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Medications That Cause Tinnitus: Which Drugs Are Really Linked, What Blood Pressure Pills Do, and What to Do Next

Portrait of Emily Carter, wellness content writer at Better Hearing Daily By Emily Carter
14-minute read
Man in his late sixties at a pharmacy counter asking a pharmacist about his prescriptions — checking for medications that cause tinnitus

The person who knows your full medication list best is often the pharmacist. It is a good place to start when a new ringing shows up.

Quick answer

The best-known medications that cause tinnitus are high-dose aspirin, some NSAIDs, aminoglycoside antibiotics, platinum chemotherapy such as cisplatin, high-dose loop diuretics, and quinine. Many blood pressure pills list tinnitus as a rare reported effect, which is not proof they cause it. Often it fades once the drug is adjusted, but never stop a medicine yourself.

Please do not stop or change any medication on your own. Stopping a blood pressure pill, an antidepressant, an antibiotic, or a heart medicine suddenly can be far more dangerous than tinnitus. If you think a drug is causing ringing in your ears, call the doctor who prescribed it or talk to your pharmacist first. This article gives no dosing advice.
For education, not medical advice. Emily Carter is a wellness content writer, not a physician, pharmacist, or audiologist. If your tinnitus came with sudden hearing loss, dizziness, or one-sided symptoms, please see a healthcare professional promptly. This page links to our review of Audifort, which contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

After 45, the number of pills in the kitchen cabinet tends to grow: something for blood pressure, something for cholesterol, a pain reliever for the knees, maybe an antidepressant or a water pill. So when a new ringing, hissing, or buzzing shows up, it is natural to look at that cabinet and wonder which bottle is to blame.

This guide sorts the facts from the folklore. It explains which drugs have solid evidence behind them, which ones simply list tinnitus among dozens of rare reported effects, and why blood pressure medications are the most misunderstood group of all. If you want the bigger picture of where tinnitus comes from (noise, aging, earwax, and more), our complete guide to tinnitus causes and what helps covers the basics. Here, we stay focused on medicines: what the official labels say, what studies show, whether the sound goes away, and exactly how to raise the question with your doctor or pharmacist.

What medications can cause tinnitus?

Several kinds can. The NIDCD lists anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, plus certain antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malaria medicines, and antidepressants, especially at high doses. Some diuretics carry hearing warnings too. For most everyday prescriptions, though, tinnitus is a rare and usually temporary side effect, not a common one.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) puts it plainly: tinnitus can be a side effect of certain medications, "especially if they are taken at high doses." Its list includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, certain antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malaria medications, and antidepressants.[1]

Drugs that can harm the inner ear are called ototoxic ("toxic to the ear"). It helps to picture them in two very different groups:

  • Drugs with a well-documented ear effect. These carry clear warnings on their official U.S. labels, such as the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin, the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, the loop diuretic furosemide at high doses, and quinine.[5][6][7][8] Most are used in hospitals or for serious illness.
  • Drugs that simply list tinnitus as a reported reaction. Many common medicines, including several blood pressure pills, mention tinnitus somewhere in a long list of rare or uncertain side effects. That is a signal to watch for, not proof that the drug causes it.

Tinnitus UK, a national tinnitus charity, offers a useful reality check. It says most drugs do not cause tinnitus, that the number of people reporting tinnitus on the most commonly prescribed drugs is "very small, usually less than 1 in 1000 people," and that this applies to most drugs prescribed for high blood pressure, statins, anxiety medicines, and most antidepressants.[2] It also notes that even when a drug does cause tinnitus, the effect tends to be temporary.[2]

Which drugs are most commonly linked to tinnitus?

The strongest links are with high-dose aspirin, aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin, platinum chemotherapy such as cisplatin, high-dose or intravenous loop diuretics such as furosemide, and quinine. Regular use of non-aspirin NSAIDs and acetaminophen has been associated with tinnitus in a large study of women. Antidepressants are linked less strongly.

The table below summarizes what official FDA labels (published on DailyMed) and peer-reviewed studies actually say. It is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a reason to change anything.

