SSRI-Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD): Advice and Experiences?

[ellees]

I was wondering if anyone has experienced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) caused by medication?

I suddenly developed tinnitus, ear fullness, ear pressure, facial pressure, and ear pain after taking an SSRI for just a couple of days. It's been a year now.

Does this resonate with anyone? Has anything helped with medication-induced ETD?

 

[lillieg]

Hey @ellees! Have you seen a doctor to get diagnosed with ETD? Do your ears click when you swallow or hurt during minor elevation changes? Just asking so I can give you the best advice!

 

[oi3jrtoi3j4t]

Yes, this is really amazing timing, @ellees. I've been researching this lately but haven't found any answers.

I was on Zoloft (an SSRI) for about four years and tapered off it in 2024. A couple of days after reaching 0 mg, I suddenly felt an urge to pop my ears repeatedly, and this happened several times throughout the day. At first, I thought it might be due to spring allergies, but nine months later, it's still occurring. It can happen while driving, lying down, or walking. I've never experienced this before in my life.

I've mentioned it to my psychiatrist a couple of times, but he doesn't think it's related to Zoloft.

I haven't seen a doctor specifically for this issue yet, as I'm hesitant to spend $70 on a copay just to hear a specialist tell me it's normal. For what it's worth, I did experience extreme pain on flights several years ago if I didn't pop my ears enough during ascent. However, that doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, regardless of whether it's a short one-hour flight or a 14-hour one.

What have you found about this?

 

[ellees]

Have you seen a doctor to get diagnosed with ETD? Do your ears click when you swallow or hurt during minor elevation changes? Just asking so I can give you the best advice!

@lillieg, I haven't seen a specialist yet, but I plan to, just to confirm if it's Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). I constantly have a feeling of ear fullness, and sometimes there's a deep earache sensation. However, the worst part is that when I yawn or take a deep breath, my ear feels really blocked. I'm assuming the Eustachian tube isn't opening properly.

What have you found about this?

@oi3jrtoi3j4t, I honestly haven't found much information about ETD being caused by antidepressants. Antidepressants causing tinnitus? Yes, but not much about ETD specifically. That said, if other medications can cause it, I don't think it's a huge stretch to assume they might as well.

In my case, it happened after taking an antidepressant for just a couple of days, so I can't really compare my situation to yours, since you were on it for a long time and only developed symptoms after quitting. I wonder if it could be some kind of withdrawal effect for you?

 

[oi3jrtoi3j4t]

@lillieg, I haven't seen a specialist yet, but I plan to, just to confirm if it's Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). I constantly have a feeling of ear fullness, and sometimes there's a deep earache sensation. However, the worst part is that when I yawn or take a deep breath, my ear feels really blocked. I'm assuming the Eustachian tube isn't opening properly.

@oi3jrtoi3j4t, I honestly haven't found much information about ETD being caused by antidepressants. Antidepressants causing tinnitus? Yes, but not much about ETD specifically. That said, if other medications can cause it, I don't think it's a huge stretch to assume they might as well.

In my case, it happened after taking an antidepressant for just a couple of days, so I can't really compare my situation to yours, since you were on it for a long time and only developed symptoms after quitting. I wonder if it could be some kind of withdrawal effect for you?

That's what I thought too. However, my psychiatrist seems confident that it isn't a withdrawal symptom. My theory is that SSRIs directly impact the central nervous system, and I suspect some of the effects might be permanent. It took me several months after stopping them to notice a reduction in the shaking of my hands. But, as I mentioned, I haven't consulted anyone about this yet.

If you're planning to see someone about this soon, please update the thread!

By the way, sorry for the late reply. For some reason, I'm not getting email notifications from this forum.

 

[hopefulmomma]

Yes, this is very common. I'm 14 months off benzos and have had ETD since tapering. Many people on BenzoBuddies report the same thing—some improve, while others continue to experience popping ears and fullness for a while.

It's hard to know why some people heal while others don't.

Hope you find answers.

 

[kgolive]

@lillieg, I haven't seen a specialist yet, but I plan to, just to confirm if it's Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). I constantly have a feeling of ear fullness, and sometimes there's a deep earache sensation. However, the worst part is that when I yawn or take a deep breath, my ear feels really blocked. I'm assuming the Eustachian tube isn't opening properly.

