Can Guanfacine Make Tinnitus Worse?

[dd314]

I need to take something for my Covid-induced dysautonomia and POTS, and Guanfacine looks like the one.

The problem is it can cause cause low blood pressure for some people, so I'm worried about that affecting tinnitus.

Does anyone here take it?

 

[dd314]

Dr. Dirk de Ridder prescribes this medication for some of his patients. I think it would be good for the community to have a larger sample size for this survey. It's a pretty common ADHD drug.

 

[Tomba]

Guanfacine reduces the heart rate and blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure has been known to cause tinnitus flare-ups. So, Guanfacine can only help, IMO.

 

[dd314]

Guanfacine reduces the heart rate and blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure has been known to cause tinnitus flare-ups. So, Guanfacine can only help, IMO.

A lot of these high blood pressure drugs can overcorrect enough to give you hypotension, which can also cause tinnitus; ears are just sensitive to fluctuations in blood flow in general. Guanfacine is also an HCN modulator/closer and HCN channels are suspected to have a role in tinnitus.

 

[dd314]

It's between this and a beta-blocker for me. It would be great if drug surveys on Tinnitus Talk had a larger sample size given the size of this community. I know it's a crap shoot, but some drugs have a much higher probability of causing tinnitus.

 

[Nick47]

It would be great if drug surveys on Tinnitus Talk had a larger sample size given the size of this community. I know it's a crap shoot, but some drugs have a much higher probability of causing tinnitus.

I've often thought about this. For each treatment thread, a pop-up reminder to enter your experience. We don't need a box for not having tried, though; there is nothing to learn from that.

Do they call it crowd-sensing or something?

 

[KellenDryce]

A new random data point: I just started taking the extended-release version of Intuniv (Guanfacine), only 1 mg per day, so a low dose.

My tinnitus resulted from acoustic trauma in my right ear, and I experienced Ménière's-like symptoms for several months afterward, though without vertigo.

Surprisingly, after four days on this medication, I've had no tinnitus exacerbation. Out of the eight blood pressure medications I've tried, this is only the second one I've been able to tolerate. Losartan, Telmisartan, Enalapril, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Indapamide all increased my tinnitus to two to four times its baseline level. Lisinopril caused brain fog and concentration issues.

It's working so well that I'm already having to cut back on Benazepril, and I haven't even titrated up to a standard dose yet.

 

[KellenDryce]

Over three weeks later, and still no tinnitus exacerbation.

 

[dd314]

A new random data point: I just started taking the extended-release version of Intuniv (Guanfacine), only 1 mg per day, so a low dose.

My tinnitus resulted from acoustic trauma in my right ear, and I experienced Ménière's-like symptoms for several months afterward, though without vertigo.

Surprisingly, after four days on this medication, I've had no tinnitus exacerbation. Out of the eight blood pressure medications I've tried, this is only the second one I've been able to tolerate. Losartan, Telmisartan, Enalapril, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Indapamide all increased my tinnitus to two to four times its baseline level. Lisinopril caused brain fog and concentration issues.

It's working so well that I'm already having to cut back on Benazepril, and I haven't even titrated up to a standard dose yet.

That's great! Thanks for contributing your experience.

 

[KellenDryce]

That's great! Thanks for contributing your experience.

Dose has increased to 2 mg, with no exacerbation so far.

It causes a very annoying daytime drowsiness for about a week, but it is well worth considering for people navigating the difficult landscape of blood pressure medications. It also provides some help with impulsivity and anxiety.