Can celexa cause tinnitus?

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Can celexa cause tinnitus?”. Celexa is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. This antidepressant is associated with a number of side effects ranging from mild to severe. 

Some of the side effects are quite common, while others are rare. This blog will cover the possibility of celexa causing tinnitus and what could be done to get rid of it. 

Can celexa cause tinnitus? 

Yes, celexa can cause tinnitus in some individuals. However, this is a rare side effect and other underlying factors can contribute to the progression of tinnitus. Some people have reported it just after 3 weeks of treatment with celexa. 

Mild ringing in the ears usually subsides on its own, but sometimes it causes serious disturbance and you might need to discontinue your treatment with celexa, in order to get rid of tinnitus. 

Tinnitus is characterised as a sensation of ringing ears. You hear some kind of a sound in your ears like ringing, ticking, clicking, buzzing or whistling. 

You could either hear them continuously or after short intervals. This condition gets pretty disturbing when you’re trying to sleep in a silent, peaceful room. Tinnitus affects a lot of people annually. It has different causes and different severity levels. 

It could be a symptom of some underlying health condition or a side effect of certain medication. Drugs which cause tinnitus, hearing loss or different ear/hearing related side effects are known as ototoxic drugs. 

How does celexa produce tinnitus? 

Celexa, brand name for Citalopram, belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants inhibit the reuptake of serotonin from synaptic cleft. 

This increased amount of serotonin, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter, has multiple effects on your body and brain. 

It can cause hyperactivity of nerve cells which support hearing and can make you feel like you’re constantly listening to some ringing, ticking, or buzzing etc. 

In some cases, tinnitus begins as a symptom of celexa withdrawal after stopping celexa abruptly. It is also seen in people who tapered off celexa after a long duration of treatment. 

How can you get rid of celexa induced tinnitus? 

There are a few you can do to help relieve the symptoms of tinnitus. These include:

Talk to your doctor

The first thing to do is to let your doctor know about your side effects. If it is mild, it is usually advised to not do anything about it as it will begin to subside on its own. If it’s not, then your doctor looks forward to making a move. 

The first approach to get rid of tinnitus is to stop using the culprit medicine, which in this case is Celexa. If your tinnitus causes serious difficulty, it most likely indicates that your antidepressant doesn’t suit you and it’s time to change it. 

After discontinuation of depression treatment with celexa, tinnitus begins to subside within 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure you taper off celexa properly in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. 

Noise cancelling devices

It is difficult to treat tinnitus itself. The best approach is to deal with the underlying condition that causes it in the first place, but your doctor may recommend some noise cancelling device to tone down ringing in your ears. 

This really helps to relieve some of the symptoms and irritability that comes with them.. 

Get your earwax removed 

You can try removing your earwax. Clearing up your ears can sometimes reduce the symptoms of tinnitus, as the built-up wax adds pressure to your ear canal and makes you hear unwanted rigning sounds. 

Therapies for tinnitus 

There are no known medications to treat tinnitus but several therapies are available to help reduce the symptoms. 

For people who can’t seem to get away with it, therapies like Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are used to learn how to cope with tinnitus. 

Cut back on excessive caffeine and alcohol 

Make sure you don’t use any such thing that can contribute to your tinnitus. Limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine, as they can have an impact on your already existing tinnitus. 

What other medications can cause tinnitus? 

Tinnitus could be a side effect of your celexa but use of some other medications are more common causes of tinnitus. Such meds include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin can cause tinnitus. This is more common when you’re taking a high dose of these drugs. 

Do not use these for a longer period of time as they not only cause ototoxicity but can also cause several other side effects like gastric pain, diarrhoea, acid reflux, etc. 

They are also not recommended to use concomitantly with celexa, as the combination may increase the risk of bleeding. 

Antibiotics 

Antibiotics are antibacterial agents which are used to treat moderate to severe kinds of bacterial infections. These agents are known to cause tinnitus, including azithromycin, tobramycin, clarithromycin, gentamicin, streptomycin etc. 

These drugs are well known for producing ototoxicity, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Fluoroquinolones (moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin) can also cause tinnitus. 

High ceiling loop diuretics

Diuretics are used to remove excess sodium and water from your body. This class of diuretics include the most commonly used med, furosemide (lasix). They can cause tinnitus and loss of hearing. 

Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers are antihypertensives. They are also used to manage cardiac activity in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). These agents are also known to produce tinnitus or ringing in the ears. 

Make sure you’re not using any one of the above mentioned drugs along with celexa, which might enhance your tinnitus. Always talk to your healthcare provider if you have to take multiple medications at the same time. Some medications are incompatible with one another.

They cancel out each other’s beneficial effects and cause even more side effects. Drug-drug interaction is a serious issue. It’s better to check if your medicines are safe to take concomitantly. 

What other health conditions and factors can contribute to your tinnitus?

Following health conditions can either cause or make your existing tinnitus even more worse: 

Ear infections

Ear infections can make you hear ringing in your ears. The infection usually causes buildup of pus or fluid in your ear canal which blocks it. The blockage creates pressure and you start experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus. 

In some cases, the accumulation of earwax can block ear canals which can result in tinnitus. This is exactly why it is recommended to opt for suitable earwax removal techniques which might help relieve the symptoms of tinnitus. 

