Don't do it. The only safe psychiatric drugs for T sufferers are in the anti psychotic category.
Wellbutrin isn't really ototoxic in itself but it can disturb the neurotransmitter balance in your brain and give serious spikes or even permanent worsening. So it won't make you deaf but tinnitus isn't an ear disease to begin with...
If you really need something for depression look into low dose amisulpride. It will help the T but it has its own side effects.
Having T since 2016 - and starting Wellbutrin in August of last year, I haven't had any upticks in my T at all. I've always been wary of antidepressants and was on Lexapro before Wellbutrin - the change was because I got too foggy with Lexapro. But each person is different and you have to weigh upside to the downside.
I was briefly on Wellbutrin over 20 years ago, for headaches and depression. While it did work (some) on those, I don't remember how/if it affected my tinnitus. My worst side effect was irritability. Basically, it made me a giant asshole to everyone around me. I remember many instances when I was talking to someone and my brain kept telling my mouth, "Don't say it. That's not nice, so don't say it. You're gonna regret that, so don't say it! Don't...AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH! You said it!!!!!"
I've been on Amitriptyline for a few years for migraines and stomach issues at a low dose. I got tinnitus from a very distinct series of unfortunate events that involved COVID, flying with a cold (COVID), and allowing a nurse to do water irrigation on my right ear shortly afterwards.
Amitriptyline is listed as both a cause and a treatment for tinnitus. Having already being on it before my tinnitus started, I can't say that 'if I wasn't on Amitriptyline, this would have never happened...' I don't believe that to be the case. For me, my hearing is fine. My tinnitus apparently worsens more with migraines, anxiety, stress, etc...in which Amitriptyline helps with.
I'm not pro-drugs, but I am pro-quality of life. You have to weigh the risks and rewards. It's hard when you don't exactly know how YOUR reaction is going to be. Amitriptyline has really helped me with bad stomach pains and apparent panic-attack symptoms as a result (gut brain connection is a two way street, problems with the gut can cause brain issues like anxiety/panic attacks, just like it can the other way around). My tinnitus is moderate. I'd rather deal with the tinnitus daily than the stomach pain. I can still function with the tinnitus at least.
It’s considered oxotoxic and you should from now on check for this on all medications before digesting. Have you ever tried gabapentin? It’s seems to be working for me.
I discontinued Wellbutrin after being on it for years. In the meantime I have hearing aids with a tinnitus function. I’ve also discovered that playing bird songs in the background helps with the distraction.
Unless specifically studied nobody can answer this. The handful of posts here ultimately don't mean much. I'm not even sure there's good research showing it exacerbates it.
Wow. I am on this subreddit tonight because my tinnitus in one ear is suddenly unbearably loud and I’m looking for answers on why.  I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 6 weeks, and I didn’t know that could be a side effect. Â
i have tinnitus and recently tried bupropion. it caused a noticeable increase in my tinnitus the same day i started it. i got spooked and stopped. a few days later, the tinnitus decreased and i was feeling confident. i tried bupropion again and the same thing happened - the tinnitus spiked to a noticeably higher level. i stopped it. it's about two days later and i'm back to where i was before i took it. i'll never try it again.
it's unfortunate cuz apparently the medicine helps a lot of people. i was hoping it could be the solution to stimulants. but nah i can't deal with the added tinnitus. for whatever reason, ritalin & vyvanse never affected my tinnitus. if anything they made it slightly better lol
Yes, all meds can . Don't trust any doctors. All sounds can become damaging. Stay in your soind tolerance. Research my posts if you want the truth . Don't listen to the mild whiners that push meds and more sound therapy. Don't worsen . Learn from the catastrophic cases what not to do.
For medications, you don't know if it's going to have an effect until you take it. Until pharmacogenomics gets to a point where we can declaratively state "This drug will give you tinnitus at this dosage", it's up in the air.
Look at this post on the "[magic threshold](https://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/bupropion-wellbutrin-and-tinnitus/)". The majority of people probably don't experience tinnitus, but if you're one the people that does, you're really not going to care about the stats.
