I’m seeking information specifically about
tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a side
effect of zoloft. The info i’ve already
seen on the internet does not completely
answer all my questions.
I’m new to zoloft, I have tinnitus
(ringing in the ears) as a side effect,
and i’m seeking information and
reassurance from doctors who know about
tinnitus associated with zoloft or
patients who had zoloft tinnitus
experiences.
I’ve only been taking zoloft for six (6)
weeks. The first week was 25 mg per day,
and all other weeks have been 50 mg per
day.
During the fifth week, I developed
tinnitus. I’m hoping that it’s a
temporary side effect that will go away as
I continue to take zoloft. I’m trying to
find people who experienced tinnitus while
taking zoloft, but continued zoloft anyway
and then the tinnitus went away. I would
also want to know about anyone whose
tinnitus side effect did not go away, and
whether they stayed on zoloft anyway with
the accompanying tinnitus, or stopped
taking zoloft. I’m hoping that nobody
has experienced permanent tinnitus as a
result of zoloft, but I guess I should
know about that, too.
The zoloft was prescribed to treat my
long-term moderate depression as well as
pms or pmdd depression occurring before my
menstrual period. I’m definitely feeling
noticeably better now that i’m taking
zoloft. I believe the zoloft is working
so I really want to continue taking it.
But the tinnitus is very unpleasant and
aggravating, and I don’t think I could
stand it permanently.
In the first few weeks of zoloft, I had
several of the known side effects, but I
stuck with the zoloft and those side
effects went away. Initially I had
increased anxiety, increased agitation,
heart racing, trouble sleeping, slight
nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, yawning,
increased night sweating. My depression
and sadness seemed to get worse!
Fortunately, the side effects and sadness
all went away. The tinnitus only started
during the fifth week. I’m willing to
wait a reasonable time for the tinnitus
side effect to go away, but for some
reason it worries me more than the other
side effects did. I think I fear
permanent tinnitus.
My two doctors (internist and ob-gyne) are
both monitoring my progress with zoloft.
They have both been my doctors for a long
time, they know me well, we communicate
well, and I totally trust them. They
explained that I could switch to another
drug or I could stay longer on the zoloft.
Both ways are medically valid choices
for me. Neither doctor could predict
whether I would continue to experience
tinnitus with a different drug. My
internist advised me to stay on the zoloft
a little longer, as it sometimes takes a
few months for all the good effects to
appear then stabilize and for the side
effects to appear and then stabilize
and/or disappear. I’m following his
advice for now.
I’ve read a ton of information about
zoloft and other anti-depressants, and i’m
trying to acquire an accurate, intelligent
and sophisticated understanding about it.
I understand that finding the correct
medicine or combo of medicines can be a
very empirical trial-and-error process, or
the very first drug might work great. I
don’t want to stay too long on the wrong
drug, but I don’t want to be a “medicine
hopper” before a medication has had time
to demonstrate its full results. I want
to know definitively which medicines are
good or bad for me.
thank goodness!