To tell you about NSAIDS and tinnitus

[GrooveArmada]

I'm sure some of you are aware of this, but I wasn't until few years ago, and I've become more educated today again.

I was prescribed Diclofenac (NSAID) few years ago after my C-section. I then suffered from tinnitus for a while, seemingly out of the blue. Luckily it subsided over time. I realised, having read the leaflet after a while, that it may have been caused by this medication as it's a known side effect of certain NSAIDs, Diclofenac in particular (and that's also Voltarel, btw). However, at that point damage was done.

Unfortunately, my tinnitus returned and I have various triggers now. It's been a battle at times.

Today I went to see an otologist who did a detailed interview with me and one of the key queries from her before I even mentioned anything was about medication and ototoxicity. It turns out I have some hearing loss, I'm on the lower cusp at the moment, but considering my age it was a bit of a shock to the system. I'm not even 40 yet and there isn't a good reason for these problems, other than my hearing has declined post this medication and tinnitus episodes.

In short, I understand lots of medications may be ototoxic and it's a risk vs benefit decision. But I also feel we aren't always told about the risks and we don't always read enough about side effects in advance.

My otologist also made recommendations regarding gut and liver health, all of which have impact on ear health - and it's been quite eye-opening. Apparently lower estrogen can also cause hearing issues (e.g.: in peri/menopause).

So I wanted to tell you today: please look after yourselves, read the medication leaflets, look after your gut health and lower your stress. I had no idea of the negative impact on hearing that some things may have and I wish I had known more and realised sooner what was going on and why.

Up - as I'd like more of us to be aware. 💐

Thank you for this. I'm post menopausal and have been having hearing problems. Never connected the two...

@shellyleppard No problem.

I've done a fair bit of reading today and feel like I am somewhat more informed than before, I'm appeoaching peri now (or in it?), but in my case the issues started earlier and are linked to NSAIDS. I am now aware things may get worse soon in peri/menopause. This is a good link:

www.audiologycharlotte.com/blog/how-does-menopause-affect-hearing-health

@GrooveArmada thsnk you. When I'm reincarnated I'm definitely coming back as a cat 😺 🤣

Thanks, I seem to have more tinnitus after menopause. I have ear suction because of wax but the tinnitus has only started recently

I had ear suction too. You may wish to check with your audiologist if they offer a tinnitus clinic, they may give you some further tips then, and do mention menopause. They shouldn't be fobbing you off with suggesting CBT which addresses the outside behavioural problems (or rather encourages masking), but not the biological root cause of the problem.

Are you in the UK, wondering as you said otologist..I got tinnitus and hearing loss with COVID,2 years ago..it's hell. It's really bad at the moment. They told me it's eustachian tube and nerve damage. My youngest DS,who has rapid cycle bipolar has just started having CBT for his. His hasn't affected his hearing.

I am yes. I know you tend to get referred to an ENT, but the specialist I saw today (who isn't British) is a qualified otologist who worked for the NHS for many years and is now practising privately. This is her title and she specialises in ear health (not wider ENT).

I too had Eustachian Tube Dysfunction this year @Nannyfannybanny and it was hell - all of these issues (ETD, tinnitus, prior infection and hearing loss or worsening) could be connected, so definitely worth a check up. I hope you get better soon 💐

Thanks for this info. I was diagnosed by ENT with severe to moderate hearing loss and tinnitus. A consultant told me he expects it’s from Covid. I’ve done research on this and it seems lots of people have suffered the same.

What are you doing to try and “lessen” the tinnitus?

It's difficult. I work on my posture. Reduce stress especially before bed, so say I'd journal or exercise. I tend to have something on or white noise to drown it. Less caffeine, sugar and salt. It doesn't miraculously stop it, but it helps. Distraction tends to work.