Drug classes linked to tinnitus and what the evidence says. Never stop or change a medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug class Examples What the evidence says Usually reversible?
Aspirin (salicylates) Aspirin Tinnitus is linked mainly to high doses; frequent low-dose aspirin was not linked to higher risk in a large study.[3][4] Usually, once the dose is lowered or stopped[4]
Other NSAIDs and acetaminophen Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen Frequent use was associated with a modestly higher risk of persistent tinnitus in women; cause and effect not proven.[3] Not well studied
Aminoglycoside antibiotics Gentamicin, streptomycin Boxed warning for ototoxicity, including tinnitus and hearing loss; mostly hospital use.[5] Often not; the label says "usually irreversible"[5]
Platinum chemotherapy Cisplatin Boxed warning; ototoxicity can be cumulative, severe, or delayed.[6] Unclear, per the label[6]
Loop diuretics Furosemide Tinnitus and hearing loss reported, mainly with rapid injection, high doses, kidney problems, or other ototoxic drugs.[7] Can be either, per the label[7]
Quinine and antimalarials Quinine Tinnitus is part of "cinchonism," which the label says occurs to some degree in almost all patients taking quinine.[8] Usually, at low doses[2]
Antidepressants Sertraline (an SSRI) Listed as an infrequent reaction; also a possible symptom of stopping abruptly.[9] Not well studied
Common blood pressure pills Amlodipine, losartan, lisinopril, metoprolol Listed among less common or uncertain reported reactions, not proven effects.[10][11][12][13] Reported cases tend to be temporary[2]

Reminder: many of these medicines treat serious or life-threatening conditions. The right move is almost never "stop the pill." It is "tell the prescriber, and decide together."

Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other pain relievers

Aspirin is the classic example. A review in Drug Safety described tinnitus and hearing loss with salicylates as "usually reversible," tied to acute overdose and long-term use.[4] Tinnitus UK adds that the very small daily doses many people take to help prevent heart attacks or strokes are very unlikely to cause tinnitus.[2]

The most detailed modern data come from the Nurses' Health Study II, which followed 69,455 women for more than 20 years. Frequent low-dose aspirin was not linked to a higher risk of persistent tinnitus. Frequent moderate-dose aspirin was linked to a higher risk only in women under 60, and frequent use of non-aspirin NSAIDs or acetaminophen was associated with a modestly higher risk among all women. The authors stressed that more research is needed to show whether the link is causal.[3]

Antibiotics and cancer drugs

Aminoglycoside antibiotics like gentamicin are usually given by injection for severe infections. Their label carries a boxed warning: ototoxicity "is usually irreversible," and signs such as tinnitus, roaring in the ears, dizziness, or hearing loss call for a dose change or stopping the drug, decided by the treating team.[5] Cisplatin's label says ototoxicity was seen in up to 31% of patients after a single dose in its data, shows up as tinnitus or high-pitch hearing loss, can be delayed, and that "it is unclear whether cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is reversible."[6] Where possible, people receiving these drugs have their hearing tested regularly during treatment.[2]

Quinine and antidepressants

Quinine is approved in the U.S. to treat malaria. Its label also carries a boxed warning against using it for nighttime leg cramps, because of serious blood reactions.[8] If you were ever given quinine for cramps, mention it. For sertraline, the label lists tinnitus among infrequent reactions, notes it was seen in at least 2% of older adults in depression trials at a higher rate than placebo, and lists it among symptoms that can follow stopping suddenly. That is why the label recommends a gradual reduction rather than abrupt stopping.[9]

Woman in her early sixties packing all her unlabeled pill bottles and supplement jars into a paper bag before an appointment to ask about medications that cause tinnitus
Bringing every bottle, or a complete list, including over-the-counter pain relievers and supplements, is the most useful thing to take to your appointment.

Can blood pressure medications cause tinnitus?

Rarely, and the evidence is weak for most of them. U.S. labels for amlodipine, losartan, lisinopril, and metoprolol list tinnitus among less common or uncertain reported reactions, which is not proof of cause. High-dose loop diuretics are a clearer exception. High blood pressure itself is also linked to tinnitus, which makes the picture harder to untangle.

"What blood pressure tablets cause tinnitus?" is one of the most common questions people type into Google. Here is what the official labels actually say, word for word where it matters.

What the labels say about common blood pressure pills

  • Amlodipine (Norvasc). Tinnitus appears in a list of events that occurred in fewer than 1% but more than 0.1% of patients "where a causal relationship is uncertain." The label says these are listed "to alert the physician to a possible relationship."[10]
  • Losartan (Cozaar). Tinnitus is listed under "less common adverse reactions" that "have been reported," with no frequency given.[11]
  • Lisinopril (Zestril). Tinnitus appears under "special senses" in a longer list of other adverse reactions seen in clinical trials. The label does not say the drug caused them.[12]
  • Metoprolol (Toprol-XL). Tinnitus is listed among reactions for which, the label says, "it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure."[13]
  • Furosemide (Lasix), a loop diuretic. This one is different. The label warns that tinnitus and "reversible or irreversible hearing impairment and deafness have been reported," usually with rapid injection, severe kidney impairment, higher-than-recommended doses, or other ototoxic drugs.[7] Tinnitus UK notes that the smaller doses used for mild or moderate high blood pressure do not damage the ear.[2]

