Does changing BP medication reduce tinnitus?

[Puddingboy]

I was put on 5mg amlodipine 6 weeks ago for high blood pressure. Within a week, I noticed muffled hearing + mild (but managable) tinnitus in my left ear. Was told by my GP that I had an ear infection, and was prescribed antibiotics. 2 rounds of antibiotics and 3 weeks later I was referred to ENT (privately...).

Meanwhile GP increased the amlodipine to 10 mg and the tinnitus became unbearable in both ears within a week. I immediately reduced back down to 5 mg. Had a follow up with ENT on Friday ( MRI was clear, hearing is 'down' a little bit but not significantly), who agreed that it is likely to be a side effect of the medication, gave me some interim management strategies (one of which was to relax and ignore it - easier said than done!), with a review early Jan. I have a GP appt tomorrow to look at alternative medication.

My question is : has anyone's tinnitus improved after changing medication, and if so, how long did it take?

[ModelMetalworker]

I had a similar reaction to Amlodipine and Felodipine, if you think Amlodipine is causing T. then continuing to take it you could be risking irreversible T. There is a medication that acts differently to these two and may be safer, am on the lookout.

[SimToTheWorld]

Amlodipine caused my Tinnitus. I now take candesartan. It's always a gamble with medicine though. What causes it for one person, doesn't to others. But if Amlodipine has increased your T, then it doesn't seem to be the ideal medication for you.

[Philip6]

You’ve nothing to lose in changing your BP pills, I was on Amlodipine and didn’t get on with them. I can’t remember why now. I think they were making me feel dizzy.

[fauxartist]

I cannot believe the stupid advice given to us by so called caregivers, and let alone that we could possibly ignore it.... it seems to me that the medical field is completely ignorant of this issue of tinnitus, and just give out stupid advice like throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping something sticks.