RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

This factsheet is part of RNID’s tinnitus range. It is written for people who have tinnitus, their families, friends and the professionals who work with them.

Tinnitus is a medical term to describe noise(s) that people can hear in one ear, both ears or in the head – such as ringing, buzzing or whistling. The sounds heard can vary from person to person, but the common link is that they do not have an external source.

If you would like this factsheet on audio tape, in Braille or in large print, please contact our Information Line.

Read this factsheet to find out:

At the end of this factsheet, we give you details of organisations you can contact for further information.

Important information

You should not change your drug, alter your dose or come off a drug as a result of reading this factsheet. Drug treatments may be adjusted to meet specific individual needs and circumstances. You must consult your doctor, should you have any concerns about the medications you are taking or have been prescribed.

Medical disclaimer

The information given in this factsheet is not medical advice and by providing it neither RNID nor our tinnitus and medical advisors undertake any responsibility for your medical care, nor accept you as a patient. Before acting on any of the information contained in this factsheet, or deciding on a course of treatment, you should discuss the matter with your GP (family doctor) or other medical professional who is treating you.

Is there a drug that can cure tinnitus?

As yet, there is no such thing as a ‘tinnitus drug’ or ‘wonder drug’ that can cure tinnitus. Tinnitus is caused by many different factors, none of which is fully understood. People also experience and react to their tinnitus very differently, so there is no single drug that is effective for everybody.

In recent years, researchers have been trying to identify why people get tinnitus and to find drugs that may help particular groups of people with the condition. Small-scale research trials have helped us find out something about drug treatment for tinnitus, but, so far, research has not found a drug specifically for all forms of tinnitus. Some drugs prescribed for other conditions may occasionally help. Unfortunately, they often have unpleasant side effects and so are not prescribed to treat tinnitus.

Sometimes, tinnitus is a symptom of another condition that you may be able to treat with drugs. For example, if you have an ear infection, antibiotics may help clear the infection, which may in turn also improve the tinnitus.

Habituation

Many people find that they are able to ‘habituate’ to tinnitus over time and that it gradually plays a less important role in their lives. Habituation is the term used to describe the brain’s ability to ignore a stimulus – such as sound – over a period of time. For example, someone who has just moved to live near a busy road may find that they are very aware of the traffic noise. As time goes by the sound becomes less important to them and the brain learns to ignore it. This is habituation.

What is the relation between stress and tinnitus?

Research has shown that there is a strong link between stress and tinnitus. All sources of stress such as illness, bereavement, redundancy, divorce or exams can sometimes be a trigger for tinnitus, or make it worse.

However, tinnitus affects people in different ways. Some people – though not all – find that it makes them feel stressed, tense, anxious and depressed, and have difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. These feelings are not always caused by tinnitus, but they can be made worse by it.

How can I manage stress?

Many people learn to manage stress without using conventional drugs but by using relaxation techniques, counselling or complementary therapies. Have a look at our factsheets Tinnitus and relaxation and Complementary therapies and tinnitus. If you are having trouble sleeping, you might find our factsheet Tinnitus and sleep helpful.

Which drugs can help me manage stress?

If you do feel that you need a little extra help, your doctor may prescribe sedatives, tranquillisers and antidepressants to help reduce anxiety.

  • Sedatives have a calming effect and so can help sleep. They may also help people feel less anxious.
  • Tranquillisers are particularly helpful in reducing anxiety.
  • Antidepressants are mainly prescribed for improving mood and treating depression. They can also reduce anxiety and help sleep.

These drugs may be prescribed for a short time to help you through a difficult period or for a longer period, depending on your needs.

Tranquillisers and sedatives can be extremely dangerous when mixed with other drugs, including alcohol. Tranquillisers can be very addictive. It is important that you talk to your GP about any side effects these drugs might have before you take them.

Antidepressants and side effects

A number of antidepressants list tinnitus as a side effect and some people have reported that antidepressants make their tinnitus worse. At present, there is not enough research to back this up either way, and it seems some people are more sensitive to them than others.

Occasionally, some people find that when they come off a drug they have been on for a long time, too quickly, their tinnitus may become worse. It may help to withdraw from the drug more slowly and it is important to discuss this with your GP. Research has shown this to be particularly true for some people taking the benzodiazepine group of drugs, which are used as tranquillisers or sedatives. These groups of drugs should always be reduced gradually.

Which drugs may cause tinnitus or make it worse?

Drugs that may be damaging to the ear or hearing are known as ‘ototoxic’. There are very few ototoxic drugs. They are rarely prescribed and then only to patients who are seriously ill in hospital. Your GP will be able to talk to you about any possible side effects of drugs you have been prescribed. In many cases these drugs will be prescribed to save your life and this is likely to outweigh the risk of any side effects. You should be strictly monitored when you are prescribed ototoxic drugs.

Main ototoxic drugs

  • Aminoglycoside antibiotics are powerful drugs used to treat very serious infections.
  • Cytotoxic drugs are used to treat cancer.
  • Loop diuretics increase the production of urine and are used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure and some kidney disorders. They are only likely to cause permanent damage to the hearing when used with other ototoxic drugs.

