ED drugs and tinnitus - HORRIBLE experience!

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Tinnitus is a neurological problem secondary to physical damage. Its incredibly complex.
OP here:

In my case, this is correct. My hearing is above average for my age. After seeing several specialists they theorize Levitra damaged my "reticular formation". The reticular formation resides in your brain stem. You can search for a full description.

What surprised me most was that many of the medical specialists I saw told me that ED drugs pose serious risks to one's hearing and vision. One doctor even told me, "You're fortunate it didn't blind you." Yeah, really.

I used to follow the American Tinnitus Association forum. One night when I was really struggling I got onto the forum and found the top two subjects were people considering suicide. That was the last time I visited the site. I couldn't have my thoughts validated! ATA is helpful and has a lot of information, but not that night...

Early on I went to a tinnitus support group in Los Altos, CA. I was one of about 8 or 10 people who were suffering from severe tinnitus. Two images still haunt me. 1) There was this young Indian high tech engineer who woke up with it one night. His despair was so deep he couldn't even sit still in his chair and not make wincing faces. Having done that kind of work, I remember thinking his career was done. 2) I sat next to someone's beautiful trophy wife. After the meeting she followed me out to my car. She had to talk to someone. Her wide-eyed look still haunts me. It looked like she was a survivor of some kind of unimaginable human tragedy. Her eyes, I'll never forget the look in her eyes. I wonder if she's still alive. I'm not exaggerating.

As I said in my original message, my tinnitus is the loudest sound I hear. It's louder than speeding down Peachy Canyon Road at 40mph on my bicycle. It's louder than our Honda Element driving at 75mph on coarse pavement into a strong headwind. My tinnitus is like this 24x7x365, even in a silent room. But fortunately I am able to sleep without difficulty. This is a godsend. That said, there are times I lay there waiting to fall asleep, absolutely MORTIFIED at my situation. Even three years later I still have a hard time believing it.

Lastly, I do not think ED drugs should be taken off the market. They serve a useful purpose. However, if you do take one these drugs go slow, very slow. At the slightest hint of any side effects, especially hearing and/or vision, stop taking it immediately.

Scott
 
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OP here:

In my case, this is correct. My hearing is above average for my age. After seeing several specialists they theorize Levitra damaged my "reticular formation". The reticular formation resides in your brain stem. You can search for a full description.

What surprised me most was that many of the medical specialists I saw told me that ED drugs pose serious risks to one's hearing and vision. One doctor even told me, "You're fortunate it didn't blind you." Yeah, really.

I used to follow the American Tinnitus Association forum. One night when I was really struggling I got onto the forum and found the top two subjects were people considering suicide. That was the last time I visited the site. I couldn't have my thoughts validated! ATA is helpful and has a lot of information, but not that night...

Early on I went to a tinnitus support group in Los Altos, CA. I was one of about 8 or 10 people who were suffering from severe tinnitus. Two images still haunt me. 1) There was this young Indian high tech engineer who woke up with it one night. His despair was so deep he couldn't even sit still in his chair and not make wincing faces. Having done that kind of work, I remember thinking his career was done. 2) I sat next to someone's beautiful trophy wife. After the meeting she followed me out to my car. She had to talk to someone. Her wide-eyed look still haunts me. It looked like she was a survivor of some kind of unimaginable human tragedy. Her eyes, I'll never forget the look in her eyes. I wonder if she's still alive. I'm not exaggerating.

As I said in my original message, my tinnitus is the loudest sound I hear. It's louder than speeding down Peachy Canyon Road at 40mph on my bicycle. It's louder than our Honda Element driving at 75mph on coarse pavement into a strong headwind. My tinnitus is like this 24x7x365, even in a silent room. But fortunately I am able to sleep without difficulty. This is a godsend. That said, there are times I lay there waiting to fall asleep, absolutely MORTIFIED at my situation. Even three years later I still have a hard time believing it.

Lastly, I do not think ED drugs should be taken off the market. They serve a useful purpose. However, if you do take one these drugs go slow, very slow. At the slightest hint of any side effects, especially hearing and/or vision, stop taking it immediately.

Scott
You have a pretty profound case. I presume you've had an audiologist perform a test? Did you have any notches in the 6khz range, if so?

*I am not an audiologist, nor do I play one on TV.

Yes, tinnitus can have a profound and bad effect on the psyche. I'm very glad you are managing it better than many. Yes, it can lead to the things you spoke to. It's very sad and frustrating.

My tinnitus is always background noise present, secondary to multiple acoustic traumas, with resulting notches at around 6khz.
 
Scott,

I am sorry to hear of the onset of tinnitus.

December 3rd marked the 3 year anniversary of an injury to my right ear. A squirrel ran across the road in front of my car while driving and one of my two dogs saw the squirrel, got excited and let out a piercing high pitched bark. My right ear has tinnitus now. For just over three years, the loudest sound that I hear in a quiet environment is my right ear “hearing” what sounds like a test tone.

