Can a Single Dose of Paroxetine (Paxil) Cause Sudden Hearing Loss?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A man explained:
A year ago, I took a single dose of Paxil, obtained from a friend; I (foolishly) wanted to see what effect it would have on me. Two days later, while sitting at my desk at work, I suddenly went deaf in one ear, and my hearing never recovered. The otologists at the University of Washington say it is permanent idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting perhaps a vascular, viral, or autoimmune event. In your anecdotal experience, how likely is it that this was related to my single dose of Paxil?
I don’t have any anecdotal reports of Paroxetine (Paxil) causing sudden hearing loss like that. To be sure I wasn’t missing something, I looked at all the other drugs in the same SSRI class. For two of the SSRIs I have anecdotal reports of people losing some (not total) hearing after taking them for long periods—ranging from a number of weeks and up to several years. However, I couldn’t find any sudden hearing loss episodes like you experienced.
Paroxetine is listed as causing hearing loss, so some degree of hearing loss can and does happen, but there is no mention of the speed or degree of the resulting hearing loss.
In your case, based on what I know, and what you have said, I don’t think it very likely that your sudden hearing loss was caused by the Paroxetine (but I suppose anything is possible). It does seem coincidental, though, doesn’t it?
I’m with your doctors on it possibly being vascular or viral in origin. Typically, autoimmune hearing loss doesn’t happen quite so suddenly—but the other two certainly can.
To learn which drugs are (or can be) ototoxic, see “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed“. This book contains information on the ototoxicity of 763 drugs, 30 herbs and 148 chemicals.
February 16th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
In 1996 I was prescribed Aropax (Paroxetine) by my Psych. After a month or so I mentioned that I had noticed a problem with my hearing. Bi-lateral. (Note: I trained as an Audiologist in an earlier career.) My Psych sent me on to an ENT who confirmed that my hearing had suddenly become impaired. Today I am totally dependent on Hearing Aids. The time frame from first dosage to awareness was approximately six months. This case was reported to the Australian Adverse Drugs Advisory Department. I believe that there were other reports to them.
October 20th, 2011 at 1:18 am
My daughter has hearing loss of just 1 specific range. She is 4. Her ENT doesn’t know why. She had an MRI and all was good. Also had complete vision test that was good. (I learned hearing & vision problems can be related.) Her birth mother took Paxil during pregnancy.
Has anyone ever heard of any similar situations?
February 5th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I too have sudden sensori-neural hearing loss in one ear. Like yours, I went totally deaf in one ear also. My other ear is perfectly fine. Mine happened in a matter of an hour and a half. I was also on an SSRI (citralopram). I had only been on it 2 months when this episode happened. I have always had healthy ears, never even had an ear infection in my life. I DO believe these drugs are related to this. This should be followed into further. Losing my hearing in my left side has had a big impact on my life. Not to mention I feel a constant fullness, tinnitis, and “crackling” in that ear. I will never take another antidepressant again in my LIFE!