Some people with tinnitus think that it was caused by, or has been made worse by, a medicine they have been prescribed. Although a large number of drugs list tinnitus as a possible side effect, not everyone will develop tinnitus as a result of taking that drug. This is partly due to the way that the side effects of drugs are reported, but also because we all react differently to drugs.

It is worth remembering that even though a drug may cause someone else’s tinnitus or make it worse, it may not have the same effect on your tinnitus. Even if tinnitus is listed as a side effect of a drug, this does not necessarily mean it is ototoxic. It could just be a coincidence that this seems to have happened at the same time that you started taking the drug. Also, the condition that you have been prescribed medicine for may be making your tinnitus worse, rather than the drug you are taking for it, particularly if your condition is making you anxious or stressed.

If you are concerned that a drug you have been prescribed is making your tinnitus worse, you can discuss this with your GP. You can ask about an alternative drug, which does not list tinnitus as a side effect. Sometimes, you will need to continue taking the drug even if it is making your tinnitus worse, as there may not be any alternative available.

Most common drugs reported to cause or worsen tinnitus

  • Antimalarial drugs – such as quinine and chloroquinine. These are prescribed to prevent you getting malaria or to treat malaria. Although these can cause permanent damage to the hearing when taken in high doses, there is no evidence of permanent damage when taken in the low doses that are prescribed for malaria. They can give some people temporary tinnitus. If you are planning to travel to a malaria-infected area, you must talk to your GP or practice nurse about taking antimalarial drugs.
  • Anti-inflammatories – taken to reduce swelling.
    Some antidepressants – used to treat depression.
  • Some antihistamines – taken to prevent or reduce allergic reactions.
  • Some antihypertensives – taken to lower blood pressure.
  • Aspirin – taken to relieve pain and reduce fever. It is used in many medicines for colds, period pain, headaches and joint or muscular pains. It also helps blood clots from forming. It contains salicylate, which is an ototoxic drug.

Aspirin and tinnitus

If you have already got tinnitus, you may find that even a small dose of aspirin makes it worse. This does not happen to everyone and you may find taking a single tablet has very little effect. Nevertheless, some people are more sensitive to aspirin than others. If you think aspirin is making your tinnitus worse, speak to your GP to see whether an alternative medicine would be more suitable, particularly if you are taking aspirin as a painkiller. The effect of aspirin on tinnitus is usually reversible, which means that when you stop taking aspirin, your tinnitus should return to its previous level. However, aspirin may cause tinnitus to last longer if you take it over a long period of time, or in higher doses.

Where can I buy products that may help?

RNID Products sells a range of equipment for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. Visit the RNID Shop at www.rnid.org.uk/tinnitusproducts (external link) to buy items of equipment online. Alternatively, you can request a copy of the Solutions catalogue by contacting RNID Products directly or by contacting RNID Tinnitus Helpline.

RNID Products, 1 Haddonbrook Business Centre, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YX
Telephone: 01733 361199
Textphone: 01733 238020
Fax: 0870 789 8822
Email: solutions@rnid.org.uk
RNID Shop website (external link, opens new browser window)

Where can I get further information?

British Tinnitus Association (BTA)

The BTA campaigns for better services for people with tinnitus. It supports a network of local tinnitus groups around the country, has a range of publications and produces a quarterly magazine, Quiet.

British Tinnitus Association (BTA), Ground Floor, Unit 5, Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB
Telephone: 0800 018 0527
Textphone: 0114 258 5694
Fax: 0114 258 2279
Email: info@tinnitus.org.uk
BTA website (external link, opens new browser window)

Hush

Hush is the name of the Hull tinnitus self-help group. They run a helpline and produce information, CDs and tapes for people with tinnitus.

Hush, 109 Southella Way, Kirkella, Hull HU10 7LZ
Telephone: 01482 656033
Email: hush@btinternet.com 
Hush website (external link, opens new browser window)

Contact a local group

If you feel you need more help with tinnitus directly from other people who also have it, you could contact a local tinnitus support group. They are set up and run by people with the condition or by professionals who work with tinnitus patients. The type of support and help they are able to offer varies between groups. Contact RNID Tinnitus Helpline for details of your nearest group.

Further information from the RNID Tinnitus Helpline

RNID Tinnitus Helpline offers information and advice to people with tinnitus, their families and friends, and the professionals who work with them. You can contact us for further copies of this factsheet and the full range of our products for people with tinnitus. We also sell a book, "Understanding tinnitus – managing the noises in your ears or in your head", and a range of relaxation CDs and cassettes.

RNID Tinnitus Helpline

19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 0808 808 6666
Textphone: 0808 808 0007
Fax: 020 7296 8199
SMS: 07800 000 360 (supported by Lloyds TSB)
Email: tinnitushelpline@rnid.org.uk
Tune out tinnitus website (external link, opens new browser window)
Available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Acknowledgements

This factsheet was produced with the help and advice of Dr Borka Ceranic, Clinical Lecturer in Audiological Medicine, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London; and Professor Linda Luxon, Professor of Audiological Medicine, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London.