Important information for those with tinnitus considering antidepressants esp. Citalopram (based on experience)

[jasmineam]

I was feeling suicidal and lost my appetite after seeing my manipulative ex for one day on December 23rd 2016. I was reluctant to take antidepressants, but a few family members convinced me to. The first four days that I was on Citalopram was torture, the drug would make my whole body shake and stopped me from sleeping. Due to the severity of the side effects, I asked my cousin if I should stop Citalopram and she said no, they will go away. But that all turned around... On the 5th day and onwards, Citalopram made me SO happy within 7 days, I was in a state of care-free happiness! However, a few days of bliss has resulted in 300 days of debilitating, severe and screeching tinnitus and the misery that comes with it. Which, unfortunately, also has an effect on those around me.

I had to come off of them because Citalopram is ototoxic and gave me permanent severe tinnitus in both ears. I developed tinnitus in March 2017 after 7 days of taking Citalopram (first at 20mg, then at 40mg). I was aware of my T being loud on the 10th day and I stopped on the 12th, as I was confused as to whether it was safe to stop straight away. I was not taking any other medication nor had I been prior to taking Citalopram, I hadn't listened to loud music for a long time, I've only been to one concert which did not affect my hearing at all and that was years ago in 2014.

Although antidepressants affect people differently, I wish I had been made aware that citalopram was ototoxic. Upon reading the leaflet, you will find that Citalopram has 'ringing of the ears (tinnitus)' listed as one of the common side effects. This is only 1 down from the top (very common) and this affects 1 OR MORE people in 100. Furthermore, the leaflet does not state that Citalopram is ototoxic and if you google it the results will vary.

Even the pharmacist said that the tinnitus should stop once I stop taking Citalopram and once the drug is out of my system, but it never did. The pharmacist was not aware that Citalopram is ototoxic. According to medicinenet.com 'The effects of ototoxicity can be reversible and temporary, or irreversible and permanent.' So either the pharmacist did not understand the full definition, or she assumed it wasn't ototoxic, or both. Based on observation, doctors gain evidence for ototoxicity based off of the majority opinion of their patients and single experiments which lack reliability and validity.

The doctor put my tinnitus down to listening to loud music in my headphones in early 2015. How do I know this is false? Because I developed tinnitus in 2017 WHILST taking Citalopram and only 7 days into my course! If my T was due to loud music, I would have developed tinnitus shortly after listening to loud music in my headphones in 2015, or at the concert in Summer 2014. However, my hearing was perfectly fine back then.

Importantly and interestingly, I took Sertraline for a few months and this did not have a great effect in that it did not improve my mood, but it did not permanently damage my hearing either. Citalopram, which had a huge effect and greatly improved my mood, gave me tinnitus.

Thankfully, there are some days, such as today and yesterday, where the tinnitus is less noticeable/I am not aware of it. I can't put into words how grateful I am for those days. But my tinnitus is every second, not intermittent and I wish I never took Citalopram and just exercised to improve my mood instead.

Thank you for taking the time to read this far. I hope this helps you and anyone else without tinnitus considering taking Citalopram!