Common Medications Affecting Tinnitus

Tinnitus is commonly known as ringing in the ears. Tinnitus is described as hearing a ringing, whooshing, buzzing, hissing, or humming sound in one or both ears. It can be intermittent or constant and often causes distress in those who suffer from tinnitus. Though not an actual disease, tinnitus can be a very serious symptom of an underlying condition such as hearing loss, thyroid disorder, ear infections, and rarely tumors. It is difficult to treat tinnitus without knowing the main cause; there are many factors, such as stress, medication side effects, and noise exposure that can aggravate already present causes of tinnitus.

Medications that Can Cause or Aggravate Tinnitus:

Very rarely is the cause of tinnitus drug induced. Five common medications that researchers have shown to be a cause of tinnitus are Imitrex Nasal Spray, Pepcid, Lopressor, Levaquin, and Neurontin Capsules. Imitrex Nasal Spray, also called Sumatriptan, is used to treat migraines. Pepcid is a common over the counter medication used to treat heartburn. Lopressor is a beta-blocker used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Levaquin is used to treat several bacterial lung infections, skin, and urinary tract. Neurontin Capsules is used to treat nerve pain and is used as an anti-epileptic medication. Other drugs that can cause or worsen tinnitus are NSAIDS such as Motrin or naprosyn, aspirin, epilepsy medication such as Depakene, Lasix and other diuretics, antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, antibiotics such as vancomycin, quinine and other drugs used to prevent and treat malaria, and Chemotherapy and antiviral drugs such as cis-platin and interferon. The patient is placed in a very difficult situation when medication causes or triggers tinnitus as many of these drugs are used to treat chronic conditions.

Medications Used in Treating Tinnitus:

Medication may help lessen the severity of tinnitus. For those suffering from anxiety and depression in addition to tinnitus, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can be very helpful. Low doses of Lorazepam or Konazepam used to treat anxiety have been shown to reduce tinnitus. Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitripyline also help in treatment of tinnitus. These drugs mainly treat the emotional responses to tinnitus and reduce anxiety and stress, which often trigger severe episodes of tinnitus. Anticonvulsants and antihistamines have also had positive results in the treatment of tinnitus. Medications such as acamprosate used in treating alcohol dependence aid in the treatment of tinnitus. Acamprosate helps to reduce the activity of Glutamate; a high rate of Glutamate can cause tinnitus to appear.

Common Treatments for Ringing in the Ears

Tinnitus is an annoying condition characterized by a ringing in the ears. The ringing cannot be heard by anyone else and has no external source. Tinnitus is caused by damage to the inner ear from exposure to loud noises. The louder and more extensive the exposure, the worse the ringing will seem.

Tinnitus can occur suddenly after close exposure to a loud sound or it may develop slowly over the course of years of standing next to a loud machine. Usually, tinnitus is temporary, with the length depending on the severity and extent of the exposure to the noise. You may have heard people say that their ears were ringing after attending a loud concert. That’s tinnitus.

There is no cure for tinnitus, but your symptoms can be managed effectively. Sometimes, all it takes is a little rest and relaxation to reduce the ringing. Tinnitus can be worsened by stress. If you notice that the ringing seems to pulsate with your heartbeat, your blood pressure may be exacerbating the ringing. Have your blood pressure checked and get on medication if necessary. Hypertension has worse consequences than tinnitus.

Treatments for Tinnitus

• There are special hearing aids for tinnitus sufferers. The offending frequency can be attenuated to the background by raising the remaining frequencies.
• Keep your body healthy and your immune system strong. This will help with hypertension and reduce other conditions that could aggravate tinnitus. 
• Hypnotherapy can help reduce the amount of focus you place on the ringing. 
• A noise mask could help you sleep. These are CD’s or in-the-ear-style devices that create background tones, usually white noise. The ringing in your head gets lost in the background. 
• Tinnitus support group have friendly members who are happy to help you adjust. They know the ropes in this fight and will have insight. 
• Tinnitus retraining is a therapy to help you stop dwelling on your tinnitus. 
• While there are no silver bullets, your doctor may be able to recommend new tinnitus medicines or drug therapies. 
• Natural treatments like B5 supplements treat stressed nerve endings and could bring relief. 

To prevent further damaging your ear, avoid loud noises. Buy some good earplugs and keep them nearby. You’ll want them handy for the unexpected. Wear them when you go to a concert. You can find flat response earplugs that will still let you hear the show well. If you need them for work, ask your company to provide them. They usually will.

What is Tinnitus?

Webster's Dictionary defines tinnitus as "a sound as of ringing or whistling in the ear, not resulting from an external stimulus." It has also been described as the perception of sound when no sound is present. Others do not hear what you are hearing. According to the American Tinnitus Association, it is a condition that affects up to 50 million Americans and up to 250 million people around the world.

Tinnitus is more of a condition than a disease. It is most often caused by exposure over a prolonged period of time to loud noises. If your work environment subjects you to constant loud noises and you don't wear ear protection, you are susceptible to suffer some form of tinnitis. An ear infection might trigger a bout with tinnitis. Other possible causes of tinnitis include a negative reaction to certain medications or an obstructive injury to the auditory nerve.

There are two basic categories of tinnitus. The first and more common is transient tinnitis. This almost always is a temporary condition caused by exposure to loud noises. Attend a loud rock concert for three hours and you might come home with ringing in your ears. The second, more debilitating form of tinnitis is called continuous tinnitis. This is a condition which is relentless. It stays with you round the clock and can seriously affect your lifestyle. People suffering from this chronic condition often have trouble sleeping or focusing on the task at hand. They can become irritable, depressed and anti-social.

