Question: Hi-I believe I am experiencing an autoimmune response specific to my left ear; symptoms of an inner ear infection (aural fullness, tinnitus). It began to occur ca.1 week after I first started taking Vyvanse (70-140mg). All perception in the lower frequencies (bass) is severly compromised (can`t hear bass, or weird distoritions occur). Last week or so, the fullness can disappear, increasing the dB of the "dial tone" (and vice versa). When I chew, or knock on my head-the "swooshyness" intensifies accordingly. Switched to Adderall since 5 weeks back. Thing is, I dropped my 60mg of Adderall for 1 cap. Vyvanse 70mg last Saturday-so 1 week since last use. Not taking it anymore. Suspecting a connection to my ear after reading the product`s monograph on side-effects -I asked others using the same medication. Nearly all reported back having the same problem (fullness in the ear, tinnitus)-specifically by Vyvanse-but never having made the connection themselves. I consulted my doctor to give me some Prednisone to try out-10mg morning/5 evening for 10 days. On Day 2 now, it maybe feels like its not so intense (?) I am a musician also, so I`d really like your views on this and if I am unto something trying out the corticostereoid treatment. Cheers, XXXXXXX

Hello,
Why is your detailed answer, "Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service." instead of it being your brief answer (which it should be)?

Since I have paid for this service, I`d like someone else to go thru my question and your answer-again.
REASON: while I hope you are correct in your assessment (meaning that the condition may be less complicated & therefore possibly easier to treat), I am not satisfied with it.

A Tympanometry was performed at my ENT`s office and no fluid build-ups were detected in the middle ear. All the readings were inside normal range. Today, for example, the sense of the ear being clogged is 100% gone away. Instead, there is a constant (venous?) hum around 38-40 dB that still goes "bang-bang" every I swallow something.

UPDATE, 19.10 Sunday evening:
The one dial-tone (tinnitus) mentioned earlier today, has now split into two tones-one high and one low-approxmately 3 whole notes apart (lowest=DO, highest=MI), with its overall dB level reduced. Both tones seems to have some fluctuations (individual variance) whereas the single one earlier, did not. Also while this is going on, back is a sense of fullness but only slightly.

UPDATE, 19.40: only the high-tone remains, reduced further in dB level; the clogginess is also some reduced. There is an ever-so slight perception of ache in the ear.

•Dr.Saha, I apologize for maybe sounding a bit harsh in my first follow-up. I am not at all questioning your level of competence as a medical professional. It makes no sense to me to have a General & Family Physician attempt to answer my questions since the area addressed belongs to a specialty field, as far as I understand. Have already had a GP and an ENT look at this problem, to no avail.

Best Regards,