Tinnitus Worsened After Benadryl — 3 Weeks In... And Now Starting to Worry a Bit

Hey... great to see a forum for this. I've had some sporadic tinnitus over my 44 years of life... usually just enough where I can tell it's there... then it's gone or I forget about it.

For the first time 3 weeks ago I started taking Benadryl for a reaction to some food that gave me a little redness and fluid retention/oedema. Anyway that went away in 1 day... but this new wonder pill Benadryl had a wonderful side effect... I slept better that night than I had in months or years... I took it the next night and that was 2 nights in a row of deep restful 8+ hours... I felt great.

A week later with Benadryl I started noticing the very minor ringing in my ears, didn't think much of it... a week ago it was getting worse... and a couple nights ago when it was really obvious it was getting much worse I finally linked the two. I don't really take any type of drug and not around loud noises. I did the Dr. Google thing and found lots of links and it looks like it's got to be the culprit.

Anyway... so I'm here now perusing the forums hoping to find some answers. I stopped the Benadryl of course the moment the light went on and I figured it out. The ringing is as loud as I've ever heard it right now. It went from a week ago where I'd only hear it when it was pretty quiet to now where I can hear it over/with most noises. It's not to the point of being debilitating but it's definitely super annoying if I focus on it. Right now when it's fairly quiet it sounds like an old tv on channel with nothing/static.. and add a super high pitch frequency. I could imagine if it got much worse and was permanent I'm not sure how I would react. At the moment I'm hoping now that I've stopped taking the Benadryl it will go away as fast as it came on. If it a week from now it's just as bad or worse I'll start to panic.

I'm going to continue to peruse the posts on the website. If anyone has any ideas/opinions/or similar situations I'd appreciate the input. The only thing I've read that I may consider soon is some acupuncture. I've never been sold on them but I've read quite a few posts on forums where it's reduced it dramatically.

Anyway, thanks to everyone and there input on these forums.
Bill

 

That's so strange. I definitely understand the fear of it getting worse though, as mine varies. In the beginning, I was having trouble sleeping, and I took benadryl to help knock me out. I noticed when I took it it also seemed to make the ringing go away. Later when I went to the doctor, I was told allergies could be a factor in my tinnitus, so it makes sense that an allergy pill would help. Though the doctor recommended nasal spray. But for the kind of ringing I have, he said stress, allergies, and dehydration usually worsen it. It's so hard not to stress when you can't sleep though. I hope things improve for you,

Morgan.

 

David did it go back down? i just linked my terrible spike with ZZZquil and was wondering if it will subside?

 

I am a moron. I'm taking the drug free zzzquil. My spike was most assuredly from seeing the new Star Wars with Alpine Party Plugs whits filter ear plugs in. Should have protected more and probably the beer during the movie didn't help as it causes and auditory thresh hold shift. Spike has gone away now. Lasted 2 weeks. I will not be taking the other kind of zzquil or benadryl now though thanks to this thread.

 

I read that Benadryl isn’t really known to be ototoxic.

Could also be a coincidence! Were you exposed to loud noises before your spike?

 

Hello David. Did your tinnitus improve over time?

BR Petter