by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Drugs that affect our minds such as anti-anxiety drugs, anti- depressant drugs and anti-psychotic drugs can cause a host of unwanted side effects, and build up a kind of dependence that makes it very hard to get off them without even more side effects occurring, including unrelenting tinnitus.
The secret to getting off these drugs is to do it very slowly. A lady that is on Paxil [Paroxetine] (among other drugs) explained:
You may or may not know but the medical community is in the dark ages about tapering off anti-psychotic medications. There is a significant minority, including me, who have trouble big time, if we were to taper by their protocol which is very fast. (Actually, I suspect we are far more than a minority.)
The psychiatrist of one of the posters on the Paxil Progress board [no longer in existence] said that anti-psychotic medicine should not be tapered any faster than 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks. Yes, it is a slow process, but here is the proof. I have had minimal side effects and can hold down a full time job. The people who taper off too quickly have a totally different experience which is not pleasant.
If you are on any of the psychotropic drugs such as Paxil (Paroxetine), Zoloft (Sertraline), etc, and also any drugs in the Benzodiazepine class, I’d suggest you check out an equivalent website such as Surviving Antidepressants for help in slowly tapering off these drugs.
Another tip from this lady is that you slowly taper off only one drug at a time. Since she is on several drugs, at her safe taper rate it is going to still take her another six years to be drug free. This is the way to do it if you don’t want unpleasant side effects cropping up because of tapering off too fast. It also gives your brain a chance to get its brain chemistry working properly again without the help of drugs.
The goal is to become healthy again and drug free. Then you won’t have to worry about ototoxic (or other) adverse side effects.
Dear Dr. Bauman,
I’m writing to you today in an effort to learn what, if any, side effects to one’s hearing can occur with a prolonged use of anti-anxiety medications.
My motivation for doing this research is to try find answers to my mother’s sudden hearing loss in one ear. More specifically, the hearing loss manifests primarily in the form of not being able to hear conversation. However, I’ve been noticing that if her “good” ear is covered or if she’s facing in another direction she also cannot hear other sounds.
She has had an MRI. Apparently, nothing showed up with that test. N.B. She decided to cease taking anti-anxiety med’s. She tapered off of the med’s slowly, over time. She’s been free of med’s (other than Synthroid for a hypothyroid condition) for almost two years now.
My Mom has become very defensive about her hearing loss. I thought that if I could pave the way and find out some information from reliable medical professionals such as yourself, she may feel more secure and confident in seeking solutions.
If you can assist me with information or direction as to how to continue to research for example the impact of anti-anxiety medications on hearing, I would be deeply appreciative.
In advance, thank you for your attention in this regard.
Cheers,
T
Hi Tracey:
Many anti-anxiety drugs can cause hearing loss, but I can’t be more specific until I know exactly which drugs to which you are referring.
When people have trouble hearing conversations, that is because they typically have a high-frequency hearing loss. Since most of the volume of speech is in the low frequency sounds, such a person hears people talking, but since most of the “intelligence” of speech is in the high-frequency sounds, they have difficulty understanding what the person is saying.
Note that most drugs cause a high-frequency loss to begin with, so her hearing loss is consistent with damage from taking drugs (as well as from other causes).
If you tell me the exact drugs she was on, I can help her more in understanding how they are related to her hearing loss.
Neil
I too have suffered with a hearing loss for a few years ever since i started taking Effexor and clonazepam (.5 mg TID). The ENT physician I saw said I had about a 40% loss in one ear which was probably hereditary. I can deal with that but how would he know if it was caused by the medication? I experience a sound in one ear as though I were under water. Its difficult to explain. Its not a ringing sound. If it is the medication is the damage irreparable even if I stop taking the medication? Thank you
Can you tell me if my hearing loss may be attributed to two psychiatric medications that I take. The names of them are Lithium 450 mg 1x day and 300mg at
bedtime and Seroquel 300 mg at bedtime.
A response would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Hi Gary:
Lithium can cause hyperacusis and tinnitus and balance issues, but I have not seen it listed as causing hearing loss.
Quetiapine (Seroquel)is listed as causing hearing loss in some people (as well as tinnitus, ear pain and various balance issues).
So it is possible that the Quetiapine is causing your hearing loss. If the onset of your hearing loss correlates with the time in the months after you began taking Quetiapine, then it appears likely this drug has affected your hearing. If not, there may be another factor involved.
Regards
Neil
Omg i thought i was going crazy .so happy to read thuis ii was on seroquel 50mgxr trying to taper now im taking 12.5 mg IR and i got ear ringing in one ear a scattering in my head . I wonder if its the switch in seroquel oh i hope it goes away ithe ear doc said my hearings good no nerve damage . I went to see a ENT cause i had a Ear infection in that ear and thatsalso the time i did the teper and switch from xr to ir . Myd doc says its anxiety . I know my body its 24/7 im not strressed i feel better . I wqs diagnosed with anxiety while taking seroquel . It was causing my anxiety i had heartpalptations and extreme aggitation on it i feel alotb better tapering off of it . But the ear ringing is giving me a bit of anxiety . Cause its annoying .
