![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9 to 33 of 33. Go back in thread:
Posted by FredPotter on May 24, 2006, at 20:38:29
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by RickF on May 24, 2006, at 14:01:36
> Don't do Xanax. Its very addictive. The longer you take it the more you need. Its effects wear off & you need even more to contunue its use.
>
>It started before Effexor. I don't DO Xanax. I've been on benzos for 42 years and strongly disagree with your statements regarding tolerance
Posted by RickF on May 25, 2006, at 17:09:22
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by FredPotter on May 24, 2006, at 20:38:29
>
> It started before Effexor. I don't DO Xanax. I've been on benzos for 42 years and strongly disagree with your statements regarding toleranceHi Fred,
I have taken Xanax XR (extended release) .5 mg and it last about 20 hours in your system. Its great stuff but highly addictive. I use it for sleep when on the antidepressants. You said your on the benzos for 42 yrs. Which ones have you used & for how long. Glad they helped you.
I was just trying to find out if anyone else had experienced hearing loss with Effexor & or Xanax. It could be coincidental it happened while on these drugs, but I don't know whay it was so abrupt. Seems I went to bed one night OK then next day hearing down 40%. Also not sure why ears are now hypersensitive to sound, ache, and presssure feeling all day.
Thanks for your comments, no ill will meant by any of my posts, we all agreed that we can disagree & that also helps me understand from another perspective. I appreciate your taking the time to post.
Posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 19:27:30
In reply to EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by RickF on May 22, 2006, at 20:17:49
YES!! I have been on Effexor for a few years. Last year, I would get occasional bilateral tinnitus (buzzing in both ears). A few months ago, I developed right ear sense of fullness, tinnitus (much louder) and low frequency hearing loss (documented by Audiology). I am still waiting to see the ENT. I am currently reducing my Effexor (now at about 11 mg twice a day), but had to add Prozac to prevent debilitating vertigo, vomiting and loss of balance.
Hearing loss is listed as a possible side effect of Effexor, but under the very long list of conditions that may have happened unrelated to the Effexor. I had assumed that my hearing loss and tinnitus were NOT related to Effexor, because it's only on one side. But seeing these posts makes me wonder...
If anyone else has had this happen, please keep posting. I want to know. (I also happen to be a Family Physician. Maybe Dr. Bob and I can co-write an article.)
Cheers, AnneT
Posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 20:09:37
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 19:27:30
> YES!! I have been on Effexor for a few years. Last year, I would get occasional bilateral tinnitus (buzzing in both ears). A few months ago, I developed right ear sense of fullness, tinnitus (much louder) and low frequency hearing loss (documented by Audiology). I am still waiting to see the ENT. I am currently reducing my Effexor (now at about 11 mg twice a day), but had to add Prozac to prevent debilitating vertigo, vomiting and loss of balance.
>
> Hearing loss is listed as a possible side effect of Effexor, but under the very long list of conditions that may have happened unrelated to the Effexor. I had assumed that my hearing loss and tinnitus were NOT related to Effexor, because it's only on one side. But seeing these posts makes me wonder...
>
> If anyone else has had this happen, please keep posting. I want to know. (I also happen to be a Family Physician. Maybe Dr. Bob and I can co-write an article.)
>
> Cheers, AnneTHi AnnaT,
You wrote,[...buzzing in both ears...assumed NOT related to...If anyone else...keep posting...]
I may be one of the most knowlegable people in regards to what you are posting about. In my research I have found that;
A. Psychotropic drugs can cause hearing issues
B. This can manifest itself into;
1. noises called tinnitus
2. formed music called musical hallucinations
3. memory issues
4. hearing loss
5. other issues
What I have found out IMO is that psychotropic drugs can cause something to "spark" in the temporal lobe and give rise to releasing memory into the auditory nerve. If the location is in the area of the brain where music and math are located, then music can be heard. I believe that Ludwig von Beethoven ate some bread that had an ergot in it that induced his music that he heard and then composed.
