by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A man explained:
I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 35 years. About a year ago I was put on 40 mg shots of Adalimumab (brand name Humira) every two weeks. My tinnitus was bad during the last few years and I attributed it to stress.
This past Saturday I took a shot after not having had one for about a month. Coincidentally, my tinnitus was getting better during that period. A few hours after the shot, my tinnitus acted up again, and has been very loud 24/7 ever since.
Do you have any information that would indicate that Adalimumab should be on your list of ototoxic drugs?
Interestingly enough, the current Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) does not list a single ototoxic side effect for Adalimumab. However, a number of other sources list tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo and ear pain as side effects of this drug.
Therefore, it is very likely that your tinnitus flared up because of getting the Adalimumab shot. I have no reason to believe otherwise.
I’ll add this drug to the 3rd edition of “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed” which should be coming out in another year or so, depending on how much time I can devote to that project.
To learn which drugs are (or can be) ototoxic, see “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed“. This book contains information on the ototoxicity of 877 drugs, 35 herbs and 148 chemicals.
I started taking Humira 40mg in April 2007 approximately 4 weeks after the first shot I started having severe vertigo and dizziness along with tinnitus. My balance has presented an issue since. I have visited and asked several doctors including my primary care physicians, my rheumatologists, 2 otolaryngologists, 2 neurologists, a neuro otolaryngologist I have also had a million dollar work up so they say. They can’t find anything wrong and I have asked each an every one of these doctors if Humira would cause thi and each one has informed me that it would not. After taking injections for 17 months I decided to stop taking the injections in October of 2008. Since stopping the injections the symptoms have gradually subsided. I am not completely free of the symptoms and have reached a plateau. My questions are was it the Humira causing this and will these symptoms ever go away and could you recommend a Doctor that specializes in medication reactions.
I was on Humira for 10 weeks and on the 5th day after the 6th week injection, I woke up in a panic with an extremely severe case of tinnitus. It lasted about a day. I injected another dose at 8 weeks and 5 days later I experienced the same. I did not inject my scheduled 10 wk dose because I had another severe attack on the same day. That was one day ago and I had another attack today. Yesterday was rather calm. I am scheduled to see an HENT specialist and audiologist in 3 days. Like one of the other commenters, I have PsA. Though extremely painful, I would prefer living and dealing with the pain of the arthritis rather than this disturbing and mind-altering roaring in my ears. I am just praying it will subside as the Humira wears off.
Hi John:
I see no reason to doubt that the Humira was causing your balance problems and tinnitus. Although not reported in the PDR, there are other sources that list dizziness, vertigo and tinnitus as side effects of Humira. So it spite of all your doctors to the contrary, Humira can indeed cause the symptoms you have.
The proof is that when you stopped the Humira, your symptoms began to go away. Obviously, to some extent the side effects are temporary. We can hope that eventually all your symptoms will disappear but I do not know if that is realistic to expect or not. You may find some permanent damage remains.
Neil
I have been using Humira on a bi-weekly basis for approx 1 year now. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Humira causes Tinnitus and/or “pressure” in the inner-ear/eustachian.
I agree 100%
My daughter is having the same problem!
I always have tinnitus and have since I was a baby but it’s much much louder now that I took my first two shots of Humira (yesterday). I can’t believe how loud it is now. I’ve not experienced dizziness yet, I hope I never do.
I have been on Humira for 3 years. prior to that I was on Methotrexate for quite a while. I have suffered from vertigo and tinnitis for about 11 years while on these drugs. I am stopping Humira because I now have shingles. I am not sure what I am going to do but I think I would rather have pain than deal with severe vertigo, balance problems and shingles.RA is very challenging to say the least but the drugs create their own serious problems. I have also been on prednisone (off and on). I need help1
I too have severe ringing in my ears. I take Humira twice a month. I am ready to give the Humira a break, as I also wake up feeling lousy every day. I want to be drug free. I have severe PA and it has been many years of agony. If i were my dog, I would have been put to sleep years ago
I was just this week diagnosed with nerve damage hearing loss.. I have been on humira how for about 6 years… Does humira cause hearing loss… There is no warning on the medicine for hearing loss
Hi Johnette:
I’ve heard from several people who have taken Humira and gotten tinnitus. Hearing loss appears to be much rarer, but it does occur. What makes you suspicious it is the Humira and not something else?