@oi3jrtoi3j4t, I honestly haven't found much information about ETD being caused by antidepressants. Antidepressants causing tinnitus? Yes, but not much about ETD specifically. That said, if other medications can cause it, I don't think it's a huge stretch to assume they might as well.

In my case, it happened after taking an antidepressant for just a couple of days, so I can't really compare my situation to yours, since you were on it for a long time and only developed symptoms after quitting. I wonder if it could be some kind of withdrawal effect for you?

Are you still experiencing this?

I took Lexapro and Wellbutrin for a total of seven days in February and have had pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear for over a month now. I also have the same ear fullness and pressure. I sometimes feel lightheaded, and even light exercise or walking makes my chest feel tight and causes my heart to pound in my ear.

I'm now beginning to hear an occasional high-pitched tone in my left ear as well. I have seen multiple doctors, including an ENT, and I am currently awaiting an MRA that is scheduled for April 7th.

I have never had any type of tinnitus before this. I am 42 years old and in excellent physical shape. My EKG results were normal too.

 

[oi3jrtoi3j4t]

Are you still experiencing this?

I took Lexapro and Wellbutrin for a total of seven days in February and have had pulsatile tinnitus in my right ear for over a month now. I also have the same ear fullness and pressure. I sometimes feel lightheaded, and even light exercise or walking makes my chest feel tight and causes my heart to pound in my ear.

I'm now beginning to hear an occasional high-pitched tone in my left ear as well. I have seen multiple doctors, including an ENT, and I am currently awaiting an MRA that is scheduled for April 7th.

I have never had any type of tinnitus before this. I am 42 years old and in excellent physical shape. My EKG results were normal too.

This is really strange. It seems like it could be a nervous system issue. Please keep us updated once you have your appointments!

 

[ellees]

Are you still experiencing this?

@kgolive, yes, I am still experiencing everything I mentioned before. I think it is likely permanent in my case since it has been over a year, although it does seem a bit better compared to the initial noise and fullness.

Do you experience tinnitus all the time, or is it intermittent?

When you yawn, does your ear feel blocked? Can you hear the air in your tubes, as if the air gets stuck? Or is your Eustachian tube dysfunction just a feeling of fullness and pressure?

 

[dumbmother]

I developed ETD after stupidly trying to take some Effexor liquid during withdrawal. I cannot express how much I regret it. There is a noise every time I swallow, along with louder tinnitus. It is driving me insane. I feel suicidal now. I have been referred to an ENT, but they have not gotten in touch yet. The anxiety is overwhelming and has me wishing I could try another medication just to cope. Have you seen an ENT?

 

[gaussianbeam]

I was wondering if anyone has experienced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) caused by medication?

I suddenly developed tinnitus, ear fullness, ear pressure, facial pressure, and ear pain after taking an SSRI for just a couple of days. It's been a year now.

Does this resonate with anyone? Has anything helped with medication-induced ETD?

This happened to me as well. After taking Escitalopram for one week, I woke up with tinnitus and a feeling of pressure in my ears. I saw an ENT doctor that same day. The physical examination showed nothing unusual, but tympanometry revealed negative pressure, which usually indicates Eustachian tube dysfunction. However, that initial pressure disappeared on its own after a week.

Now, two years later, the pressure still returns occasionally, but not often. Along with the tinnitus, I also developed tonic tensor tympani syndrome, where sudden sounds trigger muscle contractions in my ears.

Two years later, nothing has improved. A few months after the onset, I started experiencing sound distortions and reactive tinnitus. These symptoms are still present and fluctuate significantly from week to week. After about a year, I developed middle ear myoclonus. I felt mechanical vibrations in my ears every few seconds. That sensation eventually disappeared after a few months. I also developed musical tinnitus. Certain sounds, such as an ambulance siren, can stay in my head for weeks. These sounds also seem to respond to external noise.

I truly do not understand how taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor for just one week could have affected my ears this severely.

 

[ellees]

This happened to me as well.

@gaussianbeam, thanks for sharing your experiences. Have you tried any other medications since getting tinnitus? Gabapentin or another antidepressant? If so, I would love to hear about it.