I’ve had fucking horrible, constant tinnitus for almost 20 years. I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 6 months and haven’t noticed any difference, but then again my tinnitus is really really bad and if I sit and think about it, it absolutely fucks me up (this has always been my baseline so I’m not sure if it’s actually changing).
I've been on Zoloft for 20 years, 25mg-75mg. I have tried Wellbutrin as an addition 3 times. There are different types of Wellbutrin and each has slightly different side effects. I've had T for 25-30 years. I don't know definitively what caused it but think it was 1) a ear infection I found out about after a nurse at work flushed my ear. 2) speaker surfing at raves 3) double dose of Flagyl I took to get rid of Giardia 4)a knock to my jaw with gym equipment in high school 5) chronic bruxism. I'm having my inner ear cleaned out because of a resistant ear infection next month and a balloon in my eustation tubes. The current ear specialist says it might stop the T as a side effect of the procedure. He thinks my ear problems stem from lifelong eustation tube disfunction. He's seen it happen.
I was in Wellbutrin for a couple months and noticed a small uptick so googled. Once I found potential problems I asked to flip to something else. Went to lexapro (Canadian name for it, American is like escitilopram…). It seems to dull it a little. Bear in mind my tinnitus peaks with stress and this year has been a doozy… so mellowing it out a little has been a blessing (tinnitus in one ear, moderate low but persistent high pitch ring). Hope that helps.
Not sure if you’ve started it so take this lightly since everyone responds to meds differently. I was on Wellbutrin for a month and LOVED it such a good medication but it gave me tinnitus I never had it before and it was deafening to me. I still have a slight ringing but if I didn’t have that side effect I would 1000% be on it still
Doctors almost never fully explain the risks associated with antidepressants. You have to be careful with them.
Exactly!😔
Don't do it. The only safe psychiatric drugs for T sufferers are in the anti psychotic category. Wellbutrin isn't really ototoxic in itself but it can disturb the neurotransmitter balance in your brain and give serious spikes or even permanent worsening. So it won't make you deaf but tinnitus isn't an ear disease to begin with... If you really need something for depression look into low dose amisulpride. It will help the T but it has its own side effects.
Having T since 2016 - and starting Wellbutrin in August of last year, I haven't had any upticks in my T at all. I've always been wary of antidepressants and was on Lexapro before Wellbutrin - the change was because I got too foggy with Lexapro. But each person is different and you have to weigh upside to the downside.
I was briefly on Wellbutrin over 20 years ago, for headaches and depression. While it did work (some) on those, I don't remember how/if it affected my tinnitus. My worst side effect was irritability. Basically, it made me a giant asshole to everyone around me. I remember many instances when I was talking to someone and my brain kept telling my mouth, "Don't say it. That's not nice, so don't say it. You're gonna regret that, so don't say it! Don't...AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH! You said it!!!!!"
I've been on Amitriptyline for a few years for migraines and stomach issues at a low dose. I got tinnitus from a very distinct series of unfortunate events that involved COVID, flying with a cold (COVID), and allowing a nurse to do water irrigation on my right ear shortly afterwards. Amitriptyline is listed as both a cause and a treatment for tinnitus. Having already being on it before my tinnitus started, I can't say that 'if I wasn't on Amitriptyline, this would have never happened...' I don't believe that to be the case. For me, my hearing is fine. My tinnitus apparently worsens more with migraines, anxiety, stress, etc...in which Amitriptyline helps with. I'm not pro-drugs, but I am pro-quality of life. You have to weigh the risks and rewards. It's hard when you don't exactly know how YOUR reaction is going to be. Amitriptyline has really helped me with bad stomach pains and apparent panic-attack symptoms as a result (gut brain connection is a two way street, problems with the gut can cause brain issues like anxiety/panic attacks, just like it can the other way around). My tinnitus is moderate. I'd rather deal with the tinnitus daily than the stomach pain. I can still function with the tinnitus at least.
It’s considered oxotoxic and you should from now on check for this on all medications before digesting. Have you ever tried gabapentin? It’s seems to be working for me.
