Can Beta-Blockers Cause Tinnitus?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady wrote,
While I was on beta-blockers for inappropriate sinus tachycardia I developed tinnitus. Initially it seemed intermittent, but as I had to increase my dose the ringing became constant. The ENT doctor tells me that he has never heard of beta-blockers causing tinnitus, but upon his evaluation found that I have a high frequency hearing loss in both ears, and that can cause tinnitus. Funny that it happened only 3 months after I started the beta-blockers. Is it possible that the beta-blockers caused the hearing loss and this caused the tinnitus?
I’m always amazed at the apparent ignorance of doctors regarding ototoxic drugs. For example, 15 out of the 18 ototoxic beta-blockers I have listed in my book “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed” have tinnitus listed as a side effect. In addition, 6 of the 18 have hearing loss listed as a side effect.
Your doctor could have easily checked this out for himself in his Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) if he had wanted to know the truth.
In answer to your question, there are two possibilities. First, yes, beta-blockers can cause tinnitus. I suspect this is what happened in your case since the tinnitus began after you began taking beta-blockers, and then got worse when you increased the dose. That is strong circumstantial evidence that the beta-blocker was the culprit.
On the other hand, the beta-blocker could have caused the high frequency hearing loss—and that in turn could have resulted in the tinnitus. Either scenario is possible, but I tend to favor the first one in your case.
Be aware that you are not alone in having ototoxic effects from taking beta-blockers. I’ve had other people tell me of their ear problems from taking beta-blockers, so it really does happen.
If you want to check out the ototoxic side effects of the beta- blockers (or any other ototoxic drug for that matter) look them up in “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed“. This book contains information on the ototoxicity of 763 drugs known to damage ears (and a number of chemicals too).
March 18th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I have been on beta blockers for some while,the beta blocker is atenolol and i have tinnitus.Would the tinnitus go away if I came off atenolol?
March 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hi Alec:
I don’t have enough information on your situation, or about tinnitus and Atelonol to say. Here are some guidelines. First, did the Atenolol cause your tinnitus in the first place? If so, then quitting it may allow your tinnitus to fade away. Second, be aware that the longer you are on a drug (many months or years), the less likely your tinnitus will go away when you stop that drug.
Neil
September 1st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I suffer with tinnitus and which started some years after my doctor prescribed atenolol for high blood pressure.I have thought for some time that this beta blocker may be the cause of my tinnitus.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I started atenolol in November, 2005. In June 2007, out of nowhere, tinnitus kicked in and never left. I have tried everything, have had my ears checked, sugar checked, they can’t find anything. I am suspicious that it may be the beta blockers. It’s maddening.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I knew it! I knew it! About 5 years ago, I woke up with tinnitus, and it’s never gone away. 3 months prior, I was put on Lopressor, and now am on Metroprolol ER. Although I do not see tinnitus listed as a side effect for Metroprolol, I do see it on Lopressor. My GP, cardiologist and a tinnitus specialist at Mass Eye & Ear all said, “No” when I asked if the pills could be the problem.
Now I have tingling cold feet. I am also Type 1 diabetic, and have been for almost 50 years, since I was 5. I know these symptoms overlap, but still……. NOT the tinnitus.
I told the cardiologist I wanted off about a month ago. He said, “You need them, Karen.” I don’t think so. My BP was never a problem until I met him in the hospital, with an acute problem (pneumonia).
You said that the longer a person is on beta blockers, the less likely it is that it will go away. AM I TOO LATE????????? I’M LOSING MY MIND!!!!!!!
Thank you for anything you can tell me!
January 21st, 2009 at 8:03 am
Hi Karen:
Lopressor and Metoprolol are the same drug. Lopressor is a brand name and Metoprolol is the generic drug name.
Tinnitus is listed as a side effect in around 1% of the people taking this drug.
If you want to get off Metoprolol, that is your decision. You may have to taper off this drug though, so you want to work with a doctor on this.
As to whether it is too late and the tinnitus is now permanent or not, I can’t say. If you decide to get off the Metoprolol, give it a couple of months and see whether your tinnitus goes away or not. I know of one woman who was on Metoprolol and got bad tinnitus. It went away when she changed medications, but I don’t think she was on the Metoprolol very long.
