cause-to-effect reversal, then it seems plausible.