Cordially,
Neil
Did anybody get there hearing back after stopping Humira if so how long after did it come back. thank you
Hi Brenda:
I don’t have any information on hearing loss and whether it returned or not after taking this drug.
Cordially,
Neil
I have also been on the humira for some years now. I’ve always seemed to have tinnitus but my hearing has deteriated to the point of wearing hearing aids now ,the tinnitus is much louder now but I’m putting that down to the deafness which is making the tinnitus more prominent. Is the deafness due to humira ? I dont want to go completely deaf but I couldn’t live with the pain I had before humira . It is worrying though to think it could shorten my life span with one thing or another and make me go completely deaf ,
Hi Jennifer:
You won’t go completely deaf–almost no one ever does–you’d still have minimal hearing. And at that point, you’d probably be eligible for cochlear implants which has a good chance of giving you back most of your hearing when you are wearing the CI.
Humira can and does cause hearing loss. Hundreds upon hundreds of people have reported to the FDA that they had resulting hearing loss from taking this drug. About half as many reported tinnitus from this drug.
If your hearing has dropped since you began the Humira, it is probably safe to say that this drug likely caused your hearing loss.
Too bad you can’t find a natural way to control your condition without having to take Humira.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you for sharing – I just started my first doses – and I am deaf in both ears
Had a viral infection 16 years ago and had vertigo for 4 days, lost 80% of my hearing in left ear, 2-3 days to diagnose so no Prednisone was given till 3 days later and did not work. Had tinnitus after that maybe 2-3 on a 10 scale but manageable ever sense and life was manageable. fast fwd. to last 3 years and have had Rheumatological problems and seen 4 doctors with 4 different diagnosis’s, last one Ankylosing spondylitis, took sulfazine for 4 months and nothing so the doctor said maybe a candidate for Humaria, got the 2 shot pack and Monday evening took the first shot, next day felt the same but that night about 24 hrs. later sitting there and bang it was like the volume turned up to a 6-7 from a 2-3, changing pitch 10 KHZ signal tone its now positional with movement, with harmonics, all over the place and debilitating, rheumatologist said oh I have never heard of this, looked on his computer web MD and shook his head, I said google Humaria and tinnitus and bang hundreds of hits, he was shocked. I’m so screwed now been 1 month and my life is ruined, I would never recommend to anyone. Be aware and read up. Any help would be a God send. ENT has me on high dose steroid and water pill now and Valium for anxiety.
Hi Ron:
It looks like your tinnitus is permanent and loud now. Since the steroids aren’t working, you need to learn how to successfully deal with your tinnitus so it doesn’t drive you batty. The more you dwell on your tinnitus, the worse it will get. Thus you need to learn about a number of things you can do to take control of your tinnitus. Probably the most complete book on this subject is our new book, “Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How. You can get it at http://hearinglosshelp.com/shop/take-control-of-your-tinnitus-heres-how/.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been on humira since 2008. Summer 2015 i got a rash on my face with itching and peeling. Was diagnosed with Dermatitus. It went away but since then I have been battling one thing after another. Feb 2016 my ears started ringing. Soon after blocking. Its aweful. Stopped the Humira late June. Started taking anti inflammatory which helped the blocking. Then sinus symptoms. Now feeling periods at night of hot and cold at the same time. Like I have a flu. Cold sores for the past month. I get rid of them and more pop up. I have a film on my tounge. I am scared to death. Primary care says he doesn’t know what to do with me because nothing shows on exam. It seems there are gastros and primarys and nothing in between. There needs to be someone who knows what to do with someone who has started feeling illeffects of Humira. Or can at least let me know what to expect or not. My gastro will probably cut me loose when i tell him i am done with these biologics and my primary has no clue what to do with me.
Hi Jen:
I feel for you. Unfortunately, I don’t know what to do either once the damage is done. Closing the gate after the horse has escaped doesn’t really help. But you have warned others about the side effects of this drug. Hopefully people will read it and heed it and avoid this dangerous drugs.
Cordially,
Neil
One thing for certain is that you have an active overgrowth of yeast. Ask your doctor for for the (just one pill) for yeast. Take Vitamin C and acidolipioius and a probiotic. Same things as found in yogurt. Drink plenty of water. Good luck. The humira caused hearing loss for me.