One more thing, your tinnitus may be related to your diabetes, so even if you go off the Metoprolol, you may still have some tinnitus as a result of your underlying diabetes. (There could be more than one factor causing your tinnitus, so you may not be able to blame it all on the Metoprolol.)
Regards
Neil
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Nov 07 I was given Atenolol. By December I had vertigo,short term memory issues, right ear hearing loss, and axiety issues.
In January 08 I switched to metoprol and atenolol side effects went away except for hearing
Mass Gen Ear & eye says hearing issue is Otosclerosis. No Dr has linked my problems to Atenolol. I did.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:25 am
MD had patient with worsening hearing loss over 1 year. She was totally deaf when he asked me to figure out which drug might be causing it. I told him to discontinue the metoprolol ER 50mg a day. After a debate, he did so. The patient could hear perfectly a week later. It happens more often in people with atherosclerosis; MDs don’t understand the effect drugs have on the Cochlear artery.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Here’s a new odd situation. I’ve had tinnitus for 18 years. It has multiple sounds, the loudest one being a left-sided ringing hiss. In its first year, this hiss would sometimes sharpen into an intolerably shrill whistle. Mercifully it stopped doing that, and I soon habituated to my tinnitus, and am rarely bothered by it anymore. I recently did a 2-month trial of Betaxolol, and as I got into the higher doses, noticed that sometimes this constant hiss would once again sharpen into a more noxious whistle for a day, but then the next day, the constant hiss was completely gone for the first time in 18 years!. Then the next day it was back – as a shrill whistle. Next day completely gone. After a couple of weeks of this, I discovered that tinnitus is a rare adverse effect of Betaxolol, and tapered off as fast as I could (2 weeks) I’ve been off 6 weeks now, and this cycle has continued – a day or two of my 18-year constant loud ringing hiss being absolutely gone, followed by a day or two of it coming back, only more whistly, shrill, somewhat louder, and obnoxious. Would love to hear Dr. Neil’s take on THIS.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Hi Alex:
Well, you’ve “flummoxed” me. I’ve never heard of something like that before.
I wonder what would happen it you got back on the Betaxolol for awhile–purely hypothetical, not recommending you do it–would the tinnitus revert to your old way, would it become solid the new “whistlely” way, or would it completely disappear?
Most interesting situation you have there.
Neil
July 6th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
In March I was changed from Metoprolol ER 100mg once a day to Metoprolol 50mg 2x a day. The middle of April, I woke up & could not hear out of my left ear, it was ringing & I was very dizzy. I thought it was sinus & would go away. It didn’t. I went to an ENT & had a hearing test done & only had 18% hearing in that ear. I was put on a steroid for 12 days. That didn’t work. Had a MRI done. The ENT thought I had a swelling around a nerve or acoustic neuroma. The results were negative, no tumors. Now the ENT thinks it could be Meniere’s Disease & wants me to have a balance test done. I am going to my regular doctor tomorrow to see if the hearing loss & ringing is due to the metoprolol. I didn’t think I was having a reaction to the Metoprolol or I would have gone to my regular doctor first. Now I am afraid to take anything for high blood pressure.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Hi Gail:
Since you didn’t change your overall dose, I don’t see why the Metoprolol should all of a sudden have given you hearing loss. If you had increased your dose, that could have been different. Furthermore, you said you didn’t have any reaction to the Metoprolol. Thus it doesn’t seem likely that this drug was the cause of your sudden hearing loss.
You immediately suspected sinus problems. That leads me to believe you either have allergies, or had a cold or virus at the time. A viral attack on your inner ear can cause sudden hearing loss like you experienced AND the dizziness (balance problems). If you had a cold or virus in the preceding two weeks, a viral attack would be my guess.
If you have allergies, they can cause ear problems. Did you know that allergies and Meniere’s disease often go together–and that if you get your allergies under control, you often get your Meniere’s under control at the same time?
The ringing sounds you hear (tinnitus) very often accompany sudden hearing loss, so I’m not surprised that your ear is ringing now, due to the hearing loss, and not to the drug. If the drug was responsible, you should have noticed the ringing within a few days after beginning the drug.