I get tinnitus from salicylates. NSAIDS are very similar.

https://www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/factsheets-by-additive/salicylates

https://www.fedup.com.au/sues-blog/aspirin-dietary-salicylates-and-nurofen-side-effects?highlight=WyJhc3BpcmluIiwiMTA1LWFsbGVyZ2ljLXJlYWN0aW9ucy10by1hc3BpcmluLWFuZC1vdGhlci1wYWluLWtpbGxlcnMiLCJhc3BpcmluLXNhbGljeWxhdGUiLCJhc3BpcmluLWluZHVjZWQiLCJhc3BpcmluZyIsImFzcGlyaW4tYS1kYXkiLCJhc3BpcmluLWxpa2UiLCJhc3BpcmluLXNlbnNpdGl2ZSIsImFzcGlyaW4yNiIsImFzcGlyaW4zMSJd

Groove armada, good morning. I had lots of ear infections as a child,last one about 25 years ago as an adult,Dr laughed said "second childhood"! About 5 years ago,very slight tinnitus in my left ear,(right was perfect) mentioned to the GP in passing. It was emergency 2 weeks cancer pathway.ct was NAD. September 23 COVID first time ever, tinnitus. GP, audiology appointment, booked for ent consultant,told 3 months,it was over a year. Had further audiology appointment, hearing tests each time, then a specialist audiology centre (incredibly lucky it's about a mile away) incredibly thorough medical history both physical and mental. By now I had 3 different "notes" of the tinnitus, audio hallucinating and hyperacusis in the other ear..next appointment hearing aids. 3 months down the line, follow up appointment to see how I am getting on. I went through the menopause 42, plenty of crap but no hearing issues. Not taken nsads. Have always had problems going up and down hills in the car, and flying. Have been told damage is permanent.

A friend suggested I put in ear plugs ",so I can't hear the tinnitus"😠

I got tinnitus and ear damage from an antibiotic. I'm mostly used to the ringing now but i sometimes get pain dizziness and rumbling which I don't love.

It's such a mare when ear problems start, I honestly never understood it until it started for me.

Stress is my big trigger. I was told yesterday that ear infections and ETD are often linked to gut health issues, and guess what - I also developed lactose intolerance which I mistook for IBS first, all after my C-section. Stupidly put it down to "one of those things after having kids" that we as women have to put up with, but actually this could have been caused by medication and high stress (I had a long stressful time before pregnancy, during and after). Now it's getting worse with peri.

Some medications create liver toxicity which affects our gut and then our ears - and this can be a really difficult thing to live with.

Not to mention the anxiety and brain fog + mental exhaustion due to overconcentration that comes with it, it's horrendous. Some doctors will say it's "just" anxiety or perimenopause/menopause poorer MH, but there could well be a biological issue with hearing that is very real, connected and feeding into it.

Gosh OP that all sounds miserable. 💪💪 to you for functioning with all that going on.

I too developed "louder" tinnitus after a prescribed course of nsaids - ibuprofen - for an arthritic joint (not helped by taking 2x dose as not realised they were double-sized tablets 😳)

Luckily it abated once I realised and stopped the tablets, but it comes back with even one or two tablets so I don't really take it now. I always have a bit of tinnitus but I think I always have - multiple tonsillitis etc as a child I think contributed.

So yes, definitely something to be aware of and really not well-enough known.

Thanks @candycane222, it's been a ride 😅 Sorry to hear you have it too, I hope you don't go through further trigger events that make it worse. It's so unpredictable sometimes, isn't it.

My mother had terrible tinnitus, now wears hearing aids for hearing loss, which have improved her experience of it if that makes sense. Apparently when your hearing suffers your brain wants to fill in the gaps and tinnitus can be the result, or that’s how I remember it being explained. Somehow restoring the hearing balance can minimise the tinnitus.

Is it a case of putting up with it?

it’s not dangerous or anything?

mine is starting right now but haven’t noticed it today

Yes, with hearing loss, your brain fills the quiet space with garbage. Hearing aids don't stop the tinnitus, I have to concentrate on trying to hear external sounds and not the tinnitus. When it gets bad,it can affect my balance . I do the Michael Mosley excercise of standing on one leg while cleaning my teeth. No,it's not dangerous, can be an issue if you get serious balance problems, dizziness, can be symptoms of menieres disease, but that is rare.
.

I knew all NSAID's could cause hearing issues. I use them for migraine although I try to limit use and I haven't had an issue. My friend had them for jaw pain and she did get tinnitus. I also had to have emergency hospital treatment and sugary for an infected gallbladder a situation that was life threatening and I was given very strong IV antibiotics and I had to sign a consent form as there was potential I could lose my hearing from them, luckily I did not have that effect. My SIL had similar medication for her appendix and she did lose hearing in one ear and now wears a hearing aid.

interesting how it is all linked in.

I do sometimes suffer from vertigo and I had my gall bladder removed nearly 10 years’ ago