Darlene
I have been on Humira approximately one year. 10 months into the shots I developed severe vertigo, ear pressure, and sinus infections. I still did one more shot to weeks later now I have peripheral neuropathy, weakness in both legs, all kinds of problems. Bad Bad Drug wish I never ever went on it have to be ruled out now for MS.
Severe pressure in ears, ringing, hearing loss and sensitivity to loud noises. Have been on humira for about 3 yrs for Crohn’s disease. PCP says my ears look fine. I think it is the humira.
Hi Rose:
All those side effects you listed are known side effects from taking Adalimumab (Humira). Hundreds and hundreds of people have reported exactly those side effects (and a bunch of those too).
Cordially,
Neil
I have tinnitus-mostly a pounding in my ears, more. noticeable when I am tired. After starting Humira I have been getting a loud buzzing sound in my ears.
I have also been on Humira injection 2x mt now for 11 mts.I had Tinnitus before I started the med.Last night in my left ear I had very loud ring and now I’m left with very little hearing in that ear. I went to ER they found no reason for The hearing loss.
Hi Frances:
Hundreds and hundreds of people have reported to the FDA of getting hearing loss as a side effect of taking Adalimumab (Humira). And hundreds have reported getting tinnitus, not to mention the thousands more that have reported various balance side effects.
If there are no other obvious factors involved, you can probably assume it was caused by the Adalimumab.
Cordially,
Neil
I recently started on Taltz. Almost immediately tinnitus returned that I have had earlier in the year. I decided to stop the drug.
The loud tinnitus had originally began after sinus surgery earlier in the year.
My Name Elizabeth Quilez I’ve started taking ‘Humira adalimumab’ on June 15,2018 on June 18,2018 a ringing, buzzing sound started i didn’t have no problem until i started taking ‘Humira injections i went to see my Doctor and told him that i’ve been having headaches, dizzziness, it’s called ‘Tinnitus’ loss of balance i went on January 24,2019 to see my Doctor and talk to him my Doctor put in a Order i had a 4 tube blood test takin from me my Doctor put me back on High Blood Pressure meds and a medication for dizziness to see if it can control it and see if it helps with the buzzing sound in my ears.i have Rheumatoid Arthritis it’s been 3 years with this disease i hate it. Doctor’s should know and they do know that one side effect is headache and Humira does cause dizziness buzzing sound in the ears and it hurts the brain!!!!Scientist and Doctor’s really need to help the patient they are Doctor’s for a reason not for the Money really help someone in need when it comes to their Health we need help can someone really help us
Hi Elizabeth:
Thousands and thousands of people have reported to the FDA of getting hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and other balance problems from taking Adalimumab. Follow the money trail and it leads back to the drug companies. Doctors are not trained on how to make a patient healthy again. They are trained how to manage the patient’s condition with drugs–so they have to keep on taking the drugs and make the billions for the drugs companies. That’s just the way it is–so you have to do your own due diligence and check out ALL the side effects of drugs before you take any drugs if you value your health.
Cordially,
Neil
Seriously All this issues with tinnitus and it is still on the market
I have been on humira for 6 yrs and have had numerous ear issues this past six months is the worst swollen jaw and throat muscles and tinnitus to boot GP knows nothing ENTS no nothing I had to be Dr Google to find out what a horrible drug this is
I am on injection number 6 and suddenly started with dizziness in bed. Went to doctor had epley maneover done which was horrendous and increased the symptoms as was told it had nothing to do with the arthritis drug. Had shingles 4 weeks ago. Totally scared of going to bed now. Help
Hi Simon:
Your doctor sure is ignorant, isn’t he, when thousands upon thousands of people have reported to the FDA of getting dizziness from taking Adalimumab. So you are by no means alone with this problem. And thousands of others have reported other balance-related problems, to mention the many hundreds of reports of both hearing loss and tinnitus.
Certainly not a drug I’d take.
Cordially,
Neil
I have recently started with a loud buzzing in my left ear. More noticable when I sit down or in bed. Recently started on Humira for Crohns and feel there is a link. Now had 7 injections but dont want to stop the humira as running out of options for Crohns disease.
