Tinnitus from Wellbutrin Going Strong 3 Months In

[ZenPaw]

Hey folks,

I'll try to keep this relatively brief. After about a month of Wellbutrin SR 150mg BID (300mg a day), I developed a high-pitched (CRT buzzing like) constant ring. I still remember the day it came on really well. I turned off my computer to go to bed and noticed a high pitched ringing. With that, I googled 'ringing in the ears Wellbutrin' and found hundreds of posts from people speaking of permanent tinnitus they developed from this drug. After seeing that, I immediately quit cold-turkey (I wasn't on it for all that long anyway). Coming off Wellbutrin was rough, but I was so afraid of permanent hearing loss, in hindsight, I think I made the right choice.

My tinnitus doesn't seem to have 'good' or 'bad' days. It seems to have better and worse times of the day. During the day, when I have headphones on or am at work, moving around and doing things, I can almost forget I have it at times. However, at night, or at quiet in my home, it's a constant, pretty loud very high pitched buzz. I'm finding it hard to fall asleep. I loved having it silent when I slept before my tinnitus; listening to a podcast helps mask it, but it's hard to fall asleep with it on. Complete silence seems to bring on this really weird sensation for me. It's an extremely loud 'howl', replacing the typical ringing. It's like my brain doesn't know how to process silence... maybe that's centralization taking hold?

I thought that maybe it is getting a little better, it is rather hard to tell. I think I may just be starting to get used to it. I've tried lots of routines and supplements including: CoQ10, B12/B12 complex, NAC, Vitamin D, suboccipital stretches, ignoring the tinnitus, reflecting on the emotions the tinnitus is causing (CBT techniques).

Sometimes it doesn't bother me, and sometimes it makes me feel extremely down and upset at myself for ever taking the drug.

What's very odd is I can remember tinnitus coming maybe once a month for a minute or so, and I almost felt as if I could will that tinnitus into being. Even as a little kid (4 or 5 years old) I can think back to trying to explain to my parents what was happening. I could modulate that tinnitus to be extremely loud... I wonder if anyone else experienced that before? Maybe I was predisposed for tinnitus all along...

I'm really hoping this betters with time. I'm only 20 and I can't imagine living like this for the rest of my life. I reached out to a number of people who complained of tinnitus from Wellbutrin, asking if it'd gotten better for them since posting (usually a few months to a couple of years ago). About 75% either said it got better or went away with time, and the remainder said it hasn't gotten better, but they find less distress from it. That alongside reading success stories on here is largely what's keeping me going right now.

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

Hi @ZenPaw, your situation sounds similar to mine. Search for my thread, I'd love to know if you have any similarities.

I'm 10 weeks in.

Is your tinnitus in both ears?

How long were you on that dose for?

I've stopped using headphones now. I don't know if medication induced tinnitus is related to loud noise but I want to know that I didn't do anything that can make it worse. That way I don't blame myself any more that I already do.

My theory is that we have a good chance of recovery. A doctor's post in the forum has said that mild medication induced tinnitus isn't hair cell damage.

I think those for whom it remains very very loud and distressing usually have another medical complication.

 

[ZenPaw]

Hey @T_Almost_Gone

I actually read your postings before I had ever posted anything!

Is your tinnitus in both ears?

It's weird. When it's really loud, it sounds bilateral (in the middle of my head). When it's quiet, I can tell it's rooted in my right ear. HOWEVER, sometimes when it's really quiet, it's almost like my left ear doesn't know how to process silence and makes this weird howling sound (not the high pitched ring I'm used to from tinnitus).

How long were you on that dose for?

I was on it for about 3 weeks? For a couple of weeks prior I was on 150mg. I was on Wellbutrin a year and a half ago without issues for a few months.
I found it interesting that before I got tinnitus one day, I felt like I was very hyperactive on the drug (I randomly couldn't sleep at all). I also always got minor hand tremors at any dosage of the drug (those have gone away).

I find headphones at low levels to be a tool for me falling asleep, but I respect you choosing to not use them. I like using some of the Art of Zen YouTube videos for high-pitched tinnitus relief... It completely hides it while I try to sleep.