Neil
July 7th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hello list – WM 51 yoa general good health – rapid heart rate/borderline high BP
Have been taking atenolol for about 3 yrs with no ill effect…until recently. Over the last month the hearing in my left ear has come and gone…and now there is a constant ringing.
I found this list and went off the med. for about a week…the hearing returned about 75%. Took another 25mg this am and the ringing has returned with the associated loss of hearing in the left ear.
I’m stopping the atenolol…stat. I do need something to help with the BP and rapid heartbeat.
Is there something else that is not ototoxic that
will work/help. Anxious for response – thank you.
July 8th, 2009 at 5:07 am
hi, Dr. Neil,
Wow, that was fast!
I’m not inclined to go back on Betaxolol – this tinnitus change happened as I got into the higher doses of it, so I’m guessing it may be an adverse effect, and don’t want to risk it – I was fine with my old tinnitus and would love to just have it back. Don’t want to risk further exacerbation.
It IS flummoxing. My best guess so far is that perhaps all along I have had a mild vascular compression on my 8th nerve on the left that has cause this loudest tinnitus noise, and the vasodilating action of the Betaxolol was at times distending the vessel, increasing the tinnitus, and then at times the body was compensating and constricting it – and this distension/constriction may still be playing out even after discontinuing the med. Getting it MRI’ed and MRA’ed, but that likely won’t be definitive – 8th nerve compression is controversial – 50% of people have nerve/vessel contact, but almost none of them are symptomatic, yet decompression cures tinnitus and vertigo in about half of the patients who are carefully selected for surgery. Tricky one. But I’m scratching my head as to what else a beta blocker could possibly have done to set off a fluctation like this? Alteration of cochlear blood flow?
alex
July 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I was on lopressor for 6 weeks…the first 4 weeks was 100 mg twice a day…then 2 weeks of 50 mg twice a day…it was for hyperthyroidism attack in early June of 09..
On July 9..I noticed ringing in the ears..I stopped taking the lopressor completely on July 19th…but still having ringing in the ears.
How long do you think it will take to have the ringing cease..and do you think hyper/hype throidism could be the cause of the tinnitus?
July 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Hi Ed:
If the Lopressor caused your tinnitus, and since you weren’t on it for long, I’d expect that a couple of weeks after the drug gets out of your system, you should notice a decrease in your tinnitus. It could take a couple of months, or it might never go away. That’s just how it is. If you still have the tinnitus after two months, the chances are it will be permanent.
As far as having thyroid problems, yes, that can trigger tinnitus too. Your tinnitus might be all because of your thyroid problems and not caused by the drug, or the Lopressor may have been a contributing factor. It’s so hard to know, but getting your thyroid under control would be a good step in the right direction in trying to get your tinnitus under control.
Regards
Neil
August 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I started taking Lopressor 25 mg.about 5 months ago. Although my blood pressure is now under control, I have had a couple of experiences of “fullness” along with tinnitus in my ears and not being able to hear hardly anything out of one ear at times. The feeling and hearing loss does eventually pass, but it frightened me because I never felt anything like this before. I don’t want to change meds as I have tried others and this one actually seems to work. What do you suggest?
September 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Hi Sandra:
If you want to stay on the Metoprolol, the only thing I can suggest is to take the very lowest dose that will maintain your blood pressure. Obviously, your ears are sensitive to this drug and you don’t want to permanently damage them.
Six of the Beta Blockers are known to cause hearing loss (including Metoprolol). Therefore, you may want to consider trying still other Beta Blockers that you have not yet tried to see if you can find one that works and yet is not harmful to your ears. Three that do not have either tinnitus or hearing loss listed as side effects are Labetalol, Levobunolol and Sotalol.
Regards
Neil
October 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
This is good. My neighbor has all these symptoms. His doctor continues to tell him there is no way the medication can cause this.
I’ll have to print this.
thanks
October 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I have a question about verapamil. I was prescribed this by the doctor for a heart arrhythmia. I started taking 40 mg.TID, by the third day I had a high pitched ringing /whistling in my right ear. I alos have dizziness off and on. I stopped taking the medicine after the fifth day. Of course the doctor does not believe this medicine is causing the ear problem.