The psychotropic drugs that people take where they have issues with hearing could IMO be the same as an ergot, like LSD in the particular circumstances which are that the person may have musical training or just listened to music. How this happens on the molecular level I do not know yet, but in my study of insecticides, I think I am close to a solution.
The people without extensive musical backgrounds may have tinnitus induced instead of music being heard. That buzzing or clicking could subside in the cases that I have studied, but the ones with formed music are not likely to have the music go away permanatly. Some of the tinnitus people that I have studied also have had no remission. There are cases of extreamly loud music or tinniitus as in a correlation to the amount of stress that the person is under, that is that the noise or music gets louder under that condition.
The cessation from psychotropic drugs in many cases can eliminate the noise in tinnitus, but not in hearing music in most cases that I have studied.
There is much more...you could email me if you like.
Lou
lpilder_1188@fuse.net
Posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 21:30:03
In reply to Lou's reply to AnnaT- » AnneT, posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 20:09:37
Thanks, Lou. Very interesting. I have sometimes thought the radio was on, usually when I lie down for a nap. I can hear muffled voices and musical patterns, but not vividly. Do you think there is any relation between my hearing loss/tinnitus and the fact that I get severe vertigo and loss of balance and vomiting when I go too low or too fast in my Effexor reductions?
AnneT
Posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 22:15:21
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to AnnaT-, posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 21:30:03
> Thanks, Lou. Very interesting. I have sometimes thought the radio was on, usually when I lie down for a nap. I can hear muffled voices and musical patterns, but not vividly. Do you think there is any relation between my hearing loss/tinnitus and the fact that I get severe vertigo and loss of balance and vomiting when I go too low or too fast in my Effexor reductions?
> AnneTAnnaT,
You wrote,[...the radio was on...muffled voices...musical patterns...hearing loss related to vertigo and loss of balance and vomiting in relation to dosage of Effexor durring discontinuation?..]?
This is shocking to me as to what you just posted! I have to adjust to what you wrote and then answer. I will forward this to a researcher that I am in touch with at USC.
You see, what you said fits into what I know concerning withdrawal from psychotropic drugs which is another aspect of this that I would like to explain in relation to how to withdrawal from them. And also, the part about the radio is astonishing to me because of what I will post later here. In the cases that I have studied, there were no voices heard, just music, except in two cases that I studied where choral music (vocal) and patriotic songs (vocal) were heard.
Have you ever heard vocal renditions of choral or patriotic songs?
Lou
Posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 22:28:58
In reply to Lou's reply to AnnaT's reply to Lou » AnneT, posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 22:15:21
No, Lou, it's not really specific. It's just...well, you know if you have a radio on in another room? You just know that either someone is talking, or that it's music, but it's not loud enough to make out the words or the tune, just the rhythm of the speech or music. I am glad to hear that someone is investigating this. I happen to be a Family Physician (Canada) and studied a lot of neurosciences in undergrad (McGill). I've tried to find out which neurotransmitters are involved in hearing, vertigo/balance, etc so find your posts very interesting. I am willing to answer more questions if that is helpful to you.
AnneT
Posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 22:33:57
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to AnnaT's reply to Lou, posted by AnneT on October 5, 2008, at 22:28:58
> No, Lou, it's not really specific. It's just...well, you know if you have a radio on in another room? You just know that either someone is talking, or that it's music, but it's not loud enough to make out the words or the tune, just the rhythm of the speech or music. I am glad to hear that someone is investigating this. I happen to be a Family Physician (Canada) and studied a lot of neurosciences in undergrad (McGill). I've tried to find out which neurotransmitters are involved in hearing, vertigo/balance, etc so find your posts very interesting. I am willing to answer more questions if that is helpful to you.
> AnneTAnnaT,
You wrote,[...the rhythm...]
Did you ever take theoretical math courses?