I agree I think we're lucky that we really don't have other major health concerns. I find it challenging trying to gather accurate information on Wellbutrin induced tinnitus. I'm a psychiatric nurse, with that I have some limited background in psychopharmacology. I've taken it upon myself to dig through all the available published research on Wellbutrin and tinnitus. There is not a lot, but one study I did see said that within 6 months, participants who reported tinnitus who discontinued the drug no longer reported it. Also, FDA warnings note a 6% incidence rate of tinnitus at 300mg and (IIRC) about 4.5% at 150mg (I believe that was for SR). If these instances were all permanent, I can't imagine this drug continuing to be prescribed. You have to think the overwhelming majority of these cases resolve.

Every doctor I've spoken to about this has told me Wellbutrin is not ototoxic, and that the drug should clear up once it's left the system. Considering that we are months into this, I sort of doubt that conclusion. Rightly or wrongly, I've decided that I will not ever take psychiatric drugs again after this experience.

I share your conclusion though. In April it completely ruined my life... Now I really frickin hate it, but I try to live on auto-pilot. I don't mope in bed anymore. I get up, immediately shower, and get on with my day.

I'm really hoping it gets better for both of us. I think it's interesting that ours both started at the same time, and we have similar cases. It'd be awesome if we could both post and sort of contrast experiences with each other...

Oh, one more thing!

While I feel like the volume isn't that different during the day (ok when loud, annoying when quiet), at night I think it's better. It used to be 10/10 screaming loud at night, to the point I had to sleep with YouTube or music on (which I felt lowered my quality of sleep).

Now it's still louder at night, but not painfully loud. I usually sleep with something playing, but sometimes I sleep with nothing and practice habituating the ringing. Wondering if you've experienced similar?

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

Hi there,

• It's so interesting that Wellbutrin didn't give you tinnitus before and now it did.
• Mine is solidly in by right ear. Although the ringing/hissing does feel central in my head. Funny you're also concentrated in the right ear. I wonder if the auditory cortex is more on right hand side.
• Aside from the hissing/ringing I have a wavering whistling & I wonder if that's like the howling that you describe.
• I still get the burning itch on my arms from time to time. I read on drugs.com that some people get full blown hives. I take the itch to mean that the drug is still in my system but I don't understand how as the drug 1/2 life is long gone.
• I read another study (it was about epileptic medication) a side finding was that the brain took 4 months to return to normal after anti depressants. I wish I had the link. I wish it was possible to test for dopamine & norepinephrine levels - to just know if the levels are off.
• My noise level varies with the clock. Google ear + circadian rhythms. Mine can be super quiet in the morning, then the volume picks up as the day goes on. But if I wake up at night it's blasting in my ears.
• I also use Art of Zen high pitched neuromodulation. I was so thankful I even donated to his account to get the MP3. I used it all the damn time. It took my tinnitus from a high pitched ring to a lower hiss and a head vibration which made it super hard to work.
• Overall for me every 3/4 weeks the volume drops a little. I still hear it inside and outside though. and sometimes I don't know if I'm imagining the improvements.
• Some days I feel so bad I stay in bed stress eating all day, then some days I can get up and work until the noise is overwhelming. This is sooo hard my heart goes out to everyone here. Sharing definitely helps. Keep me posted on your progress.

but one study I did see said that within 6 months, participants who reported tinnitus who discontinued the drug no longer reported it.

Do you have a link by any chance?

Every doctor I've spoken to about this has told me Wellbutrin is not ototoxic, and that the drug should clear up once it's left the system. Considering that we are months into this, I sort of doubt that conclusion

I only studied science at school so I'm no expert but I think there's a difference between an antidepressant leaving your body vs your brain chemical activity returning to normal.

Articles about overcoming antidepressant addiction imply that the effects on the brain can last weeks after the drug is stopped.

Also they can take a month to work/alter our brain so perhaps it follows that can take a long time to stop "working".

 

[ZenPaw]

I'll see if I can find a link for that study I referenced. It was a prescribing guide for Wellbutrin, and noted tinnitus is commonly reported starting, but not commonly reported upon follow up. I found it on Google Scholar a couple months ago but I can't find exactly where it is now though. I'll try though! There's also a chance that we're the unlucky 'uncommon' group of people.

I'm not an ENT doctor but considering how a lot of structures within the ear aren't well vascularized, it makes some sense that clearing damaging substances from them takes time. It'd be helpful to know by which mechanism of action Wellbutrin (and other antidepressants) cause tinnitus. Like we both agreed (maybe wishful thinking) I don't think this is auditory nerve damage. Our hearing has not degraded, it's just the tinnitus.

I think our cases are really similar, even our handling of it. I woke up at 3am today and my tinnitus was blaring, louder than I've had it in a long time. However, I woke up at 7am yesterday, and it was manageable.

