May 4, 2009 - 11:31am
I have had tinnitus for about 5 years due to age and genetic related hearing loss...I'm 54. At the onset and for the first 3 years it wasn't too loud, but now that I have to take a large amount of all the above analgesiacs due to cancer therapy pain, it is sometimes unbearably loud and averages at least 5 times as loud as before. My prescribed dosage is; OxycodoneIR 30mgs. 5xday, Perc. 5/325 up to 5xday for BT, and Naproxen 400mgs. up to 4xday. I'm taking the OxyIR due to the much lower cost...it's all I can afford right now but that could soon change (my wife's SSD hearing is on the 19th...cross fingers).
My question is; Do any of you have a similar problem with your meds increasing or causing Tinnitus? Anyone have some luck with changing Rxs? I've read that high doses of NSAIDS can cause this but my Doc assures me that I'm not taking enough to do that...what do y'all think? Thanks.............q
PS I am also Rx'ed: Cymbalta 60mgs. 1xday, Xanax 0.5mg. up to 4xday, and AdderallER 20mgs. 1xday. I am including this in case any of you think they might contribute to the problem...again, thanks.......q
May 4, 2009 - 1:02pm
#2
Insensitive Drs.
That sounds about right Randem. Docs can be pretty insensitive anyway (I guess they have to maintain a certain emotional distance from their patients), but they can be downright cruel when it comes to Tinnitus. I'd like to see how they felt with a million cicadas sawing away in their ears 24/7...that's how mine sounds when it's really bad...............q
May 4, 2009 - 3:15pm
#3
I have suffered from tinnitus
I have suffered from tinnitus for almost 20 years now (I'm currently 53).
I was scripted Valium 5mg twice per day for the tinnitus, ringing of the ears etc. It has worked out very well for me. The "ringing" has been cut in half...
BOL,
XXX
May 4, 2009 - 3:04pm
#4
my ears rings occasionally
but hyrocodone is the culprit, i have hearing loss in 1 ear has is, but at least the cicadias are echoing pharoah
May 4, 2009 - 4:57pm
#5
reply to xxx
You'd think Xanax would do the same thing since they're both benzodiazapenes, at least according to my "Drug Guide for Nurses". I've been taking Xanax occasionally for anxiety for 10 years now...do you think if I tell myself that they're now for Tinnitus as well as anxiety I could get away with it? Lord knows, I'm gullible enough. Thanks for the idea,you never know..................q
May 4, 2009 - 4:55pm
#6
I get the heavy duty ringing
I get the heavy duty ringing in my left ear several times per week with the occasional stabbing pain.
Funny thing about the doc saying you aren't taking enough to do that. We are all individual creatures with different body chemistries; you may be extremely sensitive to such medicine which may be causing the problems.
May 4, 2009 - 6:01pm
#7
I JUST TOOK HALF OF A 7.5
AN EARS BEEN RINGING FOR HALF-HOUR NOW THAT WAS 35 MINUTES AGO, I SAID THAT WAS 35 MINUTES AGO, I SAID THAT WAS 35 MINUTES AGO, I HATE GETTING OLD THE 2ND THING TO GO IS YOUR MEMORY, THEN THE 1ST THING TO GO IS YOUR MEMORY
May 4, 2009 - 6:47pm
#8
woodstock2009 lol
I've seen some of your funny post. You made me laugh.. I needed that.
TTYL Deanna
May 4, 2009 - 7:24pm
#9
Which ear woodstock?
Was it your ear of corn? I agree, love your sense of humor...keep it up my friend!
May 4, 2009 - 8:35pm
#10
I definitely notice a ringing
I definitely notice a ringing in my ears whenever my dose is upped on my medications or when my delayed digestion causes me to get a little bit higher of a dose than I'm used to. It's frustrating and my doctor said there's not really a hole lot that can be done about it. She said that the worst thing you can do is to focus on it because then it sounds louder than it is and is hard to get out of your mind. She wasn't trying to be rude or anything, just help because it is true. I notice when I think about it, the ringing definitely is louder and drives me crazy. As a matter of fact, pretty much anytime I am sitting in a quiet room if I think about it and listen for it I have a slight buzzing/ringing in my ears. Now that I've read this post I'm thinking about it too and can hear the slight ringing. It definitely started when I started on stronger opioids.
May 4, 2009 - 8:46pm
#11
There are numerous case
There are numerous case studies in which Hydrocodone & Acetaminophen have been shown to produce hearing loss
May 4, 2009 - 10:13pm
#12
Articles on Tinnitus
Thanks for the links Quahog. I'll be checking them out and that's a promise. There was a good article in "The New Yorker" 3 weeks or so back about Tinnitus but not too much on the connection with Oxy and NSAIDS, that's why I'm asking you wonderful people.