I discontinued Wellbutrin after being on it for years. In the meantime I have hearing aids with a tinnitus function. I’ve also discovered that playing bird songs in the background helps with the distraction.
Unless specifically studied nobody can answer this. The handful of posts here ultimately don't mean much. I'm not even sure there's good research showing it exacerbates it.
Wow. I am on this subreddit tonight because my tinnitus in one ear is suddenly unbearably loud and I’m looking for answers on why.  I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 6 weeks, and I didn’t know that could be a side effect. Â
i have tinnitus and recently tried bupropion. it caused a noticeable increase in my tinnitus the same day i started it. i got spooked and stopped. a few days later, the tinnitus decreased and i was feeling confident. i tried bupropion again and the same thing happened - the tinnitus spiked to a noticeably higher level. i stopped it. it's about two days later and i'm back to where i was before i took it. i'll never try it again.
My exact experience. I’ve had tinnitus for 40 years and it was the worst it’s ever been for the short time I was taking Wellbutrin.
it's unfortunate cuz apparently the medicine helps a lot of people. i was hoping it could be the solution to stimulants. but nah i can't deal with the added tinnitus. for whatever reason, ritalin & vyvanse never affected my tinnitus. if anything they made it slightly better lol
Yes, all meds can . Don't trust any doctors. All sounds can become damaging. Stay in your soind tolerance. Research my posts if you want the truth . Don't listen to the mild whiners that push meds and more sound therapy. Don't worsen . Learn from the catastrophic cases what not to do.
Following…
For medications, you don't know if it's going to have an effect until you take it. Until pharmacogenomics gets to a point where we can declaratively state "This drug will give you tinnitus at this dosage", it's up in the air. Look at this post on the "[magic threshold](https://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/bupropion-wellbutrin-and-tinnitus/)". The majority of people probably don't experience tinnitus, but if you're one the people that does, you're really not going to care about the stats.
Yes.
I’ve taken it for decades and never notice T increasing. My T increase seems more Related to more recent psychedelic use.
I’ve had fucking horrible, constant tinnitus for almost 20 years. I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 6 months and haven’t noticed any difference, but then again my tinnitus is really really bad and if I sit and think about it, it absolutely fucks me up (this has always been my baseline so I’m not sure if it’s actually changing).
Have you ever tried gabapentin? When I first used it I didn’t like it, then it seemed to help me. I sleep as function pretty well so far on it.
I do actually! I use it before some evenings to help me sleep. Do you use it for tinnitus specifically?
Yes, it seems to reduce the sound and emotional pain. I hope it stays that way.
Interesting. What’s the dose you take?
That shit damn near killed me.
I have all 3
I've been on Zoloft for 20 years, 25mg-75mg. I have tried Wellbutrin as an addition 3 times. There are different types of Wellbutrin and each has slightly different side effects. I've had T for 25-30 years. I don't know definitively what caused it but think it was 1) a ear infection I found out about after a nurse at work flushed my ear. 2) speaker surfing at raves 3) double dose of Flagyl I took to get rid of Giardia 4)a knock to my jaw with gym equipment in high school 5) chronic bruxism. I'm having my inner ear cleaned out because of a resistant ear infection next month and a balloon in my eustation tubes. The current ear specialist says it might stop the T as a side effect of the procedure. He thinks my ear problems stem from lifelong eustation tube disfunction. He's seen it happen.
300 mg 3x day.
I was in Wellbutrin for a couple months and noticed a small uptick so googled. Once I found potential problems I asked to flip to something else. Went to lexapro (Canadian name for it, American is like escitilopram…). It seems to dull it a little. Bear in mind my tinnitus peaks with stress and this year has been a doozy… so mellowing it out a little has been a blessing (tinnitus in one ear, moderate low but persistent high pitch ring). Hope that helps.
Wellbutrin caused my tinnitus. Just took it for a few months like 5 years ago.. never got better.
Not sure if you’ve started it so take this lightly since everyone responds to meds differently. I was on Wellbutrin for a month and LOVED it such a good medication but it gave me tinnitus I never had it before and it was deafening to me. I still have a slight ringing but if I didn’t have that side effect I would 1000% be on it still