Lou
Posted by AnneT on October 6, 2008, at 9:54:39
In reply to Lou's reply to AnnaT's reply to Lou-2 » AnneT, posted by Lou Pilder on October 5, 2008, at 22:33:57
Hi Lou,
Yes, I went as far as Calculus III - "4D space" did me in. I also played flute since I was 8, and played professionally with the Naval Reserves.
AnneT
Posted by Lou Pilder on October 6, 2008, at 16:48:51
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to AnnaT's reply to Lou-2, posted by AnneT on October 6, 2008, at 9:54:39
> Hi Lou,
> Yes, I went as far as Calculus III - "4D space" did me in. I also played flute since I was 8, and played professionally with the Naval Reserves.
> AnneTAnnaT,
What you have stated is remarkable. My study is focused on the effect of psychotropic drugs in relation to the aspect of music and math as in the memory.
I discussed your situation in regards to Effexor with the researcher at The University of California, (not USC) Dianna Deutsch. She would be delighted to hear from you at;
ddeutsch@ucsd.edu
Lou
Posted by AnneT on January 16, 2009, at 12:56:16
In reply to EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by RickF on May 22, 2006, at 20:17:49
Hey - "Marri" who posts on homeopathy.com also has hearing loss while on Effexor.
An update for me - I am down to 3.75 mg per day of Effexor, and have had no change in my hearing. I anxiously await the result of an MRI.
AnneT
Posted by Jules331 on April 27, 2009, at 22:19:02
In reply to EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by RickF on May 22, 2006, at 20:17:49
Anne T -- I just got news from an ENT today that I have significant hearing loss in both ears. Not typical, I'm 49. Doc said he's only seen this in "men that shoot guns". I've been on .75 mg of Effexor for almost 4 years, exact time I've noticed hearing loss. Wish I'd figured the connection earlier. Have you found any links to others with loss?
Posted by AnneT on April 28, 2009, at 19:01:51
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! ! » RickF, posted by Jules331 on April 27, 2009, at 22:19:02
Rick,
Just odds and ends. One lady posting on homeopathy.com with similar symptoms to mine. My MRI was normal, so it is definitely not due to acoustic neuroma.
I've been off Effexor for about 2 weeks - no difference in the ear symptoms, but I am still on Prozac (to prevent the horrid vertigo and puking Discontinuation Syndrome. Blargh. Now have gained weight - my Prozac pouch.)
Posted by Jules331 on April 28, 2009, at 22:34:43
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by AnneT on April 28, 2009, at 19:01:51
> Rick,
> Just odds and ends. One lady posting on homeopathy.com with similar symptoms to mine. My MRI was normal, so it is definitely not due to acoustic neuroma.
> I've been off Effexor for about 2 weeks - no difference in the ear symptoms, but I am still on Prozac (to prevent the horrid vertigo and puking Discontinuation Syndrome. Blargh. Now have gained weight - my Prozac pouch.)I've got a call in to the doc to get off of it. I'm worried about the side effects. I searched the Effexor website and found nothing about hearing loss. If I had known there was a correlation, I would have gotten off years ago. I figure I'll be sportin' a Prozac pouch soon - and we're going on vacation to the beach next week. Great timing! ~Julie
Posted by MarkL on October 3, 2009, at 4:34:12
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by AnneT on April 28, 2009, at 19:01:51
Hi
I have been on Effexor for 4 years and I am interested in inner ear implications of long-term use as I am getting more and more vertigo and loss of balance episodes.
AnneT I am also Canadian I would like to communicate with you if possible.
Best regards
Posted by rickf on October 3, 2009, at 18:27:15
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by MarkL on October 3, 2009, at 4:34:12
Continued:
After being on remeron for 4 years & not happy with where I was at, I tried Lexapro. After 4 weeks I once again experienced an abrupt hearing loss. I am almost deaf in my right ear now with substantial hearing loss in the left ear. Each episode started with bad tinnitus.