I have been on humira approx 6 years. I have had dizziness a couple times a few tears ago on lying down and when I turned my head. This lasted 6-8 weeks each time then disappeared. I came off humira mid July this year as was going into hospital for a foot op re my rheumatoid arthritis and will not start back till approx jan2020 after all healing done. I have been getting a loud whooshing noise in a tick tock pulse in my left ear at night for a while now, can’t say whether for 6mths or a year, but had been putting it down to a noise outside on railway line, thought it was coming from stationary trains!!! So after saying to my husband, can u not hear that, I’ve discovered the noise is inside my head. I contacted my doc yesterday who said tinnitus(I have looked up and think pulsatile tinnitus) but she has said if I have had for 6 months or more then not to worry and she can check further when I’m able to go in for tests(I’m housebound due to the op and can’t get downstairs at the mo) which will probably be January. I’m worried on reading about it the mention of aneurisms. I have been bedbound since sep and not moving around a lot, my foot also goes really purple when out of bed.
Hi Sharon:
Dizziness is a common side effect of taking Humira. Thousands upon thousands of people have reported this side effect.
Tinnitus is also a relatively common side effect of this drug. Hundreds upon hundreds of people have reported getting tinnitus. And twice as many more have reported getting hearing loss and ear pain–and on and on it goes.
A tick tock kind of tinnitus, or one sounding much like Morse code or a typewriter click-clacking, but not exactly in time with your heartbeat is not pulsatile tinnitus. The whooshing sound can be due to your Eustachian tubes not working correctly and along with your tick tock or other similar sounds could be due to your middle ear muscles going into spasm. One name for this is Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome. It is a benign condition (it won’t hurt your ears), but it can certainly be annoying. Generally it is mostly caused by anxiety and stress.
I cannot speak to Humira and aneurysms as I basically only study “ears” and ear-related side effects.
Cordially,
Neil
I took Humira from September 2007 January 2017 . Since then I’ve have been diagnosed with tinnitus, vertigo, hair loss , dizziness and with ear pain. But when I brought it up to my doctors they’ve all dismiss the fact that Humira is the cause of it . My tinnitus sounds like popcorn or guns firing since I was in the military .
I’ve been on Humira for a few years now, never had an issue, but just recently, I’ve developed some extremely annoying tinnitus in my left ear, and oddly enough I had to come look up Humira, because after my last few injections, it’s getting worse and worse.
Hi Dave:
You are not unique in this. I’ve heard from numbers of people that their tinnitus gets much worse after taking Adalimumab (Humira). For some people it happens the next day. For others it takes a year or more.
Incidentally, about twice as many people report hearing loss than report tinnitus, but the most complaints by far concern balance problems from taking this drug.
Cordially,
Neil
After taking Humira for 6 years I suddenly got Tinnitus in my left ear. At first I didn’t relate it to Humira but after taking a break for a month and then take shot it got worse and I found this site. I also found a study about possible side effects of adalimumab and a patient with tinnitus was treated with a high dose of methylprednisolon. Because of my Crohns disease I had to take prednisolon in a lower dose and it reduced the tinnitus loudness significantly. I wonder if someone is studying the treatment of a tinnitus caused by adalimumab with cortisone.
Hi Patrick:
Hundreds of people have reported getting tinnitus from taking Adalimumab. Interesting that taking Prednisolone reduced your tinnitus. Maybe it will work for others too.
I haven’t heard of anyone studying Cortisone as a treatment for tinnitus from taking Adalimumab.
Cordially,
Neil
I have had tinnitus since I was 25 now am 61, all these years I got used to it. Had my first injection of Adalimumab adaz 40 mg for psoriatic disease. The very next day a very high pitched ringing in both ears with higher pitched over that like when you get a random ringing and people say someone’s talking about you happens on off in both ears through out the day. Had 2nd dose last week and I cannot sleep with high pitched ringing. I did report it to the drug company and am going to tell my dr on monday. I’m going to skip my next dose to see if it goes away.
Hi Sandra:
Adalimumab is quite ototoxic in my opinion. I rate it a 4.0 out of 5 for ototoxic risk. Well over 1,000 people have reported to the FDA that it caused them either hearing loss and/or tinnitus. So you are not alone.
Some people find that stopping taking this drug lets their tinnitus reduce in volume over time. Just skipping one shot may not give enough time for you to see whether your tinnitus drops in volume or not. Since you are sensitive to Adalimumab, you might want to work with your doctor to find another treatment that doesn’t cause your tinnitus to flare up.
Cordially,
Neil