What studies show

Research on blood pressure drugs and tinnitus is small and mostly observational. A 2016 Brazilian study compared 144 people with tinnitus and 140 without. Hypertension was more common in the tinnitus group (44.4% vs. 31.4%), and ACE inhibitors, thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics, and calcium channel blockers were used more often by people with tinnitus. The authors called a possible ear effect of these drugs "a hypothesis that should be evaluated in further studies."[15]

An earlier Italian study of 476 people on blood pressure treatment found tinnitus in 17.6%. It was more common in people taking diuretics, and in 10 of the 84 people with tinnitus the ringing started alongside a sudden drop in systolic blood pressure.[16] Neither study can show that a pill caused the tinnitus, because people who need more medicines often have more severe or longer-standing blood vessel disease.

High blood pressure itself can be part of the story

The NIDCD lists high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and blood vessel malformations near the ear among things that can alter blood flow and cause tinnitus.[1] A systematic review of 20 studies found evidence of an association between tinnitus and hypertension, but said a cause-and-effect relationship is uncertain.[14] So when someone with high blood pressure develops tinnitus, the condition, the treatment, age-related hearing changes, or all three may be involved. Our article on everyday habits that quietly damage hearing explains how blood pressure and the tiny blood vessels of the inner ear are connected.

Is there a blood pressure pill that does not cause tinnitus?

No study ranks blood pressure medicines by tinnitus risk in a way that would let anyone pick a "tinnitus-safe" pill. If you suspect your medicine, your doctor can weigh your blood pressure readings, kidney function, and other conditions, and decide whether a change in dose, timing, or drug class makes sense. Uncontrolled blood pressure carries serious risks of its own, so this is never a do-it-yourself switch.

How can you tell if a medication is causing your tinnitus?

Look at timing. Tinnitus that starts within days or weeks of a new drug or a higher dose, affects both ears, or changes when the dose changes is worth reporting. But tinnitus and medicine use are both common, so overlap is often coincidence. Only your prescriber can weigh the evidence, sometimes with a supervised trial change.

Clues that point toward a medicine, and are worth writing down before your appointment:

  • The ringing began soon after starting a new drug, or after a dose increase.
  • It is in both ears rather than one.
  • You take an over-the-counter pain reliever most days, often more than one kind.
  • You recently had hospital treatment with injected antibiotics, chemotherapy, or intravenous diuretics.
  • You also notice muffled hearing, dizziness, or unsteadiness.
  • You have kidney disease, which can let some drugs build up in the body.[7][5]

Why "listed as a side effect" is not the same as "causes it"

Tinnitus UK explains why many people blame a medicine when the real cause lies elsewhere. Tinnitus and taking medication are both common, so for some people the timing will overlap by chance. A small number of such reports can label a drug a "tinnitus causer" even when the tinnitus was coincidental. The stress of being ill, a well-known trigger for tinnitus, may also play a part.[2]

A 2026 study of FDA adverse event reports from 1983 to 2025 shows how this sorting works. Of 900 drugs with enough tinnitus reports to analyze, 74 showed a statistical "signal" of being reported with tinnitus more often than expected. The authors presented these signals as a basis for further safety research, not as proof.[17] In other words, reports raise questions. Controlled studies answer them.

Illustrative scenario (a composite, not a real person): Imagine a 58-year-old woman who starts taking naproxen most days for knee pain and, a few weeks later, notices a high hiss at bedtime. She does not stop anything. She writes down when the sound began and calls her pharmacist, who suggests she raise it with her doctor. Together they review her pain plan and order a hearing test, which sorts out what is medicine-related and what is not.

Does tinnitus caused by medication go away?

Often, yes, but it depends on the drug. Tinnitus from aspirin, quinine, or other rare reactions to common medicines usually fades after the dose is lowered or the drug is changed. Damage from aminoglycoside antibiotics is usually permanent, and with cisplatin it is unclear. Loop diuretic effects can go either way.