When I get tired, the tinnitus develops a warbling frequency sweep that can just about drive me crazy. It took me quite a few months to get used to the tinnitus, but I am able to fall asleep and get rest.

I tried drinking to help me sleep. It didn’t work. I just felt like I was hung over after drinking and not getting good sleep. I went through a self destructive phase that ultimately caused a couple of hospital visits. Bad diet and drinking contributed to pancreatitis a few times.

I finally learned that I just need to eat healthy food, stop drinking, start exercising and get good rest. I am fortunate to have a very understanding wife and had to learn that I had to take charge of my health. Doctors aren’t always able to solve my problems for me.

You are an intelligent person that has the will to take care of yourself. You have obviously read a lot about how to treat tinnitus and I am grateful that you have posted your research for others to read. Thank you for warning us about the side effects of ED medications.

Hang in there and feel free to pm me if you like. My career is pretty much limited since I have been a pilot and have lost a lot of hearing. I don’t function well in a crew environment, so I do flying work where I am the only pilot. That continues as long as I can pass the annual aviation medical exam. Fortunately, I am financially able to retire, but I need some reason to get up every day. Reluctantly, a career change is on the way.

All we can do is the best we can to take care of ourselves and our loved ones.

I hope you have a full recovery or can at least attain some level of comfort and sense of well being.

In my case, I have grown accustomed to the tinnitus and am able to distract myself during the day by working and listening to podcasts and reading. Time seems to be the best healer in my case.
 
Tinnitus is a horrible thing to deal with. I feel for all of you. I had tinnitus years ago and I was one of the few lucky ones where it manages to disappear. It greatly affects your quality of life and there were times I didn’t think I could go on any further in life. The sad part about tinnitus is there is really nothing that can be done to treat it. At least back in 2005 there wasn’t anything besides late night infomercial miracles. I went to an ENT specialist and he basically told me there’s no known treatment that works for tinnitus. On the way out of his office he handed me pamphlets for suicide and depression counseling. There’s a high rate of suicide and depression in those that have tinnitus.

Now regarding taking ED medication. The doctor explained to me that tinnitus is nothing more than the hair inside your ear getting damaged and causing it to spaz out, causing it to send corrupted signals to the brain. So, theoretically ED medication increases blood flow and can cause the damaged hair follicle to spaz out more.
 
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Tinnitus is a horrible thing to deal with. I feel for all of you. I had tinnitus years ago and I was one of the few lucky ones where it manages to disappear. It greatly affects your quality of life and there were times I didn’t think I could go on any further in life. The sad part about tinnitus is there is really nothing that can be done to treat it. At least back in 2005 there wasn’t anything besides late night infomercial miracles. I went to an ENT specialist and he basically told me there’s no known treatment that works for tinnitus. On the way out of his office he handed me pamphlets for suicide and depression counseling. There’s a high rate of suicide and depression in those that have tinnitus.

Now regarding taking ED medication. The doctor explained to me that tinnitus is nothing more than the hair inside your ear getting damaged and causing it to spaz out, causing it to send corrupted signals to the brain. So, theoretically ED medication increases blood flow and can cause the damaged hair follicle to spaz out more.
Tinnitus secondary to acute acoustic trauma can, even a few weeks out, effectively be treated with aggressive oral steroids. If treated IMMEDATIELY, vasodilators and aggressive steroids are the ticket. What kills the cilia is swelling, which cuts off blood flow to them, which results in their death, which causes physical damage that leads to neurological damage and the resulting tinnitus.
 
In my opinion, you should seek a clinic that specializes in ED. ED is a serious problem, St. Louis Men's Clinic is my recommendation. I go in for weekly injections. My visits are less than 10 minutes typically and I can be on my way.

It's now to the point where I look forward to my visit so I can catch up with the guys in the office. My life is better at home, work and the gym. I would recommend a visit to anyone having the same issues I was having. Don't let pride or embarrassment get in the way, life it too short to feel like it's already over.
I had my prostate removed 9 years ago. I am not familiar with shots except the ones that are administered "down there". Too much for me!!!
I am so sorry slo town. Glad you have support
 
I have had fairly severe tinnitus for decades, the result of loud dirt bikes, really loud rock concerts and firing firearms without ear protection.

Recently I mentioned to a friend that I was dating a woman who is 15 years my junior. (I am 65). He laughed and gave me a handful of Viagra tablets. He said if you want to give a championship performance, take a half a tablet before engaging in intimate activity.

Well of course I figured if half was good, a whole tablet would be better. Within about a half an hour my ears were ringing much worse than normal and I could feel my face was flushed.

Two lessons were learned. 1. You really shouldn't be taking those things without first having a consultation with a doctor, and 2. A half tablet works just fine when you want to make an impression.
 