Age

Age has a great impact on the occurrence of tinnitus. Geriatric population is more susceptible to celexa induced tinnitus, and tinnitus in general, because their tiny hair cells, which are important to receive sound waves, are either broken or damaged. This causes tinnitus. 

Injuries 

Brain injuries can often cause tinnitus by damaging nerves which are linked to the function of ears. Neck or direct ear injuries can also make you hear a constant ringing in your ears. This most commonly happens when some injury damages your eardrums. 

When to call your doctor

Reach out to your healthcare provider if:

• You keep hearing loud ringing, buzzing or ticking in your ears. 
• You feel some kind of pain or pressure in your ears
• You stay up all night because of your tinnitus symptoms 
• You feel like your hearing ability is declining 
• You get fever with chills
• You experience burning sensation tight after taking your celexa. 
• You experience unexplained weight gain or loss 
• You experience any other unusual side effects.

What are the additional side effects of celexa? 

The most common side effects of celexa include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea or Constipation 
• Acid reflux or heartburn 
• Abdominal pain 
• Loss of appetite 
• Weight gain or loss 
• Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis) 
• Frequent urination 
• Polydipsia or excessive thirst
• Tremors 
• Muscle twitching and pain
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness 
• Excessive tiredness or fatigue 
• Insomnia or inability to fall asleep 
• Xerostomia or dry mouth 
• Dysmenorrhea or heavy periods
• Flu like symptoms including irritation in eyes and runny nose
• Loss of libido in both male and females. Males may suffer from inability to release, while females may suffer from inability to have a climactic experience. 

Conclusion 

In this blog, we learned about celexa induced tinnitus. Tinnitus is characterised as a sensation of ringing ears. You hear some kind of a sound in your ears like ringing, ticking, clicking, buzzing or whistling. You could either hear them continuously or after short intervals.

Celexa induced tinnitus, if mild, usually goes away in 3 to 4 weeks of treatment. For some people, it can take much longer, up to 4 to 5 months, but extreme ringing in the ears indicates that you need to stop your antidepressant as it’s not the right choice for you. 

Common side effects are expected from antidepressant treatment but if it is disabling, it indicates you need to switch to another medication. In case of tinnitus, it gradually starts to fade away after discontinuing the treatment with celexa. 

Make sure you don’t stop your med cold turkey. You need to follow a proper taper schedule to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

FAQs: celexa tinnitus

Does Celexa cause ringing in the ears?

Yes, celexa can cause tinnitus or ringing in ears in some individuals. However, this is a rare side effect and other underlying factors can contribute to the progression of tinnitus. Some people have reported it just after 3 weeks of treatment with celexa. Mild ringing in the ears usually subsides on its own, but sometimes it causes serious disturbance and you might need to discontinue your treatment with celexa, in order to get rid of tinnitus. 

Does tinnitus from SSRI go away?

SSRIs induced tinnitus start to go away within 2 to 3 weeks, if it is mild and manageable. Severe tinnitus require discontinuation of treatment to go away, for good. 

Which antidepressant is best for tinnitus?

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can be used to help relieve the symptoms of tinnitus in people suffering from mental health conditions associated with ringing in the ears. Some studies indicate that SSRIs might also be used, but the results are inconclusive. 

Can tinnitus go away if you quit your antidepressants?

Yes, if your antidepressant is the one causing it. In this case, the first approach is to stop using your antidepressant. If your tinnitus causes serious difficulty, it most likely indicates that your antidepressant doesn’t suit you and it’s time to change it. 

After discontinuation of depression treatment with antidepressant, tinnitus begins to subside within 2 to 3 weeks. 

Why do SSRIs cause tinnitus?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are the class of antidepressants which inhibits the reuptake of serotonin from synaptic cleft. This increased amount of serotonin, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter, has multiple effects on your body and brain. 

It can cause hyperactivity of nerve cells which support hearing and can make you feel like you’re constantly listening to some ringing, ticking, or buzzing etc. 

Can antidepressants cause permanent tinnitus?

No, antidepressants don’t cause permanent tinnitus and not all antidepressants can produce this side effect. If you’re experiencing antidepressant induced tinnitus, inform your healthcare provider. If it is mild, it might go away on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. 

If it is severe, you may have to change your antidepressant as it clearly isn’t the right choice for you. Do not change or stop your antidepressant without your doctor’s approval. 

References 

• American Academy Of Audiology – SSRI and Tinnitus https://www.audiology.org/ssri-and-tinnitus/
• Robert L Folmer et al. Ear Nose Throat J. (2004) – SSRI use by tinnitus patients: interactions between depression and tinnitus severity https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15008444/
• Jane Clewes, MA – A Case Report of Onset of Tinnitus Following Discontinuation of Antidepressant and a Review of the Literature https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357564/
• R N Golden et al. Arch Intern Med. (1994) – Antidepressants and tinnitus https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8002694/
• Zheng-Quan Tang, Laurence O. Trussell (2017) – Serotonergic Modulation of Sensory Representation in a Central Multisensory Circuit Is Pathway Specific https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(17)31098-7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2211124717310987%3Fshowall%3Dtrue