I saw an ENT who says my hearing is fine and he did not see anything wrong with my ears and I needed to just learn to live with this.
I am not ready to accept that this is a permanent condition just yet. It has been almost three weeks now and I feel like I am going out of my mind. Will this ever go away if it was caused by the medicine? Are there other things I can try to remedy this? Also, I have not taken any medicine for this heart condition because I am afraid to. What other ones can I try?
Has anyone had any success with any other treatments for this condition?
Thanks for anything you can tell me!
February 21st, 2010 at 11:17 pm
I’ve been on metoprolol intermittently (as needed for a-fib) for several months and am having increasingly loud tinnitus. I’m having an ablation end of March and hope to be off drugs in a few months if it is successful. I HOPE that my tinnitus isn’t permanent!
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I have read with great interest the comments about taking atenolol and tinnitus. I’m 54 and have been taking 25mg for several years. I took Lisenopril (sp?) for 3 days, developed the “cough” and tinnitus! I stopped taking it immediately, the cough went away but the ringing didn’t. I went on a cleansing diet, eating only whole foods, green tea, and eliminating sugar and flour, losing 70 pounds in almost a year (walking every day also). I’ve maintained the weight loss, only gaining 10 pounds back in the last year, although i continue to watch what i eat, walking still (not as intense, but hope to get back into it) and would really like to get off the bp medication all together. I think it helped me get through the part of menopause when I was experiencing panic attacks though, and that’s my hesitancy. I was under the impression it was also anxiety reducing? can you clarify? I try to tune out the T but it seems like every other day it spikes some. Wondering what else I can do if it really is the atenolol? help!! i would be happy just to turn it down if it won’t go away…thx! carol
April 25th, 2010 at 6:29 am
Hi Carol:
You’ve done great changing/improving your diet, cleansing, losing weight, etc. Unfortunately, those things won’t eliminate your tinnitus if it is being caused by the Atenolol.
Why are you “married” to this particular beta-blocker? As I mentioned in comment #18, there are three beta-blockers that do not have tinnitus listed as a side effect. They are Labetalol, Levobunolol and Sotalol. Perhaps your doctor could switch you to one of these and see if it helps reduce or eliminate your tinnitus.
Since you have been on Atenolol for a number of years, it may take some time to make a change in your tinnitus. In the meantime, continue to ignore your tinnitus as much as possible. This gives it permission to fade into the background.
Neil
May 31st, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Dear Dr. Neil, I was hospitalized for hypertension a couple of months ago. I had been on Metropolol, clonodine and aspirin for a few years prior. I was switched to Labetolol 800mg daily plus Lysinopril, Norvasc, clonodine and hydralazine to try and control the BP better. I then developed tinnitus in my left ear. At first it was a shrill whistle but now it’s more of a buzzing. Can Labetolol cause this despite not being listed as a cause, or is it a result of the prior use of Metropolol? Or can my high BP cause it? I am also on dialysis and have a high PTH level (500). Is the Parathyroid the same as the Thyroid? What can I do? I feel hopeless–please advise me and tell me if I can control this better and make the T go away. Thx–Frank
October 2nd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I have been taking Meoprolol 50mg ex release for about 4 years and it was making me very tired and aching along my shoulders and neck. In addition , my BP was low. 98/48 or so. I have been on this drug since I had stents put in and never complained. The cardio. Doc. told me to stop taking the Metoprolol and I did. This was on a Monday. I stopped taking the drug on Tues. A day or two later, I started to get jittery and anxious. By Saturday, I was getting fast and hard heart beats and a severe headache and later, ringing in my right ear. I check on line and it said never to suddenly stop taking this drug. You have to wean off of it. I immediately took a pill and it later started to calm me down. Finally, the ringing went away and so did the hearing in my right ear. I have been to the hospital as advised by my Cardio. Doc. and they could not find anything wrong. Was refered to a ENT who I went to and he put me on 60 mg of Prednazone per day for 10 days and another hearing test. No better. Said that all he could do. I the went to another ENT who was highly recommended. He has twice inserted steroids with a needle in my right ear to no effect…..as yet. No one has ever heard of hearing loss because of withdrawl of Toprol or Metoprolol. Can you help or suggest anything. Has anone ever heard of this?