Also get headaches and a bit of wierd spacy dizzy feeling
The ENT looked in my ear said its clear ask what kinda ringing . Said he cant do anything come back in 6 months if iits not gone. Not very helpful ENT
Have been on doxepin 10mg for a long time. Also in last 7 years taking xanax. Have hearing loss in only one ear. Could it be from these drugs. Can hearing loss be restored if I quit taking?
I have took seroguel 50mg for 3 days and ive got hearing loss in one ear. What do i do??????
Hi Tina:
Quetiapine (Soroquel) does cause hearing loss in some people. The only thing you can do is stop taking this drug and hope the side effects are temporary. And never take it in the future as it will likely just cause more hearing loss and other ototoxic side effects.
If less than a week has passed since you began to see hearing loss, then having your doctor give you a steroid such as Prednisone may help, or it may not. There is no way to tell in advance.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello Doctor, My husband uses Quetiapine for a sleep aid. He has severe itching in his in ears and has used triple antibiotic ointment, clotrimazole, and exederm which has hydrocortisone. They all help briefly for 3 or 4 days. But the crazy itching returns. We would appreciate any insight or help you may have about this dilemma.
Hi Deborah:
Why would your husband take an anti-psychotic drug such as Quetiapine as a sleep aid? That seems a bit odd to me.
When did this itching in his ears begin in relation to when he began taking Quetiapine? If it began soon after, I think the Quetiapine is causing the problem. Hundreds of people have reported ear infections as a result of taking this drug.
I suggest he stop taking this drug and see whether his ears stop itching in a couple of weeks. If so, you know the Quetiapine was the culprit.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, he could try one of the more natural remedies for itching ears such as apple cider vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide. Typically they are:
If using apple cider vinegar, mix it 1:1 with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and using an eyedropper, put 2 or 3 drops in each ear canal.
If using hydrogen peroxide, put 2 or 3 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in each ear canal.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi! I want to know if it is safe to take Effexor if you have cochlear implants. I understand there can be the feelings of “shocks” when trying to come off of it. I am bilaterally implanted. Thanks
Hi Shelly:
Whether you have CIs or not doesn’t really have any bearing on whether you can take Venlafaxine (Effexor) or not as far as I know. Such drugs should only be taken in the short term (2 weeks or so) to get you over a bad spot. Taking them in the long term is just asking for trouble when you decide to get off them.
If you have been on one for some months, then you need to taper off very slowly–over the course of a year or more. Tapering off too quickly can result in brain zaps (not ear zaps) and other nasty side effects.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been on 25mg of quitiapine for anxiety for around five years. they help . Although I hate the muddy feeling in the head.
I started having hearing problems not long after taking them,
after regular visits too the gp, with tinitus, vertigo ,estacion tube disfunction. I have never been advised too have a hearing test, or referred to E.N.T.
When I read that quitiapine was the most likely cause, I felt disgust that none of the doctor even mentione the possible connection,
At the moment my hearing loss in one ear is conbined with a feeling off pressure, at varying levels.I also fell nauseous and dissorientated and sleepy.
I have booked a hearing test with specsavers myself this week,
And at last a G.P hase reffered me too E.N.T, but because off present time , I am ,and have been told too expect along wait,
I have posted this for anyone else who may be having similar problems, and finding ther g.p is too scared too mention it because off the drugs the gave you,
I am coming off quitiapine slowly, and started meditation,
Good luck Rob
Does tinnitus get louder when tapering quetiapine? I am on. 150 and lowered 12.5 mg and I got a spike, terrible. Now I don’t know if I should tapper any more, but I am desperate to get seroquel out of my body!
Hi Diana:
When you take antipsychotic drugs such as Quetiapine, you risk getting tinnitus. And when trying to get off such drugs, you have to taper off slowly or your tinnitus can get worse. Normally, a 10% taper on the descending balance each month is considered a “safe” taper. Thus reducing from 150 mg to 137.5 mg is within the safe taper range.
However, in your case, it seems even that was too much. Maybe you need to try a 5% taper per month and see if that works for you.
Since your tinnitus has spiked, I’d not taper anymore until the spike goes away. Then continue the taper at a slower rate.
Your other choice is to go back to the full dose of 150 mg, but by doing so is no guarantee that the spike will go away. It may or may not. Thus I’m of the opinion is is better to stay where you are now and wait out the spike. You haven’t said how long ago this was. I’d give it a month before you get worried about it.
Cordially,
Neil