If you take antidepressant medication in the class of drugs known as “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors” (SSRIs) and experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears), you should know that your medication might be making your tinnitus worse. The irony of this link between SSRIs and worsening tinnitus is that previous research indicates that people with tinnitus are at increased risk of developing depression, in which case SSRIs may be prescribed. The link between the antidepressants and ringing in the ears may have to do with the fact that cells in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), which is the region of the brain involved in sensory processing and affected by tinnitus, become hypersensitive to sound with exposure to serotonin.
P.S. To avoid any possible vicious circle between SSRIs and tinnitus, it may be best to treat tinnitus with a hearing instrument or sound generator device.
One of the most important services we provide is helping our patients comprehend their hearing impairments and become aware of the products available to help improve their quality of living. We are committed to serving the needs of the hearing impaired. Can we help you? Let’s start with a hearing test and evaluation at EAR & HEARING CLINIC. Then we’ll show you the amazing, revolutionary hearing instruments available today including Lyric, the world’s only 100% invisible, extended wear hearing device that can be worn 24/7 for months at a time. “Hear the Sounds of Life.”