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 am
Hi Frank:
Toprol is just a brand name of Metoprolol–they are the same drug.
Metoprolol can and does cause hearing loss. The hearing loss can range from mild to total loss. Fortunately, it seems that the hearing loss is temporary–after quitting the Metoprolol the hearing comes back in a week or so. This happens more often in people with atherosclerosis–which I think you have.
I’ve not heard of hearing loss occurring AFTER you stop taking this drug, but perhaps it can cause this too. Apparently Metoprolol affects blood flow in the cochlear artery–hence the hearing loss.
I’m wondering if a vasodilator such as Niacin (Vitamin B3) or the herbal Ginkgo biloba would let more blood though and thus help restore your hearing.
It’s hard to know if your hearing loss was a result of the Metoprolol, or happened coincidentally with your stopping this drug.
Neil
November 11th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Dr. Neil, I was taking 6.25 mg of Coreg for since Dec. ’09 and in Sept. of this year switched to Bystolic 5 mg. About 1 mo. later, I developed tinnitus. A hearing test showed slight hearing loss at high freq. in the left ear (which has louder ringing). The ENT confirmed tinnitus is not listed as a side effect of Bystolic. Its supposed to be more cardio-selective than Coreg. Do you think it could be causing the tinnitus or is it more likely a coincidence? Note: I had been on Toprol for 5 yrs prior to Coreg w/ no tinnitus. Perhaps the other Betablockers were protecting me from tinnitus?
December 1st, 2010 at 11:52 am
Dr. Neil,
I have since had more hearing tests and seen by an ENT. This is what he says about my hearing loss upon my Doctor telling me to quit Toprol.
“Not a good result from injection. Although the sudden withdrawal of the drug Toprol itself does not cause sudden hearing loss, its possible the sudden withdrawal iniated some cardiac, ischemic event that led to the loss of hearing”. Nothing else he could do for me. What do you think? Thanks, FV
January 8th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I have ringing, but it is my BP going up as the beta blocker loses it’s effect. I have to go to every 12 hours instead of one a day. I am guessing of course, it just seems that way.
I have anxiety also so that may be the cause…. or how about just plain ole old age? We get old and things go nuts….
January 24th, 2011 at 4:18 am
I am 58 and have been taking a low dose of 25mg Atenolol, 20mg Nifedipine and 2.5mg Bendroflumethiazide for at least 12 years to reduce my blood pressure. I have never suffered any tinnitus.
I have loss of high frequency and reduced hearing to both ears. Three months ago I had a hearing test and purchased two hearing aids which have made a vast improvement to hearing. I was able to hear the telephone and conversations properly again.
Last month my doctor increased my dosage of Atenolol to 50mg to improve my hypertension. Coincidentally within a couple of weeks my hearing seemed to become rather muffled and at times slightly distorted. My hearing specialist was baffled.
Do you think there may be a connection with the increased dose of Atenolol. What should I do now?
January 24th, 2011 at 8:02 am
Hi Philip:
I don’t think your hearing specialist needs to be baffled. Atenolol is known for doing things like you are experiencing. All he needs to do is read my book, “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed” to see that this kind of thing happens to others too.
Now, what to do? You have a couple of options. Since taking the Atenolol in a lower dose didn’t seem to hurt your ears, tell your doctor you need to go back to the lower dose. Or, option two, and one I’d learn more towards, is get off this drug completely. Who knows what other damage it has been insidiously doing to your ears.
If you really need another drug, have your doctor prescribe a drug that does not damage your ears to replace the Atenolol.
Regards
Neil
February 21st, 2011 at 1:12 pm
I’m 60 and have been on Inderal LA 80mg for 30 years for migraines, which are no longer a problem for me. I’ve been afraid to stop the Inderal since I’ve been on it so long, but now I’m learning that it may be the cause of the tinnitus that I’ve struggled with for decades.
