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Suggest Treatment For Clogged Ears And Buzzing Sounds In Ear

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Posted on Fri, 22 Aug 2014
Question: Hello,

I had an ear infection a couple of months ago. I took two rounds of antibiotics to clear both ears. Since then, my ears are clogged and have a
constant buzzing sound. My ENT did a myrigotomy without tubes to see if I would have some relief and it seems like the buzzing is worse now. .. please help! I've never had this buzzing until I got the ear infection.
thanks, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Tinnitus , Needs Management, Options given

Detailed Answer:
thank you for asking
that buzzing sound is called tinnitus and is common if infections involve inner ear labyrinthine apparatus.
You need to be evaluated for that and also other possibilities of tinnitus like Meniere's disease etc.Here are some options to help the management of tinnitus discus them with your doctor.
Surgical options: endolymphatic shunt, nerve section, or labyrinthectomy and ototoxic antibiotic injection.provides relief for 40-80% of such patients. Interestingly, the recent advent of gentamicin or corticosteroids has resulted in a higher percentage of patients describing either temporary or permanent relief from tinnitus. The exact mechanism of relief is unknown, but relief is greatly appreciated by patients.

Medical options
Electrical stimulation, Biofeedback, Cochlear Implants,rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), Neuromonics, COunseling , Tinnitus maskers and support groups are some options discuss them with your doctor.

Pharmacologic therapy helps in the treatment of tinnitus for the 80% of patients who endure related depression. Administration of nortriptyline (50 mg at bedtime) is the most helpful treatment. Nortriptyline may induce dry mouth, often causing patients to terminate treatment before achieving therapeutic effect. Often, 3-4 weeks of therapy are necessary before benefits appear. Other antidepressants may be useful in treating tinnitus, but judgment in their use is paramount. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are considered to have a better safety profile compared with tricyclic antidepressants. Paroxetine (Paxil) in low doses of 10 mg at bedtime has recently been shown to be helpful. Also, sertraline (Zoloft), at a fixed dose of 50 mg/d, demonstrated a significant reduction in tinnitus severity, as well as a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Many physicians have used benzodiazepines to treat tinnitus. The theory has been that this is an anxiety disorder and the benzodiazepines should help. Unfortunately, because depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders predominate in this group, the benzodiazepines can cause more harm than good. Thus, they should be avoided as initial therapy.

Homeopathic therapy
Gingko Biloba , Niacin, Combination Supplements and accupuncture are some of the options.

Nutshell, Tinnitus is a symptom that requires further investigation to determine origin. Often, the origin may be a sensorineural hearing loss. Certain types of tinnitus signify other problems. Unilateral or pulsatile tinnitus and tinnitus associated with vertigo or conductive hearing losses are examples. Tinnitus therapy is as multifaceted as the origins of tinnitus. Choose therapy, therefore, with individual symptoms and problems in mind. A combination of sound-based therapy with medical therapy of anxiety, depression, or insomnia will help most patients. By applying the best of the multiplicity of available therapies, patients need never again hear the old adage, "you'll just have to live with it."
I hope it helps.Seek an otorhinolaryngologist for further management. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (14 minutes later)
thank you so much for your response. I did forget to mention that my ent has me taking a diuretic.. how would that possibly help?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
pressure reduction helps tinnitus

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back
Diuretics are to help the endolyphatic sac to reduce the pressures of endolymphatic sac , a common procedure in meniere's disease. Also reduce sodium intake to less than 2 gm a day.just like a hypertensive patient.low sac pressure will reduce tinnitus.add betahistines to it and it will work like charm.
Take care. Don't forget to close the discussion please.
Regards XXXXXXX
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Clogged Ears And Buzzing Sounds In Ear

Brief Answer: Tinnitus , Needs Management, Options given Detailed Answer: thank you for asking that buzzing sound is called tinnitus and is common if infections involve inner ear labyrinthine apparatus. You need to be evaluated for that and also other possibilities of tinnitus like Meniere's disease etc.Here are some options to help the management of tinnitus discus them with your doctor. Surgical options: endolymphatic shunt, nerve section, or labyrinthectomy and ototoxic antibiotic injection.provides relief for 40-80% of such patients. Interestingly, the recent advent of gentamicin or corticosteroids has resulted in a higher percentage of patients describing either temporary or permanent relief from tinnitus. The exact mechanism of relief is unknown, but relief is greatly appreciated by patients. Medical options Electrical stimulation, Biofeedback, Cochlear Implants,rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), Neuromonics, COunseling , Tinnitus maskers and support groups are some options discuss them with your doctor. Pharmacologic therapy helps in the treatment of tinnitus for the 80% of patients who endure related depression. Administration of nortriptyline (50 mg at bedtime) is the most helpful treatment. Nortriptyline may induce dry mouth, often causing patients to terminate treatment before achieving therapeutic effect. Often, 3-4 weeks of therapy are necessary before benefits appear. Other antidepressants may be useful in treating tinnitus, but judgment in their use is paramount. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are considered to have a better safety profile compared with tricyclic antidepressants. Paroxetine (Paxil) in low doses of 10 mg at bedtime has recently been shown to be helpful. Also, sertraline (Zoloft), at a fixed dose of 50 mg/d, demonstrated a significant reduction in tinnitus severity, as well as a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Many physicians have used benzodiazepines to treat tinnitus. The theory has been that this is an anxiety disorder and the benzodiazepines should help. Unfortunately, because depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders predominate in this group, the benzodiazepines can cause more harm than good. Thus, they should be avoided as initial therapy. Homeopathic therapy Gingko Biloba , Niacin, Combination Supplements and accupuncture are some of the options. Nutshell, Tinnitus is a symptom that requires further investigation to determine origin. Often, the origin may be a sensorineural hearing loss. Certain types of tinnitus signify other problems. Unilateral or pulsatile tinnitus and tinnitus associated with vertigo or conductive hearing losses are examples. Tinnitus therapy is as multifaceted as the origins of tinnitus. Choose therapy, therefore, with individual symptoms and problems in mind. A combination of sound-based therapy with medical therapy of anxiety, depression, or insomnia will help most patients. By applying the best of the multiplicity of available therapies, patients need never again hear the old adage, "you'll just have to live with it." I hope it helps.Seek an otorhinolaryngologist for further management. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. May the odds be ever in your favour. Regards Khan