Does Aspirin Cause Tinnitus?

Many modern prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be a major source of tinnitus, creating or exacerbating the condition. It is a known fact that aspirin, other compounds containing aspirin in sufficient amounts and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often cause tinnitus. Aspirin is often found in small amounts in other drugs as well.

If you have already got tinnitus, you may find that even a small dose of aspirin makes it worse. This does not happen to everyone and you may find taking a single tablet has very little effect. Nevertheless, some people are more sensitive to aspirin than others as patients vary in their tolerance to the aspirin-containing compounds. In some individuals, 3000 mg of aspirin may produce tinnitus, but this same amount may not affect another person.

If you suffer from tinnitus then you should avoid taking aspirin as much a possible. Aspirin contains salicylate, which is a known cause of tinnitus and even one tablet can worsen the condition if you are already a sufferer. Aspirin is normally used for some types of conditions, like for arthritis. If you take aspirin daily you should try a different anti-inflammatory drug. Some of the other anti-inflammatory drugs can also cause or worsen tinnitus, but not in everyone.

If you think aspirin is making your tinnitus worse, speak to your doctor to see whether an alternative medicine, such as acetaminophen products would be more suitable, particularly if you are taking aspirin as a painkiller. If a cause is determined, then treatment can be quite focused. For example, if a tinnitus sufferer is taking aspirin and is found to have high blood pressure, the aspirin is stopped and medications are given to control the blood pressure. The effect of aspirin on tinnitus is usually reversible, which means that when you stop taking aspirin, your tinnitus should return to its previous level. However, aspirin may cause tinnitus to last longer if you take it over a long period of time, or in higher doses.