My BP has been rising such that the Inderal no longer controls it, so I was given amlodipine in addition to Inderal. Within a few days, the tinnitus became louder, so my doc put me on Cardizem CD 120mg. With the first dose, one ear began making loud “booming” and popping sounds, so I stopped the Cardizem at once.
Are there any calcium-channel blockers (as both those drugs were) that do NOT cause tinnitus or hearing loss?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I’ve been weaning off of Metoprolol ER and then inderal 10 mgs as well. I’ve had tinnitus for over then years and this summer i was switching around 60 mg LA inderal to lower doses of Metoprolol and the tinnitus increased and never stopped. It is a tea kettle whistle and it goes up when my blood pressure goes up as well…When may this go away if at all? I am going to start taking HCTZ in stead but wont see Dr. till monday so till then only taking 5 mgs of inderal for BP control and it helps the BP but doesnt help the ringing. Will HCTZ increase tinnitus?
February 25th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I forgot to mention that this is something new: lately when i take the 5 mgs of inderal i go into coughing fits within about 20 mns of swallowing the pill. When i was on these beta blockers i had developed a chronic cough and never related it to them till i was getting off them then i realized the connection. I never had such a horrible hacking coughing spell on inderal till of late when trying to come off it. I’ve been on intermittenly only in 12 days and only at 5 mgs and each time i had awful coughing spells that lasted over an hour off and on then finally stopped..
March 26th, 2011 at 11:13 am
I have been taking beta blockers for about 5 months now and have had high pitched ringing for quite some time now,,, I am taking 25mg metoprolol succ er,,,this never happened before taking beta blockers
June 1st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Hi Dr. Neil.
I am wondering if you know anything about Bystolic and or Bisoprolol causing tinnitus? I have had tinnitus for a good ten years while taking Inderal then started Metoprolol about a year ago and either it started getting worse when i started it or it was before or it was coincidence. lately it’s gone into the other ear..so now I have a tea kettle whistle in one ear and chimes in the other ear but at least I do get a break now and then for maybe two days then it gets quietier…what do you think?
June 2nd, 2011 at 6:47 am
Hi Monica:
I have never seen tinnitus listed as a side effect of Nebivolol (Bystolic).
Bisoprolol can cause tinnitus. The “official” figure is 1.4% of the people taking it, but the true figure will be significantly higher.
Propranolol (Inderal) can cause tinnitus in some people.
Metoprolol is listed as causing tinnitus in 1% of the people taking it, but as above, the true figure will be significantly higher. I have received a number of reports of people getting tinnitus from taking Metoprolol (and other ear problems).
I think the Metoprolol you are taking is making your tinnitus worse. For some people, just getting off the Metoprolol makes their tinnitus go away, but for others their tinnitus is permanent (but at least it shouldn’t continue to get worse)!
Regards
Neil
June 2nd, 2011 at 4:21 pm
I just started taking Labetalol (Beta Blocker)200mg. twice daily, and now my ears ring constantly…sounds like a tree full of Cicada bugs in the summer time.
June 3rd, 2011 at 5:34 am
Hi James:
Labetalol is not listed as causing tinnitus, but I am not surprised that it can cause tinnitus as you have found out since 75% of the Beta Blockers do have tinnitus listed as a side effect.
I am adding tinnitus as a side effect of Labetalol in the next edition of my book “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed”.
Regards
Neil
June 15th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
I am shocked at how hard it is to clarify the blood pressure meds and the tinnitus situation. What secrets! What ignorance! Thank you Neil for helping us. I still need one BP med that I can ask THEM to prescribe, since THEY do not know. What a big job. Just to ditch the tinnitus, which seems to not bother the medical people at all, is a tremendous task for us lay-folk. Thanks again. I still need your help. Bobi.
August 30th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I have been on atenolol for a couple of years, but stopped due to very low heart rythem. I developped a mild form of Tinnitus some 2.5 years ago whilst still being on atenolol. Recently the Doctor changed my blood pressure pil (no beta blocker) to metoprolol. After about 1 week, my tinnitus became increasinly worse during the whole day. Before it would be present, but certainly not as bad as it is currently. I will ask the Doctor to stop with metaprolol. Can metaprolol have an effect that worsens the tinnitus which is already present in a mild form?
