can anxiety medicine cause tinnitus?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Because this a few days ago I noticed when it was rly quiet I could hear a low hum or static kind of noise in my ears. I've had that before when I'm super anxious it was like a pulsating hum and it scared the crap out of me but went away eventually after I calmed down. Well I'm not anxious like I was anymore. I've started taking 100 mg or Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago and I'm wondering if this could possibly be the cause of the tinnitus issue. I can actually hear it over the tv sometimes and it is rly bothersome but I've read it can also be caused from ear wax build up or exposure to loud noises. I'm so scared it's going to be permanent and I think the more I worry about it the stronger it'll become. I'm trying to accept it and not pay attention to it but it's so hard, any advice?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    No, anxiety cannot cause tinnitus.  My mother has had this for 20 years and it is a struggle to deal with as it seems to get louder with age.  She isn't an anxious person, but I have no idea what caused it - it definitely wasn't anxiety.

    • Posted

      Anxiety can cause it I had it super bad when I was at the highest point of my anxiety. I'd never had it before then. Once I calmed down it went away look it up it a symptom of anxiety

    • Posted

      Inner ear cell damage may have been the source for my Mother's condition.  How she lives with it on a daily basis could be stressful for anyone. 

  • Posted

    Go for the simple reason first to put your mind at rest, ask your GP if there is any wax in your ears, if so He an clear it out for you.

    You can actually purchase an liqud to clean your ears out at the chemist.

    In the fiftys my Mother would put warm olive oil down my ears to break out hard wax. I would not do that now. See your GP

    • Posted

      I have an appointment in 3 weeks with my doctor but I have read some medications can cause it
  • Posted

    I've started taking 100 mg or Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago

    Short answer - yes, indirectly. Wellbutrin is a unique medicine in its class, it inhibits the reuptake of noradrenaline - a neurotransmiter that (among many other things) regulates the blood pressure. Now, high blood pressure can cause tinnitus - so I suggest you get it checked by a GP / nurse. It is possible (though the odds are rather low) that Wellbutrin causes your blood pressure to be higher than normal (where 'normal' menas normal for other patients on Wellbutrin). In this case you would need to reduce the dose or switch to another medicine displaying a similar profile (venlafaxine maybe? You didn't include enough info to make a suggestion...).

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