Terrifying Tinnitus

[Milo247]

Hi there, is or has anyone experienced tinnitus from their medication, I have been taking sulfasalazine and stopped a day and a half ago and now have terrifyingly loud tints that has woken me up at 2am

i would appreciate any feedback, especially anything hopeful, and treatments that have worked for you.

[sylvi]

I was given a drug 22yrs ago to shut down my ovaries and it gave me tinnitus in my left ear. I have a hearing aid to mask the sound. It sounds louder when i am not very well.xxx

[Milo247 in reply to sylvi]

Thank you Sylvi, x

[Gnarli]

Hi Milo. Tinnitus is a rotten condition to have isn't it? I've had it for years and it has worsened since RA arrived and needed medicating. The less notice you can take of it the better. The more attention you give it, the worse it gets it seems. From what the docs have said and what I have read they have not yet found a cure. Constant background noise like leaving a radio or music playing and keeping busy as a distraction helps. There are noise generators which put out white or pink noise (amongst others) which have helped some people as has CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). I don't know whether there is a direct link with meds but the short time I was on Sulphasalazine seemed to increase the noise. Probably best to talk to your GP as a first step. Wishing you well

J

[Milo247 in reply to Gnarli]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me, very grateful

[Suzie0407 in reply to Milo247]

I too had tinnitus before my diagnosis of RA and it’s definitely still there! In fact, it was one of the reasons I wasn’t prescribed hydro chloroquine initially, but instead put on sulfasalazine.

[Downtime]

I had it for a few years but it seems a bit better now or maybe I’ve just tuned it out. It sounded like a washing machine going all the time, Gnarli is right there are ways of coping with it. It always seems worse at night when everything is quiet, or when you’re miserable. It’s worth mentioning it to your doctor, it could be related to the meds. These things can come and go so don’t despair. I hope it eases or you start finding it less intrusive. Best wishes x

[Bon1]

Sulfasazine give me tinnitus in both ears ( I already have some hearing problems). What made things even more upsetting was the registrar and rheum nurse acting like they’d never heats of such a thing - even though I now know it’s listed as a side effect on the paperwork that comes with the drug! I decided at the time to stick it out but then had to some off the drug for other reasons. The tinnitus has gradually faded (a bit) but still have attacks from time to time. The key is to try and accept it and not get stressed - the more you do, the more intrusive it is...

[Jules13]

Yup. When I first started sulphasalazine I had a weird ear buzz. They reduced it down until I tolerated it and then put it gradually up again. Now I don’t get the buzz.

[Pulfs]

I also suffer bad tinnitus and am on hydrochloquine it seems to be getting worse si will mention it at my nexf rheumatology visit. Know it can't be cured but there may be a different drug to try.