October 5th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I have recently stopped taking atenolol for my migraine(50mg a day for a few years) as i seemed to be in a constant daze. I’d gained a couple of stone and lost my zest for anything! i felt tired all the time and quite depressed. i tried to exercise but struggled to get my heart rate up. I wonder how long it will take for the atenolol to fully leave my system? I feel so stupid not to have read about this drug and all of its side effects. I only hope i can stay off it. My migraines can be persistent. I did notice a change in my hearing and i also have tinnitus which seems a bit louder since i stopped the atenolol. Thanks for this is a very helpful, informative site
October 20th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Dr. Neil.
I have found this blog to be very helpful, and I will be buying the book as well…thank you!
I had two issues of Afib back in June and August of 2009. I initially(after my first incident)went on 25 MG of Metoporal ER, then my doctor increased the dosage to 50 MG after the second case. I have taken the 50mg dosage ever since. I have not had an issue with Afib, or been hospitalized, since August of 2009. However, I did develop tinnitus in August of 2010 (a year after taking Metoporal). The symptoms have not improved, and have been compounded by some hearing loss. After reading this blog, and I am sure your book, I am compelled to ask for a switch in medication, perhaps to Sotalol AF (Betapace AF ?). What do you think? I never had tinnitus prior to taking this medication. My hearing has always been good, but not great due to several ear infections as a child. Will Sotalol keep my heart rate, and blood pressure, under control without the potential side effects of tinnitus and increasing hearing loss? Thank you…thank you…thank you…for your guidance.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I have been diagnosed with intermittent atrial fibrulattion. I was perscribed metoprolo Tartrate. I suffered from moderate tinitus to begin with. I have been on the Metoprolo Tartrate for two weeks. I am now experiencing and increase in the volume of my Tinitus. Can i switch to a tinitus friendly beta blocker with little complication?
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:09 am
Hi Larry:
There are a few beta blockers that are not listed as causing tinnitus. You could ask your doctor whether he would switch you to one of them if it would do the same job as the Metoprolol.
The beta blockers of which I know that are not currently listed as causing tinnitus include Levobunolol, Nebivolol and Sotalol. Perhaps one of these will work for you.
Regards
Neil
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 am
Hi Tim:
As I said in my reply to Larry (above) there are three beta blockers that are not listed as causing tinnitus so you may want to switch to one of them. None of these are listed as causing hearing loss either.
You will have to ask your doctor whether Sotalol will keep your heart rate and blood pressure under control. I cannot answer that. However, Sotalol should not give you increased tinnitus or increased hearing loss.
Regards
Neil
December 31st, 2011 at 2:22 am
I developed Hissing Noise in my left year suddenly about 45 days back. I do not know what triggered this. The noise changes from Mild hissing to intense hissing and changes the intensity while sleeping and standing . Normally after cold water shower the ringing volumen reduces and that again picks up.I am on following Medicines
1 : Belaloc 50 mg – Moring for Bloppd pressure control since over 12 years
2 : Natrilix 105 SR – Morning for blood pressure control since over 12 years
3 : Telma 20 mg – Night for blood pressure control since 3 years
4 : Glasiphase 500 SR – Night for Sugar control since 4 years
5 : Lipiez 10 mg for cholestorol control since 6 years
My Sugar levels are : Fatting : 120 . PP 180
Blood pressure is : 130 / 84
Total Cholestorol : 160
I am 52 years . ENT surgen while checking my ear told me : No wax , No damage to ear drum , No infection & High frequency hearing loss
Can you pl help me to address this condition / reduce the irritation / Reduce the Noise volume
Thanks
Mahesh
December 31st, 2011 at 2:47 am
Dr.
Suddenly about 45 days back I developed hissing noise in my left year.I do not know what triggered this. The noise changes from Mild hissing to an intense hissing and whisling . It also changes the intensity while sleeping and standing. When I rise in the morning for somtime the noise level seems to reduce.
Also normally after a cold water shower the ringing volumen seems to reduce and than again it picks up.