Here is how the evidence breaks down:

  • Usually temporary: salicylate (aspirin) tinnitus is described as "usually reversible."[4] Tinnitus UK says that when people on low doses of quinine report tinnitus, it is temporary, and that when common drugs do cause it, it usually disappears once the drug is stopped.[2]
  • Can go either way: the furosemide label reports both reversible and irreversible hearing effects.[7]
  • Often lasting: aminoglycoside ototoxicity is "usually irreversible,"[5] and cisplatin's effects can be delayed, with reversibility unclear.[6]

There is no reliable timetable for when tinnitus fades after a drug change, so give your doctor regular updates instead of waiting in silence. If tinnitus persists for months, it is managed like other long-lasting tinnitus. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) guideline recommends a prompt hearing evaluation for tinnitus that is one-sided, persistent, or comes with hearing difficulty, a hearing aid evaluation when there is hearing loss, and cognitive behavioral therapy for persistent, bothersome tinnitus. It also recommends against routinely using antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anti-anxiety drugs, or dietary supplements to treat tinnitus itself.[18] The "what actually helps" section of our main guide to tinnitus causes and relief walks through each of these options.

What should you do if you think a medicine is causing your tinnitus?

Keep taking it and call the prescriber or a pharmacist. Write down when the ringing started, which drugs and doses you take, including over-the-counter pain relievers and supplements, and any hearing or balance changes. Ask whether the drug can affect hearing and whether a different dose or alternative is possible. Get a hearing test.

A simple, safe plan

  1. Do not stop the medicine. Some drugs, like the antidepressant sertraline, can cause symptoms of their own, including tinnitus, when stopped abruptly.[9] Others, like blood pressure pills or antibiotics, protect you from serious harm.
  2. Make a complete list. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter pain relievers, sleep aids, and every supplement.
  3. Note the timeline. When did the sound start? Did anything change in your medicines in the weeks before?
  4. Call the pharmacist or prescriber. Pharmacists can quickly check what is on each label and spot combinations that add up.
  5. Book a hearing test. A baseline audiogram shows whether there is also hearing loss and gives you a reference point. Our guide to early warning signs of hearing loss lists what to mention.

Questions to ask your pharmacist or doctor

  • Is tinnitus a known side effect of any medicine I take, and how strong is that evidence?
  • Could two or more of my medicines be adding up?
  • Is my dose appropriate for my kidney function and age?
  • If this drug is a likely cause, is there a safe alternative or a different dose?
  • How long should I wait to see a change, and what should make me call sooner?

If you are about to start a high-risk drug

For drugs with known ear effects, such as cisplatin or injected aminoglycosides, U.S. audiology guidelines from ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology support hearing monitoring, and validated questionnaires can track drug-induced tinnitus or dizziness.[19] Ask your care team whether a baseline hearing test before treatment and follow-up checks are planned. Protecting your ears from loud noise during treatment is also sensible. Our guide to noise-induced hearing loss explains how.

Black man in his fifties reviewing a printed list of his medicines with a female physician at a small consultation desk
A medication review with your doctor is the safe way to test whether a drug is behind the ringing.
For readers on daily medication

Thinking about an ear-support supplement too?

If you have already reviewed your medicines with your doctor, you may be wondering whether a supplement could round out your routine. Audifort is a liquid drop formula that the manufacturer says combines plant extracts and nutrients for inner-ear support. Our review breaks down every ingredient on the label, the price per bottle, and the 90-day guarantee, and notes that research on ear supplements is still limited. Think of any supplement as a support for your care plan, never a replacement for it. Because you take prescription medicines, show the label to your pharmacist before adding anything new.

Read what we found about Audifort → Our review page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Better Hearing Daily may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change our editorial view.

When is tinnitus on a medication a reason to get help right away?

Get same-day care if tinnitus comes with sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, new dizziness or unsteadiness while on an antibiotic, chemotherapy, or diuretic, or facial weakness. A whooshing sound in time with your heartbeat needs a prompt appointment. If tinnitus leaves you feeling hopeless, call or text 988.

Seek care right away (same day, urgent care, or 911) if:

  • You suddenly lose hearing in one or both ears. The NIDCD says sudden deafness should be treated as a medical emergency and that you should see a doctor immediately.[20]
  • You develop hearing loss, roaring, or dizziness while receiving an aminoglycoside antibiotic, cisplatin, or high-dose diuretics. The labels treat these as signs that the treating team needs to reassess.[5][6][7] Tell them the same day.
  • You may have taken too much of a medicine. Ringing in the ears can be an early overdose sign. The quinine label, for example, lists tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision among overdose symptoms.[8] Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if the person is very unwell.
  • You have thoughts of harming yourself. Help is available right now: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and confidential, day or night.[21]

Book a prompt appointment if:

  • The tinnitus is pulsatile, a whooshing beat that matches your pulse. The NIDCD notes that an ENT may order imaging, especially when tinnitus pulsates.[1]
  • It is in one ear only, or has lasted for weeks without improving after a medication review.[18]
  • It is disrupting your sleep, mood, or concentration.

