by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A lady asked:

Can HCTZ cause the constant roar I now hear in my ears?

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is about the least ototoxic of all the diuretics. It is listed as sometimes causing dizziness or vertigo, but is not listed (as far as I have ever seen) as causing tinnitus.

However, one lady told me that whenever she takes HCTZ, her tinnitus gets louder. Thus, it could be the cause your constant roar (tinnitus) too.

Think back to when you started taking HCTZ. If you didn’t have the loud roar before you began this drug, and your tinnitus started soon after (in the following 14 days or so), then this is strong circumstantial evidence that Hydrochlorothiazide is indeed causing your tinnitus.

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.