Tinnitus/Hearing Loss

[foodluva]

I've just had a short course of Furosemide for pre menstrual fluid retention (20mg) and have suddenly started getting tinnitus which is affecting the hearing in my left ear only. I've googled this and apparently this drug can be toxic to the ear and cause my symptoms. I've not taken any other meds which could have caused this.

I haven't taken any Furosemide for 3 weeks and my symptoms haven't improved. Has anyone else experienced this? Will the tinnitus subside?

Help - it's really debilitating!

[sqad617]

I don't think that your symptoms are anything to do with Frusemide.

One sided deafness and tinnitus needs investigation by an ENT surgeon.

[foodluva]

Why do you say that Sqad? Apparently Furosemide is ototoxic and is the literature suggests that this is a well documented side effect. You might be right but it just seems strange that I had sudden onset of this within a couple of days of taking the drug. There are numerous academic journals which discuss this.

[sqad617]

You may well be right, but ototoxicity only occurs with reduced kidney function and I assume that your kidneys are working well.

foodluva.....Google.....Acoustic Neuroma

[foodluva]

I don't have any impairment in my kidney function that I know of. Don't like the sound of Acoustic Neuroma very much. I don't have any dizziness or balance problems. Guess I'll make an appointment with my GP.

[sqad617]

foodluva....good for you.....you don't have any balance problems in the Acoustic Neuroma, just unilateral tinnitus and impaired hearing in the same ear.

[tamborine]

Do you hear the tinnitus when its quiet.....can you hear it over music?

[foodluva]

Both really. I hear it less when there is more noise around me but it's always there. I also feel a bit deaf. If I hear a noise I can't always determine where it's coming from. I'm also having to ask people to repeat what they say on occasion because of the constant noises in my ear.

[tamborine]

distract your attention from tinnitus - turn up music & noise. The more you listen for tinnitus the more you hear it.

[pizone]

i have heard their is no cure for tinitus

[Huderon]

Just a passing thought .... the tinnitus could be caused by some ear wax which has hardened and has fallen back to press on your ear drum, but the GP will look for that when you get seen.

[beso]

I have had tinnitus for about two years due to singing very loudly along with amplified guitars. I have read a lot about it since.

Firstly get an examination by a doctor to make sure it is not due to infection in your ear. If this is the problem the longer it is left the bigger it will become.

Some drugs can certainly cause tinnitus. Quinnine and asprin are both well known. The mechanism by which they affect hearing is unknown.

Hearing is a very complex perception that extends well beyond the ear. Sound perception relies on an enormous amount of processing to the signal received from the ear. Our ability to hold a conversation against a noisy background it testimony to its extraordinary performance.

There is a fantastic difference between the quietest sound we hear and the loudest. Much of the gain adjustment is done by the brain. Anything that upsets the brain can lead to tinnitus.

In complete quiet many people hear tinnitus. It happens because the brain increases the sensitivity until it hears something. Like electronic amplifiers the higher the gain the more likely the system will go into feedback and we hear a ringing sound.

It is frequently triggered by ear damage but due to the sensitivity of the system even minor damage can upset the balance.

However once it becomes noticed it can lead to the attention becoming excessively focussed. The more you worry the more likely it will set in.

The best information I have seen on tinnitus is at:

http://www.tinnitus.org/

It is really worth reading for anyone with tinnitus.

[Lil O'lady]

I have had tinnitus for 28 years following a really bad ear infection. I have come to regard it as my little whistling friend (seriously). You're never alone with tinnitus!

[foodluva]

Thanks to everyone for their answers. I am going to get checked out by my GP. It feels a bit better this morning so maybe it's on the mend!