Medication-related tinnitus is one of the few kinds that sometimes has a clear, fixable trigger. The safest path to finding it runs through your pharmacist and prescriber, not the trash can. For everything else that can cause ringing, and the options that help when it lingers, see our full tinnitus guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does ibuprofen cause tinnitus?
It can, mostly with frequent or high-dose use. The NIDCD lists ibuprofen and other NSAIDs among drugs associated with tinnitus. In a long-term study of nearly 70,000 women, frequent use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was linked to a modestly higher risk of persistent tinnitus, rising with how often they were taken, though the study could not prove cause.
Can acetaminophen (Tylenol) cause tinnitus?
Possibly, with frequent use. In the Nurses' Health Study II, women who took acetaminophen six to seven days a week had about an 18% higher risk of developing persistent tinnitus than women using it less than once a week. It was an observational study, so it shows a link, not proof that acetaminophen causes tinnitus.
Does daily low-dose aspirin cause tinnitus?
It is unlikely. In a large U.S. study of women, frequent low-dose aspirin use was not linked to a higher risk of persistent tinnitus. Ringing from aspirin is mainly tied to high doses and usually fades once the dose is reduced. If you take daily aspirin for your heart, do not stop it without your doctor.
Which blood pressure medication does not cause tinnitus?
No study ranks blood pressure medicines by tinnitus risk, so there is no proven tinnitus-free option. Common pills such as amlodipine, losartan, and lisinopril list tinnitus only as a rare or uncertain reported reaction. If you suspect yours, your doctor can review the dose or drug class. Never switch or stop on your own.
Can stopping an antidepressant cause tinnitus?
Yes, it can. The U.S. label for sertraline lists tinnitus among symptoms that can follow stopping serotonergic antidepressants, particularly abruptly, along with dizziness and electric-shock sensations. That is why the label recommends reducing the dose gradually. Any change to an antidepressant should be planned with the prescribing doctor, never done on your own.
How long does medication-induced tinnitus last?
It varies by drug. Tinnitus from aspirin, low-dose quinine, or rare reactions to everyday medicines usually fades after the drug is adjusted, though there is no fixed timeline. Damage from aminoglycoside antibiotics is usually permanent, and cisplatin's effects can be delayed. If ringing persists, hearing care and CBT can make it much less intrusive.

Sources

  1. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders — Tinnitus.
  2. Tinnitus UK — Drugs and tinnitus.
  3. Curhan, S.G., Glicksman, J., Wang, M., Eavey, R.D., Curhan, G.C. "Longitudinal study of analgesic use and risk of incident persistent tinnitus." Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2022;37(14):3653–3662. PubMed.
  4. Brien, J.A. "Ototoxicity associated with salicylates. A brief review." Drug Safety, 1993;9(2):143–148. PubMed.
  5. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Gentamicin Injection, USP.
  6. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Cisplatin Injection.
  7. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Lasix (furosemide).
  8. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Quinine Sulfate Capsules.
  9. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Zoloft (sertraline).
  10. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Norvasc (amlodipine).
  11. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Cozaar (losartan).
  12. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Zestril (lisinopril).
  13. U.S. FDA label via DailyMed — Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate).
  14. Figueiredo, R.R., de Azevedo, A.A., Penido, N.O. "Tinnitus and arterial hypertension: a systematic review." European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2015;272(11):3089–3094. PubMed.
  15. Figueiredo, R.R., Azevedo, A.A., Penido, N.O. "Positive association between tinnitus and arterial hypertension." Frontiers in Neurology, 2016;7:171. PubMed; full text (PMC).
  16. Borghi, C., et al. "Prevalence of tinnitus in patients with hypertension and the impact of different antihypertensive drugs on the incidence of tinnitus." Current Therapeutic Research, 2005;66(5):420–432. PubMed; full text (PMC).
  17. Narasimhaswamy, N., Ganesan, S., Poojar, B. "Disproportionality analysis of drug-associated tinnitus safety signals: a 43-year pharmacovigilance study." Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 2026;399(12):19173–19186. PubMed.
  18. Tunkel, D.E., et al. "Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus." Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2014;151(2 Suppl):S1–S40. PubMed.
  19. Campbell, K.C.M., Le Prell, C.G. "Drug-induced ototoxicity: diagnosis and monitoring." Drug Safety, 2018;41(5):451–464. PubMed.
  20. NIDCD — Sudden Deafness.
  21. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988lifeline.org.