I've done the same with stress eating too. I've probably gained 25lbs since this started. It's a bad mix of COVID-19 closing the gym and me moping around my bed a lot. I'm trying to drop the weight and exercise at home more again.

And now that you mention it, I've never really gotten hives in my life, but this summer I find my arms (and especially palms of my hands) getting itchy. I don't understand how Wellbutrin could play a role in this when it's half life is maybe a couple of days, but lots of people report latent antidepressant effects long after ceasing it.

I agree that every month it seems to be getting better. But it's so hard to tell if I'm just reacting to it less or if it's actually getting better. I'm wondering if I should've journaled daily the severity from onset. Either way, I guess that's improvement.

I'll definitely continue to post any changes in here, hope you do too!

 

[ZenPaw]

@T_Almost_Gone, I found the study! I can't quote it as it's a scan from a page. Here's a screenshot:

If you think about it. Most of the posts you see about Wellbutrin and tinnitus are people who either got it within the past 12 months, or already had underlying tinnitus.

At least from the doctors I've talked to, Wellbutrin is not classified as 'ototoxic'. Have faith that it'll clear. Medical literature seems to say it will...

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

@ZenPaw, thanks for the screenshot. Very useful as there's so little out there.

On the hives. If you search for Bupropion or Wellbutrin on drugs.com and hives you'll see stories of people who were left with hives days/weeks after stopping the drug.

Yes the overwhelming medical message is that it's not ototoxic. My hearing seems fine. Due to COVID-19 I can't go for a hearing test so of course there might be some loss, who knows. I've told myself this could take months to clear up.

Ah you're stress eating like me. I've gained about 1 stone per month. So the weight gain + tinnitus are proving to be so much to cope with.

Overall my volume is decreasing though! I'll post an update on my thread.

I hope you are coping ok.

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

Hi @ZenPaw, how are you getting along?

 

[ZenPaw]

Hey @T_Almost_Gone.

I'm alright. I don't know if the tinnitus has particularly gotten better, but I'm becoming a lot more stoic in how I deal with it. I think I'm becoming better at having the tinnitus blending into the background and it just being 'part of what I'm hearing.' The main time I feel very overwhelmed by it is right when I wake up in the morning, and once I go shower and start moving around it's back into the background. I think I'm beginning to accept more and more that if it doesn't get better I could still find ways to live life in the long run.

I'm trying to start working out again and not stress eat. That's been a tough nut to crack. I've even started to read again without running background noise, which I don't think I'd have thought was possible a few months ago. NAC unfortunately hasn't done much for me from what I can gather.

How have you been?! Hope you're getting on well. When I pop in here I always check your profile for your updates

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

Hi @ZenPaw, good to hear from you & well done on pushing on with the coping strategies. For me I'm up and down. I rejoined the gym when it opened post COVID-19 and was going 5 times a week & the background noise of the gym was great - it drowned out most of the tinnitus so was able to feel normal for a bit. I swing between that and being stuck in bed "depressed" for a few days. I've also managed to cut back on the stress eating. For me it feels like every 6-8 weeks the volume decreases and tiny bit and the frequency reduces. Sometimes I wondered if I imagine it (wishful thinking) but I think I'm sure. Last 2 days there was a big step change it's now a muffled quieter hiss + a whistling/howling noise. when compared to the initial high pitched shrill I'm sure there is a shift.

Your dose of 300 mg a day seems quite high especially if you started on that. I was on 78 mg per day, then 78 mg x 2 so it may take a while to clear out.

See table 4 here:

A Case Report of Onset of Tinnitus Following Discontinuation of Antidepressant and a Review of the Literature

I continue to be hopeful for you, me and everyone else affected here. If we're experiencing heightened neural activity and imbalance of neurotransmitters then surely the brain must balance itself back at some point. Especially if you stay off any other SSRIs.

Take Care.

 

[Guest9207]

If you think about it. Most of the posts you see about Wellbutrin and tinnitus are people who either got it within the past 12 months, or already had underlying tinnitus.

At least from the doctors I've talked to, Wellbutrin is not classified as 'ototoxic'. Have faith that it'll clear. Medical literature seems to say it will...

Thanks for posting. So if there is a chance it can go away, what can be done other than stopping Wellbutrin (which I already did with approval of prescriber)?

 

[T_Almost_Gone]

Hi @ZenPaw, just checking in to see how your tinnitus is?