At leastr my psychiatrist agrees with me that I (my ears) cannot tolerate any ssri's. The ENT's
Posted by rickf on October 3, 2009, at 18:31:18
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by rickf on October 3, 2009, at 18:27:15
Continued :
The ENT's say the antidepressants didn't cause the hearing loss. I strongly disagree. After the 1st hearing loss 4 years ago I was off of ssri's. Then 4 years later I go back on ssri & get the hearing loss again. That IS NO COINCIDENCE !
Posted by 49er on October 4, 2009, at 18:34:19
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by rickf on October 3, 2009, at 18:31:18
> Continued :
> The ENT's say the antidepressants didn't cause the hearing loss. I strongly disagree. After the 1st hearing loss 4 years ago I was off of ssri's. Then 4 years later I go back on ssri & get the hearing loss again. That IS NO COINCIDENCE !I encountered the same experience with ENTs when I saw them regarding my hearing loss which turned out to be due to Remeron. They tagged me with a bogus cochlear menieres diagnosis.
Initially, I thought I was being treated that way due to having a psych label. But people on pharmalot who developed a hearing loss from an antibiotic (sorry I forgot the name) reported similar experiences.
My psychiatrist also denied the Remeron caused the hearing loss.
For those of you who question what I am saying, when I made a mistake in reducing my Remeron dosage and took too much, my hearing worsened.
Anyway rickf, I am sorry you have joined the hearing loss and the doctors don't believe me club.
49er
Posted by yxibow on October 5, 2009, at 15:02:11
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! ! » rickf, posted by 49er on October 4, 2009, at 18:34:19
I'm sorry that both of you have had experiences of hearing loss with antidepressants.
I'm not sure though about getting hearing loss, dropping the antidepressant, and having hearing loss again. It could be the antidepressant, but it sounds like temporary hearing loss or tinnitus due to medication.
As for antibiotics, though, there are some ones that unfortunately are notoriously ototoxic -- vancomycin can be, but it is also one of the last resorts in medicine, so one has to trade off possible death from possible degraded hearing.
I don't know about antidepressants that are extremely well known for ototoxic properties. I can believe though that they can have temporary effects and definitely have tinnitus as a listed side effects.
-- tidings
Posted by 49er on October 5, 2009, at 16:28:01
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! !, posted by yxibow on October 5, 2009, at 15:02:11
<< I'm sorry that both of you have had experiences of hearing loss with antidepressants.>>
Thanks. It is tough because I also have a learning disability. But people have it alot worse than me so I have to keep that in mind.
<<I'm not sure though about getting hearing loss, dropping the antidepressant, and having hearing loss again. It could be the antidepressant, but it sounds like temporary hearing loss or tinnitus due to medication.>>
Sorry, I wasn't clear. When I screwed up the dose, I accidentally took more than I should have. It was definitely due to the Remeron because when I came back to the correct dose, my hearing improved although it never went back to normal.
Also, hearing loss is listed as a side effect of Remeron. I know, correlation doesn't equal causation but as I posted in another post when someone asked me why I felt it was Remeron, I couldn't attribute it to anything else.
<<As for antibiotics, though, there are some ones that unfortunately are notoriously ototoxic -- vancomycin can be, but it is also one of the last resorts in medicine, so one has to trade off possible death from possible degraded hearing.>>Well, supposedly it was the last resort for a relative who had C-Diff. The drug did diddly. Fortunately, this person didn't lose her hearing or her life over it.
My point is that what may seem like a last resort may not necessarily be.
>
<<I don't know about antidepressants that are extremely well known for ototoxic properties. I can believe though that they can have temporary effects and definitely have tinnitus as a listed side effects.>>
>
Hmm, hearing loss is listed as a side effect of Remeron and other ADS. I would have go through drugs.com or one of those sites and check. I assure you my hearing loss is not temporary. I wish it were.The reason it is not well known is that ototoxicity still isn't acknowledged generally in the medical community. Therefore, mental health drugs aren't going to be acknowledged as having the issue.
