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.

 

[gaussianbeam]

@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.

I started taking 3.75 mg of Mirtazapine for sleep after the ear vibrations began. Otherwise, I try to avoid any medication as much as possible. Mirtazapine may be the cause of the musical ear, since auditory hallucinations are listed as a side effect. Everything else I took was before starting Mirtazapine.

 

[arjun]

@ellees, I have also been experiencing tinnitus in one ear for the past three months, and starting today, April 3, 2025, I began noticing it in the other ear as well. I do not know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions, please?

 

[Tryn2BHopeful]

My tinnitus started after taking two doses of Escitalopram (Lexapro) two years ago. I seemed to develop issues with Eustachian tube dysfunction much later. Pressure builds up easily in my ears.

It seems like Eustachian tube dysfunction can occur along with tinnitus, especially the reactive kind or the type that comes with hyperacusis-like symptoms. Perhaps it has something to do with cochlear damage. I am not a doctor, but I can say that whatever caused my second wave of tinnitus and ear sensitivity, I now experience more frequent sensations where it feels like my Eustachian tube is stuck open—what I believe is called patulous Eustachian tube—but only in my left ear.

 

[kgolive]

@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?

I had my MRA yesterday and received the results from my ENT today. The results were normal.

Here is what I can tell you. I feel and hear my heartbeat in my right ear all day and night. It does not go away. This has been happening since the middle of February, after I took Lexapro 20 mg for three days, followed by Wellbutrin 150 XL for about a week. The symptoms began on the second day of taking Wellbutrin. I stopped the medication after six days.

My ENT says the medication could not have caused this. They believe it is due to stress and anxiety and have recommended cognitive behavioral therapy. So now I am back at the beginning, trying to decide whether to accept that explanation or keep searching for someone who believes something is actually wrong.

This is everything I am experiencing:

I hear and feel my heartbeat in my right ear. It is usually steady, but in the early mornings when I first wake up, it is a bit more calm and quiet. Evenings are the most difficult. It can get loud, and I can feel it thumping. Sometimes it even makes my eyes feel like they are moving slightly. I cannot sleep without taking Ambien and Lorazepam. I also use a fan for white noise, but it is not enough. The sensation drives me to the edge if I focus on it.

My left ear was originally fine, but over the past few weeks, it has started to develop a tone that comes and goes. I have no idea where it is coming from, but when it is there, it is loud, like a microphone interfering with a speaker. It is not a ringing but more of a steady high-pitched tone. When I turn my head left or right, it gets louder, as if someone increased the gain in my ears. Sometimes it is intense, and then suddenly it disappears. I have no idea what this is.

I feel pressure in both ears. It varies in intensity, but it is almost always there. I sometimes get mild headaches or a feeling of pressure in my head. I also feel lightheaded and short of breath, especially if my heart rate increases from exercise. I can feel that pressure in my head too. After my MRA, I felt like my brain was on fire. I had symptoms similar to the flu, but without an actual infection. I felt terrible yesterday.

I know I am repeating myself, but I am truly at a loss for what to do. I do not want to live the rest of my life like this. It is such a constant distraction, and feeling this way all day completely wears me out. The ENT believes it will go away over time, but it is clear they have no real understanding of what I am going through.

I literally pray every night just to feel normal again. I cannot believe I once took for granted what it felt like to have a clear, normal head. I never imagined I could do anything that would lead to this. I feel terrible for anyone else experiencing similar symptoms. It is absolute torture.

 

[Tryn2BHopeful]

@kgolive, your story is similar to mine when it comes to SSRIs. You are still very early in this, and it is clearly disruptive to your life. Things do get easier, but you need to be careful with your ears and avoid becoming complacent when things start to feel okay. That is advice I wish I had followed myself. You should also prepare for the possibility that it may never fully resolve.

Have you considered seeing a cardiologist? Hearing your pulse and experiencing shortness of breath could point to a different issue entirely.

 

[ellees]

had my MRA yesterday and received the results from my ENT today. The results were normal.

Thanks for sharing all of this. You mentioned that this started in February, so it is still quite recent. Although some of our tinnitus symptoms seem to be different, I will say that the worst period for me was the first four to six months. It seemed to calm down a bit after that. It may not fully go away, but for many people it becomes easier, either because the actual symptoms become less intense or because they are able to habituate.