Kelly, your Doc was right on all counts. That article said that there's little that can be done about it and thinking about it only makes it worse. That makes writing about it the same thing as the Zen master telling his student, "Don't think about elephants." wouldn't you say?.................................q
May 5, 2009 - 12:52am
#13
what ca against elephants
i ve seen about every little thing , but i never seen a elephant fly, i ve seen a horse fly, i ve seen a house fly, an i even seen a dragon fly but i never seen a elephant fly, i ve seen a peanut stand, an heard a rubber band, an even seen a needle wink it s eye, yes i ve seen about every little thing but i never, no no never, i say no no no not never ever seen a elephant fly. there s just 1 of the lords beautiful creatures, I LUV ELEPHANTS, ESP. PINK ONES
May 5, 2009 - 7:41am
#14
Elephants
Well Woodstock, no wonder you flunked out of Zen school...just couldn't stop thinking 'bout them elephants, now could you?
I played in a rubber band once... as I recall, we were pretty snappy.
May 5, 2009 - 7:21pm
#15
I USED TO SING THAT TO OUR SECTION FOREMAN EVERYNITE
AT STARTING TIME AN AT QUITTING TIME IN THE COALMINE, HE COULD NT STAND THAT DISNEY TUNE
May 8, 2009 - 10:06pm
#16
Don't make me laugh
Workin' in the coal mine uh huh uh huh Yeah workin' in the coal mine uh huh uh hunh. You crack me up my friend, thanks!
August 22, 2009 - 8:09am
#17
My internist just referred me to an ENT dr
To test my hearing. I brought it up at my checkup this week. It being ringing in my ears & my "what? What?" "grumble, grumble, nevermind" problem. I hate missing out on what I can't hear!
But the thought of seeing yet another specialist bogs me down. Especially if there's not much to do about it. I'm going to bring it up to my PM at my "30 day" this coming week.
Q- has this improved since May?
August 22, 2009 - 11:15am
#18
Ringing in the ears
When I started seeing a PM doc - he said that that my tinnitus was due to the large amounts of advil that I was taking. I stopped it completely - and 90% of it is gone. Hope that helps a little.
August 22, 2009 - 12:06pm
#19
It's worse than ever, Miss P , , ,
Thanks for the tip, Wowza, but I don't use any NSAID besides Celebrex and I've found no correlation between it's use and my tinnitus. Miss P, I'm glad that you got your hearing checked, everyone seems to take that sense for granted, you'll really miss it when its gone though. In the last couple of months my tinnitus has changed from a more or less constant irritation to a 24 hour attack that is seemingly random. It's now so loud that I can't hear other people talk unless they shout at me. This also comes with, or perhaps causes, severe vertigo. I can't walk or even turn my head without getting nauseatingly dizzy. After 24-36 hours it subsides to an almost unnoticeable chime. It comes on upon awakening, which I find very strange because it doesn't wake me up, I just open my eyes and within 30 seconds, boom, there it is.
The noise is at the perceived decibel level of a very high pitched alarm, which is a constant . . . sudden head movement creates an even higher pitched and shockingly loud, brief blast. Fortunately, this only happens about once every ten days but it comes without warning. At first I thought it was caused by taking Xanax (0.5 mg) too late at night when I can't fall asleep. I have since ruled that out. I no longer have to take such a high dose of OxycodoneIR (200-280 mg p/d) as I'm now Rxed the 72 hr Fentanyl 100 mcg p/h patch. The change in pain meds did not coincide with the change in my tinnitus. I'm going to get my PCP to refer me to an ear Doc again and I'll post the results.
Does anyone else have any ideas? My Mom and one of my sisters drove 250 miles to visit us as well as my nephew's family here in the north of NM 2 weeks ago. I had to back out of the visit (they were only here for a night and a day) due to one of these attacks. I haven't seen my most wonderful Mom for over 2 years so that should give you an idea of the severity of this thing. I am absolutely laid low by it, I sure would appreciate any thoughts you pharmer pholks have, thanks . . .
Q
August 22, 2009 - 7:20pm
#20
She's your Mom
Mothers always know everything, and I'm sure she understands how sick her little boy is....
Ray
August 22, 2009 - 9:42pm
#21
MORPHINE SULFATE
is doing the ring -a-ding-dinging thing too, same as the hydro.
MissPriss: if you are working in a loud enviroment,an the ear Dr tells You that you have ait least 50% hearing loss in 1 or both ears or it totals to 50% you can file a claim with Workers Comp. an at 50% the miniumum disability claim is $9000.
if you live close to a noisy enviroment,an don t work you can contact a lawyer, an go from there.
WOODSTOCK
Ray s right MOM S know everything, she always found my brothers stash, but he was nt wrapped too tight, I was the 1st born I got the brains, He was left with toe jam in his head.
