What common drugs cause tinnitus?
- Aspirin and other NSAIDs. ...
- Benzodiazepines. ...
- Tricyclic antidepressants. ...
- Certain antibiotics. ...
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) ...
- Loop diuretics. ...
- Beta blockers. ...
- ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers.
Here are some ways people develop hearing loss that causes tinnitus: Aging. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) affects 1 in 3 adults over age 65. Exposure to loud noises or explosions.
Noise-induced hearing loss, the result of damage to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear, is one of the most common causes of tinnitus.
The most common reported ototoxic drugs in clinical use are aminoglycoside antibiotics, macrolide antibiotics, salicylates, chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, loop diuretics, antimalarials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), quinine, and acetaminophen (Rybak & Ramkumar, 2007; Tabuchi et al., 2011; ...
The list includes antibiotics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cancer drugs, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin. Usually the higher the dose, the greater your chance of problems. Often if you stop taking it, your symptoms will go away.
The effects caused by ototoxic drugs can sometimes be reversed when the drug is stopped. Sometimes, however, the damage is permanent. Tinnitus can be managed through strategies that make it less bothersome.
Sleep and stress
Our stress levels go up with less sleep or if you are suffering from long-term sleep difficulties. And, when stress levels go up tinnitus can seem louder. If you have not slept properly one night you might experience higher stress levels, and your tinnitus might seem louder than on a normal day.
Medications for Tinnitus
For some, treatment with low doses of anti-anxiety drugs -- such as Valium or antidepressants such as Elavil -- help reduce tinnitus. The use of a steroid placed into the middle ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine called alprazolam has been shown to be effective for some people.
Potential future treatments
Researchers are investigating whether magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain can help relieve symptoms of tinnitus. Examples include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation.
- Salty meals.
- Processed sugar.
- Flavor enhancers like MSG.
- Fatty foods.
What are the 2 types of tinnitus?
- Subjective Tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus occurs if you are the only person who can hear the noise. ...
- Objective Tinnitus. ...
- Pulsatile Tinnitus.
Anxiety activates the fight or flight system, which puts a lot of pressure on nerves, and increases blood flow, body heat, and more. This pressure and stress are very likely to travel up into your inner ear and lead to the tinnitus experience. But most of these episodes are short-lived.

Of all ototoxic drugs, the aminoglycosides are the most vestibulotoxic, although they vary greatly in their differential effects on the vestibular and cochlear systems. Kanamycin, amikacin, neomycin, and dihydrostreptomycin are preferentially cochleotoxic.
Some types of antihistamines that have been used to treat tinnitus in people with allergies include: chlorpheniramine. meclizine. terfenadine.
Therapeutic drugs such as the aminoglycoside antibiotics (AMG) and the chemotherapy agent cisplatin (CDDP) are known to cause irreversible hearing loss, typically affecting highest frequency hearing first with progression of loss to the lower frequency regions.
Omeprazole is a type of PPI, and some sources suggest that PPIs can increase the risk of tinnitus.
It tends to get worse when you are under stress and certain medical problems can lead to a flare-up, too, like high blood pressure. If introducing sound into your nighttime routine doesn't help or you feel dizzy when the ringing is active, it's time to see the doctor. Contact us if you need relief from your Tinnitus?
The types of antidepressants used in treating tinnitus‐related symptoms are most commonly tricyclic antidepressants (including amitriptyline, imipramine and nortriptyline). Newer drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine or other heterocyclic compounds) can also be used.
Unfortunately, toxicity from salicylates remains a common occurrence in the emergency department (ED). Moreover, it is well known that the development of tinnitus is associated with salicylate use, and its onset has been heralded as an early marker of toxicity.
Among the several 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) available in the United States, only atorvastatin is associated with tinnitus, but none are associated with any forms of hearing loss.
Is tinnitus caused by high blood pressure?
Research published in the NCBI found that 44.4% of people with tinnitus also had hypertension. The connection between the two conditions relates to the delicate network of vessels in your auditory system. When pressure builds in this system, it can result in symptoms of tinnitus.
During tinnitus spikes, it's important to have access to soothing sounds. Listening to relaxing sounds through a speaker or hearing aids and practicing sound therapy can help immensely.
Scientists also don't know why some people develop tinnitus and others don't. More than 200 conditions are associated with developing tinnitus. These can be anything from head or neck injuries, circulation problems, or a side-effect of some medications.
Avoiding things that may make tinnitus worse, such as caffeine, alcohol, and smoking. Getting enough rest. Try sleeping with your head propped up in an elevated position. This lessens head congestion and may make noises less noticeable.
There may not be a cure, but management strategies incorporating sound therapy (such as white noise), hearing aids, counseling, meditation and relaxation exercises and tinnitus meditation therapy have all been shown to help reduce symptoms (or at the very least, lower the patient's perception of his or her symptoms).