My left ear was originally fine, but over the past few weeks, it has started to develop a tone that comes and goes

My right ear is always the worst, but I have fluctuating tinnitus in my left, which is my better ear. This reminds me of the first four months of my tinnitus. The left ear fluctuated a lot during that time, and sometimes the tinnitus was much louder than in my right ear. I still get spikes in my left ear, but they usually subside or lower eventually. Those first four months were really quite scary. Hopefully, this starts to stabilize for you.

I cannot sleep without taking Ambien and Lorazepam

Just out of curiosity, are you taking any other medications besides these two?

My tinnitus started after taking two doses of Escitalopram (Lexapro) two years ago.

Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if you have since tried any other medications. Have you tried any other antidepressants or Gabapentin?

 

[kgolive]

@kgolive, your story is similar to mine when it comes to SSRIs. You are still very early in this, and it is clearly disruptive to your life. Things do get easier, but you need to be careful with your ears and avoid becoming complacent when things start to feel okay. That is advice I wish I had followed myself. You should also prepare for the possibility that it may never fully resolve.

Have you considered seeing a cardiologist? Hearing your pulse and experiencing shortness of breath could point to a different issue entirely.

I don't think I'm describing it properly. It's such an unusual and unnatural feeling in my head. I think I feel shortness of breath because my heart is pounding so hard in my ear.

I need to find and share the link to a study I read about SSRIs causing hypersensitivity in the cochlea in mice. That's what I feel has happened to me. It likely only affects a small percentage of people this way, which is probably why my doctor is so quick to dismiss the idea that the medication could have caused it. But before taking it, I was fine. Completely fine.

Right now, I'm trying to find a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy and a neurointerventional radiologist for a second opinion, just in case. Trying to explain this to anyone at work or in my life is difficult—since they can't see what I'm experiencing, it almost makes me seem crazy.

Thanks for sharing all of this. You mentioned that this started in February, so it is still quite recent. Although some of our tinnitus symptoms seem to be different, I will say that the worst period for me was the first four to six months. It seemed to calm down a bit after that. It may not fully go away, but for many people it becomes easier, either because the actual symptoms become less intense or because they are able to habituate.

My right ear is always the worst, but I have fluctuating tinnitus in my left, which is my better ear. This reminds me of the first four months of my tinnitus. The left ear fluctuated a lot during that time, and sometimes the tinnitus was much louder than in my right ear. I still get spikes in my left ear, but they usually subside or lower eventually. Those first four months were really quite scary. Hopefully, this starts to stabilize for you.

Just out of curiosity, are you taking any other medications besides these two?

Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if you have since tried any other medications. Have you tried any other antidepressants or Gabapentin?

I have not taken any other medications. I feel like I cannot fall asleep without Ambien. The Lorazepam does not do a whole lot for me. I had Xanax before, but that made me feel too groggy, so I asked to switch. Before taking any of the SSRI medications, I was only using Ambien to sleep.

I feel like, as I get older, falling asleep and staying asleep has become increasingly more difficult — and that is without tinnitus or pulsatile tinnitus.

How long have you been experiencing this now? Do you work? Does it affect you there? Or impact your social life? My social life is literally non-existent right now because all I want to do is power through work so I can come home and try to relax and calm my head.

Have you tried acupuncture? Someone recommended that to me as well. I am all over the place now trying to decide what the next step should be.

Do you think the SSRIs did something to all of us that caused hypersensitivity in our hearing? And is there a possibility it will eventually return to normal? I know it has only been two months, but I cannot imagine living like this for years. I read horror stories on Reddit, and that definitely does not help me feel positive.

 

[Tryn2BHopeful]

Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if you have since tried any other medications. Have you tried any other antidepressants or Gabapentin

I take Mirtazapine for sleep. I haven't taken anything else.

That's what I feel has happened to me. It likely only affects a small percentage of people this way, which is probably why my doctor is so quick to dismiss the idea that the medication could have caused it.

I was told it was impossible for the medication to cause tinnitus. Yet here I am.

I hope you find something that helps. CBT was a bust for me, but it did help to talk to someone in the beginning, when I felt like I was about to go off the deep end.