August 23, 2009 - 1:02pm
#22
Hey, Woodstock . . .
Where'd your bro keep his belly button lint 'n ear wax if his head was already full of toe jam? Yeah, Moms do know how much their kids hurt, that's why I was so disappointed in not being able to see her. I was completely incapacitated . . . I couldn't walk, talk, or hear. I wanted to make an effort but my sweet wife, A5, knows that if I over exert myself then it's 3-5 more days of bedrest to recover, so we put the kibosh on the whole deal. I'm about 75% back to where I was before this downward spiral began 6 weeks ago so we'll drive down to Las Cruces soon. Thank you guys sooo much for your concern, it sure means a lot to me, knowing that I have such wonderful, caring friends here on the pharm.
I'll be seeing my oncologist in a couple of weeks and I'm going to ask for an Rx for the Fentora fizzies for these sudden acute BTPs. I'm already on the 72 hr Fentanyl 100 mcg p/h patch with 15 mg OxycodoneIR prn for BTP but the Oxy takes too long to metabolize. I think that the delivery speed of Fentora might help to nip these pain spirals in the bud . . . what say you, Ray? Enjoy your Sunday, one and all . . .
Q
August 23, 2009 - 1:16pm
#23
Q if you get Fentora for bt
Q if you get Fentora for bt let us know how it works!!! Keep us posted on how things are going. Take care, htmom
August 23, 2009 - 8:30pm
#24
Hope you are feelin better
Hope you are feelin better Qman...you've been in my thoughts lately good friend
August 23, 2009 - 8:31pm
#25
Will do, Htmom. All of the
Will do, Htmom. All of the info that I've gotten already has been real positive. A couple of our regular posters were involved in the FDA trials and they both wrote me that the effervescent delivery system is indeed quick, as well as fun like the candy Fizzies . . . Q
August 23, 2009 - 11:47pm
#26
quincy
September 1, 2009 - 1:45am
#27
ringing in ears
my ringing sounds like I am in the middle of a swamp, chicadees, tree frogs, all kinds of tree critters , doc told me it was from listening to loud music when I was younger big help ps Im going on 60 in a few months
September 1, 2009 - 4:10am
#28
allgood, thanks for that
allgood, thanks for that link, I found it very fascinating and helpful. Had no idea it existed, just Actiq and Fentora.
September 1, 2009 - 11:39pm
#29
YEAH Laidback:
know where You coming from I m 51 , an rumor has it the locust from pharoahs plague song has got stuck in our oldtimer s heads
WOODSTOCK
November 1, 2009 - 12:07pm
#30
tinnitus and fentanyl
Have been on the fentanyl patch 50 mcg for one month because of a fusion seperation in my back, it works well but the day I put the patch on the ringing in my ears started. It has taken me this long to find out that it is caused from the patch, I knew it was but the doctor has told me it has nothing to do with it, there is no way this patch can cause ringing in the ears. I can deal with it now I know it is not dangerous but am mad that nobody could confirm that this was the cause. Does anyone know of anything that can help stop this #%^*! head full of crickets!
November 1, 2009 - 3:20pm
#31
WOW, KK . . . Q here,
That's a 180 from my take on Fentanyl. I was Rx'ed up to something like 450 mgs of OxycodoneIR daily before my oncologist and I decided that the ever accumulating side effects of the Oxy had to go. I did some intensive research and also talked/corresponded with a veteran Fentanyl user or two here on pharmer before I decided to switch to Fentanyl. I already had slightly annoying tinnitus due to genetically caused hearing loss, the Oxy amplified it by 2 magnitudes . . . almost unbearably LOUD. Once the Oxy was out of my system the ringing dropped back down to what it was before I ever needed to take an opioid analgesic. (I have CP caused by my cancer therapy, hence the pain meds.)
I'm 55, hearing loss and tinnitus of my type is quite normal for my age. Are you really a Kid? If so then, if possible, you might want to look into changing your controlled released pain med to MSContin or something similar. I will sing the praises of Fentanyl forever and a day but if your tinnitus is tres annoying, that's all I can suggest. I've done a lot of research on this problem, it's not dangerous, per se, but it is something that I would happily do without.
I posted this Topic about 6 weeks before I switched meds, that would be 5 months ago. The only time that my tinnitus gets louder is the last 6-12 hrs before "patch change" time. This doesn't happen every 3 days but it is definitely associated with a low serum level of Fentanyl. Good Luck and Best Wishes . . .
Q
November 3, 2009 - 7:02pm
#32
always...
oxycodone and oxymorphone alwayyysss make my ears ring. sometimes to the point that they are not worth the pain relief, though i have never questioned anyone about it, since pain is worse than ringing... though a remedy would be nice.
November 3, 2009 - 9:02pm
#33
I hear you, dnn628, barely . . .
