Wegovy and Saxenda (Weight Loss Medications) — Can They Make Tinnitus Worse?

[marxxx]

Hello,

Has anyone had any experience with any of the new weight loss medications such as Wegovy (semaglutide) or Saxenda?

I have had tinnitus for several years and try to avoid anything that could have a negative impact on it.

I keep reading how these new medications are really effective for weight loss as well as blood sugar control. I have multiple underlying chronic illnesses so something like this would be extremely beneficial!

Please let me know if you have any experience with these new types of medications and if it affected your tinnitus (or other ear symptoms).

Thanks!

 

[Suaimhneach]

Hey, just wondering if you ever ended up taking either Wegovy or Saxenda? Currently looking at them myself.

 

[Quiet please]

My latest "new" doctor is an endocrinologist. I wanted labs & a 24-hr urine test to see if I had a hormone issue. Everything, including glucose, came back negative. But she prescribed me Ozempic (0.25 mg) weekly injection because I've put on too much weight that has been extremely resistant to lose.

I'm just on Ozempic less than a week but noticed my tinnitus is much lower and not reactive. I had the misfortune of having a large tree cut down and removed, horrible loud jack-hammering to remove a curb AND a freaking leaf blower all descend on my condo property yesterday & the tinnitus stayed the same which is beyond unusual. Coincidence? Not sure; I'll report back.

 

[999]

I tried semaglutide for weight loss, not diabetes, and I'm sharing my experience for the benefit of others, as I haven't seen many posts on this topic. (Semaglutide is the generic form of drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.) I have constant tinnitus caused by acoustic trauma.

Just hours after taking a low dose, my tinnitus spiked significantly. It was very noticeable when I tried to fall asleep and continued throughout the next day (today). I did some research and came across this study, which states that "hearing loss and tinnitus are not on the list" of side effects for weight-loss drugs.

That might be true for someone without tinnitus, but for me, it was 100% obvious that the loud spike in my tinnitus was caused by taking even an introductory dose of semaglutide. It's now been a full day, and I'm still experiencing the spike. I'm not sure if this drug is ototoxic or if the effect will eventually wear off.

My advice: DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG if you have tinnitus—don't even try it. Sadly, it seems that those of us with certain conditions don't get to benefit from modern medications.