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.