Many who suffer from tinnitis are told to just accept it. Like people with fibromyalgia or depression, tinnitis is a very real medical condition. While it is unfortunate that attitudes toward these real conditions are not always accepting, those who suffer, need relief.

The good news is that there are a number of alternatives to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of those suffering from tinnitis. Certain drugs have proven effective in treating tinnitis. Antianxiety drugs like Valium and Xanax, antidepressants and muscle relaxants all seem to help reduce the severity of the ringing in the ears. Biofeedback, sound therapy and other relaxation techniques are useful for some patients. Alternative treatments like acupuncture and hypnosis have a place. Modifying your diet by reducing or eliminating food that can aggravate tinnitis outbreaks is very important. A low salt diet, reduction of caffeine and absolutely no nicotine will help stop the suffering.

Anyone can get tinnitis. It can strike in men or women. Young children or the elderly. If you are exposed to constant, loud noise over a prolonged period of time, you can experience the symptoms of tinnitis. Be aware of noise around you. Protect your ears and avoid getting tinnitis!

How Do You Stop Ringing In Your Ears?

Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, is a common occurrence in many individuals, with some being long-time sufferers. Whether you have been suffering from tinnitus for quite some time or are just experiencing symptoms, one thing is for certain, ringing in the ears is not pleasant. The ringing occurs from within the ears and not the outside environment, and some people describe the sound as mimicking that of running water or whistling. Since there are different reasons for why you may be suffering from tinnitus, there are different ways to stop this sound in the ears.

Indeed, to stop ringing, it’s best to determine why you are experiencing the symptoms in the first place. Perhaps you have been exposed to loud noises in the workplace, you have an ear infection, or have taken certain medications. Other reasons may include allergies, diabetes or thyroid disease. If ringing in the ears is truly an issue for you, you will need to see a doctor. In most cases, tinnitus is non-threatening, just a bit of a hindrance.

One way to stop ringing in the ears is to place your palms over your ears, allow your hands to meet at the back of your skull and place your index fingers over your middle fingers. Doing snapping motions with your index and middle fingers will create a thump-like sound on your skull, but it will stop the ringing in the ears after repeating for about 40 times. Best of all, this can be done at any time and without any lifestyle changes.
In addition to this method, there are other ways to stop or reduce ringing in the ears. Silence often makes the ringing feel more pronounced, so turn on some quiet background noise, such as that from a radio or TV. This will help drown out some of the ringing, while getting your mind off of it until it subsides. That being said, also be sure to avoid loud noises and music, which can bring on tinnitus.

Since the hearing and neurological systems are extremely delicate, you will also need to take excellent care of yourself on a daily basis. Limit your salt intake and avoid caffeine and nicotine. These products can stimulate the nervous system, bringing on tinnitus. Be sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids, as well as exercise. You may also need to switch medications or try a new vitamin, both of which can be determined by a medical professional.

Also have your blood pressure checked routinely, making sure that it is within normal levels. Reduce levels of anxiety and remove yourself from stressful situations when necessary. These solutions will help keep stress to the nervous system at a minimum, reducing symptoms of tinnitus.

What Causes Ringing in the Ears?

Ever been in a quiet room and heard a sound that didn't originate in the room but in your own ears? Perhaps it sounded like a high-pitch alarm, a buzzing, or a sporadic beeping like a Morse code. You jangle your ear, massage it, push against the drum, but the tones still persist.

You might have tinnitus. Colloquially, tinnitus is known as "ringing in the ears."

There are 5 main causes:

1. Too Much Loud Noise
We live in a world of extremes and that includes extreme yelling, extreme music volume, and extreme concerts. Such noise is the primary cause of ear ringing.

The human ear should only be subjected to 80 decibels or less. This decibel level is equivalent to an alarm clock going off. Anything louder can put you at risk if you are exposed to that sound for a continuous period of time on a regular basis. With something extra loud – like a concert, which can be as much as 120 decibels – just being exposed to the volume once can result in tinnitus.

When using headphones to listen to music, start with the volume so low that you cannot hear it; then, slowly turn up the volume to the lowest level that is enjoyable. Many music players have high volume options. Do not choose these. Use the same strategy when listening to car music.

Consider spending a few dollars for ear plugs that you can use at concerts, around construction areas, or wherever there might be loud blasts of sound.

2. Hearing Loss
Damage to the inner ear can cause hearing loss and lead to tinnitus. Hearing loss is the second most popular cause of ringing in the ears. When the ear is damaged, it ceases to pick up vibrations and convert them to sounds. Also, nerves in the inner ear fail to transmit signals to the brain. Constant loud noises, natural aging, and Meniere's disease, which is an inner ear disorder, can result in the type of hearing loss that accompanies ear ringing. When no external sounds can be heard by an ear, that ear is more likely to hear internal ringing at a more intense volume and frequency.

3. Clogged Ears
This is a rare cause of tinnitus. However, sometimes ear ringing can be caused by something as simple as debris or built-up ear wax. Be wary of putting any foreign objects in ears, including cotton swabs.

4. Chemical Side Effects
Medicines or foods with excess caffeine or aspirin can cause ear ringing -- so can too much alcohol.

5. Infections
Viral ear infections accompanied by fluid in the ear often cause ringing. These infections develop during an extreme cold, flu, or sinus infection.