But just because something isn't acknowledged doesn't mean it doesn't exist and is a problem. Just look at the medical history of meds and their side effects.
49er
Posted by Bob12 on October 6, 2009, at 12:23:44
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR HEARING LOSS ! ! ! » yxibow, posted by 49er on October 5, 2009, at 16:28:01
I am having similar problems- tinnitus, noise sensitivity, and occasionaly dizziness- and I take 17.5 mg of Zyprexa.
I have been taking Zyprexa for 8 years, but the tinnitus has only occurred during the past year.
What should I do? Should I try to stop taking the Zyprexa and only stay on the 2 mg of valium which I take as well?
I tried reducing the Zyprexa dosage in 2002 and it was a disaster. But does this mean I have to stay on Zyprexa for life? Considering the tinnitus, noise sensitivity, and dizziness, is the Zyprexa really worth it? I am also suffering from daytime drowsiness, OCD, anxiety, and sleeping problems. I would love to be off the Zyprexa, but it is a risk since when I reduced the dosage in 2002-2003, my paranioa returned.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I plan on discussing this with my doctor as well as an ear specialist in the near future.
Bob
Posted by 49er on October 6, 2009, at 17:31:52
In reply to ZYPREXA HEARING PROBLEMS ! ! !, posted by Bob12 on October 6, 2009, at 12:23:44
> I am having similar problems- tinnitus, noise sensitivity, and occasionaly dizziness- and I take 17.5 mg of Zyprexa.
> I have been taking Zyprexa for 8 years, but the tinnitus has only occurred during the past year.
> What should I do? Should I try to stop taking the Zyprexa and only stay on the 2 mg of valium which I take as well?
> I tried reducing the Zyprexa dosage in 2002 and it was a disaster. But does this mean I have to stay on Zyprexa for life? Considering the tinnitus, noise sensitivity, and dizziness, is the Zyprexa really worth it? I am also suffering from daytime drowsiness, OCD, anxiety, and sleeping problems. I would love to be off the Zyprexa, but it is a risk since when I reduced the dosage in 2002-2003, my paranioa returned.
> Any advice would be appreciated.
> I plan on discussing this with my doctor as well as an ear specialist in the near future.
> BobBob,
I am so sorry you are having those problems.
My guess is you tapered the Zyprexa too fast which caused rebound paranoia . For antidepressants, they should be tapered at 10% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks.
With an antipsychotic, you may need to go more slowly.
Tapering slowly does not guarantee you will be symptom free. But doing so greatly increases your chances.
Personally, I wouldn't stay on the Zyprexa if I was getting dizzy and my balance was effected. But that is just me.
By the way, I tapered the Remeron slowly and doing so didn't make my hearing loss worse. I think it improved as a matter of fact.
49er
PS - I was trying to find some sites that I thought might be helpful but my internet connection is sporadic.
Posted by Jeroen on October 15, 2009, at 9:49:50
In reply to ZYPREXA HEARING PROBLEMS ! ! !, posted by Bob12 on October 6, 2009, at 12:23:44
that's sad bob, i'm in simular situation myself
Posted by Zyprexa on October 18, 2009, at 3:35:27
In reply to ZYPREXA HEARING PROBLEMS ! ! !, posted by Bob12 on October 6, 2009, at 12:23:44
I sort of doubt its the zyprexa. I've been taking zyprexa for 11 years and I've never had or heard of hearing problems with zyprexa. Its also odd that it only started in the last year. Getting your hearing checked is probably the best answer.
Posted by Jeroen on October 18, 2009, at 13:14:19
In reply to Re: ZYPREXA HEARING PROBLEMS ! ! ! » Bob12, posted by Zyprexa on October 18, 2009, at 3:35:27
it's the damn Zyprexa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.