In early 80's I went to many concerts in Cow Palace in Frisco and it was always incredibly loud and I never wore ear plugs. During that time I was also drummer in heavy metal band for almost 5 years and also never wore ear plugs. During one performance I felt incredible sharp pain in my left ear and little trickle of blood coming out. Few days after I went to have it checked by ear doctor and he said I have 1/3 of the ear drum missing. Since then I had occurring ear infections in that ear specially when I got water in during shower or swimming so I wore plugs as much as I could or remembered to do that.

About 10 years ago I started to get terrible tinnitus in that left ear and at times it was so loud like a freight train whistle. Unbearable, specially when I went to bed. I never used any drugs for it just dealt with it.

Than one day I met someone who told me to start doing daily exercises and stretching my head and neck muscles. Turning head very slowly from side to side as far as you can and hold it for few seconds and come back slow to the other side on hold it there again. Also using my right hand put it across my head grabbing left side and pull it slowly to the side as much as you can and hold it there for few seconds. Then very slowly come back to center and do it to other side with you left hand. I was shocked when the tinnitus was almost completely gone after about a week. I still notice it sometimes when I concentrate on it but it's so faint there's nothing to speak about. So I keep doing the stretching every day and life is good again.
 
Thank you for the warning. I also have a mild case of tinnitus. I have had it for ten years or so. Never thought of taking an ED drug at this point in my life but you never know what the future may bring. At least now I know to leave them alone.
 
thanks for the "heads up" most all prescriptions have some bad side affects in some people! no defending big pharma but their "testing" surely dont check all combinations of what people consume, be it another drug or a nutritional supplement. myself i asked my doc about an estrogen lowering drug anastrozole i read about, he said sure i use it, but within a few weeks i could not urinate, luckily quitting it got me unblocked!! its reported that many side affects reported by users as i did dont get acted upon in any way, live + learn. i pray that you recover to your normal!!
 
I'm sorry you are experiencing these issues. A counter-point. I don't have ED but my erections aren't always what they used to be and I've found I have a narrower window to get it done or occasionally I can "miss it" or I have to keep the tempo up to stay up. I've tried Cialis which caused terrible deep glute pain the day after but Viagra is perfect - 20mg and it's like I'm 16 again with no "window" to worry about and any tempo is more than sufficient to stay like a rock. My sex life is better in my 40's than it was in my late 20's. It has been a game-changer in many ways allowing us to focus on connection more than keeping enough stimulation going or finishing before the window is up. Besides being really flushed in the face and chest I have had zero side effects and I've been using it for a few years.

All meds have the potential for side effects and I think it's easy to look at ED meds as "optional" or even unnecessary but they have been nothing but good for me and my marriage. As with many things, I think the key is to be aware of potential side effects but understand there are plenty of people who never experience any major side effects and people who experience very significant side effects. OP...I hope things continue to get better!
 
OP, I'm really sorry you're suffering with this. I didn't even know what tinnitus was until this year, when my sister mentioned that one of our cousins suffers with it like you do. She gets no sleep. After that discussion, I discovered that this noise that's been ever-present in my life is an actual condition. All my life I thought everyone heard this same tone when in a quiet room. It's nice to know what it is, and that it is not normal. I'm blessed with a dual-tone condition. The higher tone (closest mimic I could find was a Youtube video for 12,000 hz) is omnipresent and I remember it from when I was very young. The lower tone sounds like someone two doors down has cranked up a huge diesel engine and is just letting it idle. I thought for a while that that's what it was, until one night I started to hear it, I flexed the muscles in my jaw, and it subsided for 2 seconds, and returned. I then realized the sound was my own. The diesel engine in my ears comes and goes inexplicably. Right now, it's just the 12,000 hz sound. Later it may be both. Neither affect my life the way it affects yours, thankfully. Sure hope it doesn't worsen. My thoughts go out to you, as I know it would be nice to escape this. Can't imagine what you're going through.
 
Eventhough this is 5 years old and i am not suffering myself i want to thank you for your honest open story, i have a colleauge who has it and he told me about it once.
I said that my momand aunt also have it and that it can impact your life very hard. He was amazed that he could talk to me about it because most people and even his doctor laugh about it and dont take it serious eventhough he can almost not function properly in daily life anymore.

I myself have the same scenario as the previous poster, i never really thought about it that much. But a while back when i was laying in bed it was all quit and i could hear the high hz sound so i know i also have a mild case, however it does not affect my life and hope it never does.

The persons in my family and also my colleauge who have it can all agree on that we are ''HSP" or high sensitive persons and i think those are more prone to get it or notice it.

If we talk about other small problems we can all relate on that aswell, like not being able to drink coffee after 5 otherwise we get no sleep whatsoever. Same goes for cola.
Can not stand loud music for prolonged periods of time because it literly makes us tired to process all the incoming senses.
Having a constant very high brain activity24/7 and being the person at work who always thinks at everything and keeps the process ongoing. (vulnareble for burnouts)
And many more examples.
 
I've lived with severe tinnitus for the last 25+ years. It sounds like every smoke alarm in the house is going off 24/7. Nothing can be done about it. It is incurable. It took a while, but most of the time I can tune it out. Life goes on.
 
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