I haven't done an extensive research yet but from what I've found yes all SSRI have the potential to cause tinnitus with celexa being the highest cases reported. and like I said even though the cits are working helping a bit for my crippling depression I'm seriously weighing my options in terms of if it's worth it to keep taking with the tinnitus as a side effect. I've also read sometimes even stopping the celexa doesn't make the tinnitus go away. Do your research but I'm seriously considering tapering off the meds and regrouping to figure out what else to do about my debilitating depression besides antidepressants.
Have been on Cit for about ten years now, I am a Pensioner and I will be on the drug until they plant me as my condition is a Chronic Pain condition an I really just cannot be bothered to start changing medications again when all problems seem to be so slight
B.
I suppose it depends how bad the tinnitus is and how it affects you on a daily basis
Yes I suppose so. When I was at Collage I was training for the Merchant Navy and had to learn Morse. Four hours a week of tapping a morse key made me a little deaf I feel. So it may be that I suppose we think of all different things over time. With me I do feel it is Psoriasis.
B.
Not sure where you are with your tinnitus, but started cit 1 year ago at 10mg and developed tinnitus after day 5. Took cit for 6 months and did. It improve. Went off the cit for some time and while getting quieter did not go away. Doctor laughed ar me saying it is not a side effect of the medicine. Had hearing check and hearing was fine.ENT said while annoying does not see damage to hearing likely. Had a relapse recently of depression so went back to 10mg, and wouldn't you know it the volume has gone back up again. Bad enough I had to deal with this for a year but now it coems roaring back again. Not sure if others have a better alternative to cit or advice where balancing medicine working against tinnitus which may look like it is permanent at this point
I have been taking citalopram 20mg for 4 weeks and have been dizzy on a few occasions and also have loud hissing in both ears which I have put down to tinnitus.After reading the information sheet that came with the tablets I saw that it is a side effect in 2% of users. It is awful and driving me mad especially in the silence at night. Any suggestions as what to do please? I know this is a reply to you Shawn but am hoping someone else has some input. Thank you
I know this was posted a while ago and Im not sure if I posted or not but I want to make this VERY clear...if you're experiencing tinnitus GET OFF IT NOW! I was taking Celexa in 2012, weaned off of it and as I was getting off I noticed along with the head shakes and flu like symptoms a ringing began in my ears. It is now 2017 and it has NOT stopped at all. It is just as bad as it was on day one. I am absolutely miserable because of this and wish I could sue the drug company for a lifetime of distress. Again, if you are experiencing a ringing in your ears wean off the medication ASAP because the ringing is permanent and it never gets better. I wish to god I knew that at the time. I NEVER would have taken this garbage. I feel really cheated that nobody warned me.
Monica -- dang that's not good. I started having tinnitus about a month ago. However, I've been working in an environment with high pitched sounds the past 17 years so it could be the drug or the work environment.
One way that I've found which helps make tinnitus management is using the skull thump method [search youtube for "People with Tinnitus try the "Reddit Tinnitus Cure"].
Ugh, same here. How long did you take it for and at what dosage? I was on 10mg for 7 weeks only and stopped immediately, but crazy how nobody warns you of this horrible side effect, especially if its permanent. .
Monica what dose were you on and how long were you on it?
Hi Shawn, how did the T evolve for you eventually
Hey Steven, can you update us on the status of your T? I am on month 2 since stopping Celexa and my ringing is aweful. Did it get better that first year? Is it better now? Looking for any form of hope whatsoever.
Im wondering the same thing. Ive been on it for 7 days and the ringing is so loud. I stopped it yesterday but now im worrried from reading the posts that this could be permanent. Im going to try peroxide later today to see if it helps. Im furious this wasnt diclosed to me.
Ya, I would work with your dr to taper off or switch meds, because I still have the ringing 3 months later. It does feel like its slightly fading, but still annoying. I've learned to be patient with it and hopefully habituate fully to it sooner than later. Staying busy seems to help the most, and continuing with life as normal is most important to me. I hope it goes away for both of us. Two questions. 1) Are you the anxious type? We, and others, could have got T from being overly anxious, 2) Do you have any preexisting hearing loss? I did, and perhaps Celexa just brought about my T that I didn't know I have, since I was born with it. Either way, it should get better, just give it time. I know its not easy! It could go away, or if not, you should habituate to it and you won't be bothered by it after enough time.
Guy - unfortunately ALL SSRI's have a chance to worsen tinnitus.
I think I'm in the same boat - I've been working in a relatively noisy work environment for the past 17 years and perhaps the Tinnitus was present but not at a level that I noticed. 2 months into taking 10mg Citalopram I noticed Tinnitus started to quietly rear it's ugly head [I also noticed I was hearing more high pitched sounds]. Various posts said it could go away so I decided to wait and see.
2.5 months later after the 1st day Tinnitus appeared - it's still present and sometimes annoying at random times throughout the day [usually when it's quiet]. I have also noticed an increase of "silent followed by high pitched sound that'll last for about 15 seconds" [as if my ear is letting go of stress]. I have an appointment with an Ear doc next week to see what they think.
At this point it's a Catch-22 situation - keep taking the med for anxiety and just try to deal with Tinnitus [which I do for the most part] or taper off and hope Tinnitus will reduce and that I've managed to build up enough coping skills to deal with anxiety without an SSRI. Hopefully 5-HTP or Buspar will work if needed to cope with anxiety.
I hear ya buddy. I had severe anxiety and that’s why I went on celexa. I still have anxiety issues but nothing compared to how it was. I started keeping myself busy, doing CBT therapy, reading books, playing paddle tennis, working out, running, biking, swimming, meditating, etc. I think the best thing is to just live your life normally and tell ur brain to quit being rediculous when it acts up. Works for me at least. Also, regarding the ringing noise, I find that if I put my hearing aids in the noise goes away. That might be helpful info for anyone that has hearing issues like me.
guy - I recently started MCBT [minfulness CBT] and it's freakin' awesome. Can't say the same for the Tinnitus as it's a random beast that shows up and disappears without any rhyme or reason [maybe it's my subconscious brain triggering the noise levels]. Hopefully the ear doc will be able to shed some light next week [part of me is hoping she will say "Oh.. you need to stop taking Citalopram".].
Do NOT put that poison in your body. I was prescribed 20mg in 2013 and was on it for a year. I heard a buzz the first week that I was on it, very brief (one second) and randomly, and then it ceased. Never had the ringing again until I followed the doctor's instructions for weening off. On my last week of the ween, this hellacious multiple-toned (at least four) ringing developed in my left ear, with fullness, and a steady ring in my right as well. It has not let up a second since then. Went to one of the best ENT's in Pennsylvania and she was baffled. Now, I take it day by day, count my blessings that I'm not totally deaf (only 40% in my left), and don't have vertigo (yet). Also, the depression returned full thunder and I'm terrified to try another SSRI. Find another way to deal with your depression, folks.
I was on it for a few months got the ringing and it’s gotten much better. I habituated to it and basically don’t notice it that much anymore. Did you not habituated? I think Celexa isn’t to blame. I think we had severe anxiety or depression and it brought about ringing in our ears. In my case it wen away, It was just a side effect. Did you get TRT therapy, or try notched music therapy?
Did you already have hearing loss? Or are you saying you have only 40% of your hearing left as a result of Celexa?