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Can warfarin cause ear drum perforation and bleeding?

Hdev profile image
Hdev
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I am on warfarin and metoprolol for occasional afib bouts these past 5 years,,,recently my warfarin was increased to get a 2.5-3.5 range weekly due to emboli found on my lead pacemaker wire,,,meanwhile,,after 8 weeks at this level,,,I experienced sudden total hearing loss as well as bleeding in my left ear,,I was a passenger in the car just doing errands when this happened,,,it has been 8 hrs so far and the bleeding has not stopped,,,just seeping and barely wetting a cotton ball and the deafness continues,,,went to the ER for 3 hrs wait and no hope of being seen any time soon,,,came home and plan to call my family MD in the morn,,,also tried to get an appt with any free ENT for tomorrow but told first available appt in August,,,wow,,,I am stymied and concerned,,,can’t figure what happened to me out of nowhere,,,no accident to my head ,no Q tip in the ear,,,,can warfarin cause a spontaneous bleed or ear drum hole,? Just looking for any input if anyone has ever heard of this before,,,thank you for your thoughts!

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Hdev
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CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I don’t think any anticoagulant will cause a bleed but it could exacerbate it so take longer to stop.

How very concerning for you - I think you need to get back to ER room and wait it out. I don’t know the US system but in UK you would be triaged on arrival. I would have thought that sudden deafness with bleeding would probably put you fairly high on the list.

Could you have burst an eardrum? That would cause sudden hearing and fluid loss from the ear?

Hope you get answers very soon.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Anticoagulants do not cause bleeding but any latent injury or weakness which might otherwise go un noticed will become apparent. This is comon with nose bleeds where a weakness in a capilliary within the nasal passages can be quite dramatic.

My own experience with a perforated ear drum (a diving accident as a teanager) had no bleeding until I picked up an infection whilst swimming. Sounds as if you need to persevere with ER. If it does become infected it can cause permanent deafness,

G'day Hdev,

Don't know if this is any help .... BUT ..... I am on Bisoprolol and have beeen since first diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010. In the beginning my Cardio consultant prescribed it to be taken in the morning with other first thing morning medication. It wasn't long before I began to develop random full flow nosebleeds ( without doing anything to my nose - just happened randomly outta the blue). Initially I thought it was Warfarin (which I was also put on at the same time). I didn't believe it was Warfarin, intuitively felt this.

In the end went back to my GP who told me to take Bisoprolol at night with my night time medications - including Warfarin. Nosebleeds then stopped and I've never had a nose bleed to this day.

I'm attaching a text which may interest you and which hopefully will encourage you to do some more research on these two drugs.

""What is better "Metoprolol" or "Bisoprolol"?

Comparison shows that it is better to choose "Bisoprolol". It works more effectively. It is taken in smaller doses and, despite its high cost, it helps to save. In addition, this drug is different in that it is easier to excrete from the body, and not so detrimental to the liver as the second. This is due to the fact that the load is distributed evenly to the kidneys and the liver. It is worth noting that if a patient has problems with the kidneys, then it is better to choose Metoprolol. Replace "Bisoprolol" can "Atenolol" and "Metoprolol", but they are not so high-quality. Use an analogue or not should be decided by a qualified specialist. He is better versed in the features of the drugs that he prescribes. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to take analogues for chronic diseases, during pregnancy and lactation.""

This is the closest I can come to, to your experience. Hope it is of some help. As far as I can see both drugs are beta blockers but with different properties. Bisoprolol can be used by same practioners for BP control. It was prescribed to me for HR control which it has done for 12 years beautifully.

Good luck.

John

Hdev profile image
Hdev

Finally,,,,managed to get an ENT appt for tomorrow,,,a 2 day wait,,,ear still filled with fresh blood and no hearing but I stopped warfarin for the moment until I see the ENT,,,thanks to all for your input!

As someone who `suffers` with ear problems I sympathize with you. I have just been for scanning on my mastoid due to once having MRSA in my ears. I would not ignore your bleeding and suggest that you do see a doctor about it asap. I am on Bisoprolol as well but do not (fingers crossed) have problems with it. Good luck at ENT and I hope that it is resolved for you soon. Best wishes.

Suebo2 profile image
Suebo2

Good luck at the hospital. I hope that they dort it for you. Probably had an ear infection which caused the drum to burst. On the plus side if it IS this then you should be ok. Take care

etheral profile image
etheral

Listed as rare <1% of complications in the Merck drug side effects are gangrene of skin or other tissues, vascular calcifications and tissue necrosis. Hopefully the ENT will find a more obvious cause, but if not perhaps swit ching to a DOAC might be in order. etheral

Hdev profile image
Hdev

Just a conclusion to my blood and hearing loss,,,had a huge blood clot by slow leak with the warfarin over time,,,built up and blocked my hearing,,,on my eardrum,,,,now removed and vacuumed debris after,,on steroid ear drops,,,,might have started with hardened ear wax,,,,I can hear again thankfully!

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