Yeah, that's just like mine would get when I had to take so much Oxycodone. I sure am glad that my cancer Doc helped me to switch to Fentanyl . . . it doesn't increase my tinnitus at all. I also was keeping my mouth shut about it for the same reason as you, I thought that if I complained about the ringing they'd put me on something like Tramadol or Ultram . . . YUCK!!!
Q
November 3, 2009 - 11:32pm
#34
hah... well if you ever come
hah... well if you ever come back and see this...
you must have read my first post... i am prescribed tramadol... and its not worth the risk in seizures.... it does litttttttttlllllleeeeeeeee to nothing... more on the nothing side.... for my pain.
though i do want to hear about that new tramadol like medication that is more like an ssri instead of a cns depressant... or atleast thats how i understood it.
November 3, 2009 - 11:43pm
#35
meds
i feel for you. my mom suffered from this too.
did you ask your pharmacist to cross check your meds? do you also have high blood pressure or vertigo? any nausea? did you ever have a head injury or severe sinusitis?
do you sleep with your head elevated? do you use a masking device at night for sleep--music, humidifier, white noise, etc?
Prevention and Dr Weil's sites sometimes have good alternative solutions and if you have an oriental medicine clinic in your area, try them, too. i wish you all the best & take care.
November 9, 2009 - 10:50pm
#36
Good ideas all, backlashed . . .
The "first cause" of my tinnitus is geneticly driven and age increased (I'm 55) hearing loss so I'm SOL for curing it. However, backlashed, I do look for things to either avoid, ie NSAIDS, or palliative measures, like some of your suggestions. I have tried the ones you suggested above as well as the oriental, acupuncture type approaches. I guess my metabolism is dead set western style. What can I say, John Wayne and Gary Cooper are still my heros. lol I live in a very alternate type town, Santa Fe, and supposedly we have the best in the west for eastern approaches. I hope that someone has received relief from these ancient ways, they sure didn't work for me.
Hey, dnn628, I think the med that you're talking about is NuCynta. There's an extensive, Q filled (watch out!), thread Topic titled "A New Analgesic on the Market" on this banner. It was started by a certified pharmacist, NJRx. There's tons of NuCynta info on there, most of it negative. From what I found out, you're better off trying a tricyclic like Elavil/Amitryptiline which is, like NuCynta, a NON specific seratonin reuptake inhibitor and it's waaay cheaper. Good luck and best wishes, folks . . . Q
November 11, 2009 - 8:54pm
#37
My ears ring when I take
My ears ring when I take Percocet, but not codeine or any NSAIDs.
November 12, 2009 - 6:30pm
#38
The Percocet has
The Percocet has Acetominophen (Tylenol, an NSAID) in it. It's usually dosed in either a 5/325 or 10/650 combo with OxycodoneIR. That stuff makes my ears ring like mad, Ms. Freud (I love your tag!!!). Whenever you can, ask your Rx'ing physician if they would write your Rx for 5 mg OxycodoneIR tablets instead of the usual combos like Roxicet and Percocet. You would think that Drs. would be more aware of the health risks presented by Tylenol, wouldn't you? Good luck and best wishes, PF . . . Q
November 12, 2009 - 9:19pm
#39
I recently started Opana IR 10 QID
Due to Spondolothesis at L5S1 with pain and numbness in my leg. Was taking Percocet 10/325 5times a day. The percocet wasn't helping as much as my PMdoc would have liked so thus the Opana. About 3 weeks of taking it I have noticed crazy ringing in both ears. What? But it has helped with the pain. What? Lol
November 13, 2009 - 10:49am
#40
Thanks Quincy, I will
Thanks Quincy, I will certainly ask about that :) I don't find the ringing ears too unpleasant, but then again I don't take that kind of medication all the time like you have to :( so I would imagine that it would certainly become a bother if you have to deal with it constantly. It's still worth asking my doc about something without acetaminophen, though; I do have some liver problems and I'd really rather not put any more strain on it than I have to.
The weird thing is that if I were to take just plain ol' acetaminophen (or naproxen or whatever else,) my ears do not ring. They've only ever done that with Percocet- the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen together. It's really strange.
November 17, 2009 - 11:57am
#41
Hi you Two
Moonbeam, are you saying that you aren't getting any pain relief from the Opana? I've never used it sorry I can't help you there. This ringing stinks!
PinkFreud, yeah, the combo really ups the tinnitus, huh? All of the studies that I've read say the same thing so work on your Dr. It's not like you're asking for an increase in dosage or something like that!
Well, it's off to the Cancer Care Center for my #120 Fentora 400 mcg Rx, only $2,890 at your neighborhood Walgreen's.
Q
Just laughed at me when i told him my ears ring off the hook so i left it at that.