I am on following Medicines
1 : Belaloc ( Metoprolol tartrate) 50 mg – Moring for Blood pressure control since over 12 years
2 : Natrilix (indapamide) 1.5 SR – Morning for blood pressure control since over 12 years
3 : Telma (telmisartan)20 mg – Night for blood pressure control since 3 years
4 : Glasiphase(Metformin) 500 SR – Night for Sugar control since 4 years
5 : Lipiez(Atorvastatin)10 mg for cholestorol control since 6 years
The lab results over last 12 months are
My Sugar levels are : Fasting : 110 – 120 . PP 160 – 180
Blood pressure is : 130 / 140 & 90 / 84
Total Cholestorol : 160 to 175
I am 52 years. ENT surgen while checking my ear told me : No wax , No damage to ear drum , No infection.
The audimetry test showed sensorineural High frequency hearing loss
Can you pl help me to address this condition / reduce the irritation / Reduce the noise volume as it is affecting my quality of life.
Thanks
Mahesh
January 17th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Dear Dr. Neil,
Thank you for all your helpful advice. I hope you have some for me. I have tinnitus and hyperacusis, which was initially caused by attending loud concerts, even though I was wearing ear plugs. The tinnitus began nine months ago and has become more severe in the last two months with permanent ringing in both ears and the bigger problem of hyper-sensitivity to sound, especially any metal-on-metal noises.
Two months ago, I stopped going to concerts so I’m not having any additional exposure but the situation has worsened regardless.
I have been taking 10 mg of Bystolic daily for 14 months. Could the Bystolic be exacerbating my tinnitus? Would you recommend me weaning off of it to see if there is an improvement?
Thanks, Darren
January 27th, 2012 at 5:57 am
Neil,
I had my eardrums cut and drained when I was younger due to constant ear infections. For as long as I can remember I have had popping in them as well. About 2 1/2 years ago I was put on Metoprolol for irregular/fast heartbeats. I didn’t notice at first but now it is happening everyday throughout the whole day. My ears are constantly popping and now I have an intense ringing that I can hear through the day but worse at night. I am wondering if this is something caused by the medication or if it may be something more along the line of Chronic Sinitus that I was told I have had more than once and possibly ETD? I have seen an ENT but the only thing they keep telling me is that I have fluid build up in both ears. But I imagine the Metoprolol isn’t helping much. Advice please…. this is keeping me up at night, all night.
January 27th, 2012 at 8:07 am
Hi Linda:
It is possible that the Metoprolol is causing your tinnitus, as that is one of the known side-effects of this drug. A number of people have told me that they got tinnitus after taking Metoprolol.
What is your hearing like? If you have a hearing loss from fluid build-up in your middle ears, you could also have tinnitus associated with this hearing loss.
When your ears “pop” is it a simple popping like when you go up or down a hill fast, or is it more of a crackling or clicking sound? This latter often indicates fluid (I call it gunk) in your Eustachian tubes and/or middle ears.
Regards
Neil
January 27th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
My hearing sounds like everything around me is muffled in a way but when I turn my head I can hear better but I am constantly asking what someone said more than once. I had tests done and my hearing is fine, it almost sounds like i’m in a crowded echoing room though and the ringing is constant throughout the day but worse when it is quiet. The popping happens whenever I swallow, yawn or even open my mouth to yell, it happens alot when I work out too to where I don’t want to continue because than I can hear myself breathing in my ears. It’s really hard to explain I guess. I have had the popping for SO long. It is more of a crackling clicking sound I would say and my hearing goes up or down depending on the popping. It is very distracting to my everyday life. My face hurts because I am constantly trying to keep my jaw from moving a certain way to cause the popping and my eyes hurts from squinting from the pressure in my face. Not to mention my nose waters everyday all day, no matter what I eat, drink, etc. My ENT is sending me Monday for a MRI for the popping but I wonder if there is more he should test me for while I am there. I think I have ETD/Chronic Sinistitus if the ringing is not from the Metoprolol. I am just lost. I want to try Ginko Biloba, any objection to that?
January 29th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Hi Linda:
Ginkgo biloba is a good herbal to try–especially when you take it a therapeutic doses. The only place I know of to get the right dosage is getting Arches Tinnitus Formula. I wrote about it at http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/arches-tinnitus-formula%E2%80%94whats-the-score.php.
Regards
Neil