Ramipril & Pulsatile Tinnitus

[Jersa]

I want to share my experience with Ramipril for anyone who runs into this as I made it through what was probably the scariest week of my life. I was prescribed Ramipril to slow down heart failure, though my blood pressure isn't too high. I was only taking a low dose of 2.5mg daily.

2-3 weeks in I started hearing odd noises, like gaps in any external sounds like the wind, fans, cars, etc. I didn't make the connection with Rampril until another week had passed, where it had gone bad to the point where I could hear my pulse very loudly in my left ear, it was resonating inside of my head so bad. I had developed a bad instance of pulsatile tinnitus from the Ramipril.

I stopped the treatment about 3 weeks in, but up to a few days later, the symptoms only got worse. By then any head movement made the ringing in my ear increase, I had a sensation of fullness/blockage of my hear, and crazy loud heart beat noises as well as blockage of external sounds. I was going crazy, I was very depressed and scared that the damage could be permanent.

I was angry as no one had mentioned this to me, yes I had the cough but that was nothing compared to the resonating noises in my ear and head. Tinnitus is not listed as a side effect, yet if you research it, it is listed as an ototoxic drug and there are plenty of articles and evidence of it causing tinnitus and other ear problems. It might affect less than 0.1% yet it happens.

After about a week off the Ramipril, it got a little better. The ear fullness and resonating heart beat sounds almost disappears, however a permanent, constant low-pitch ringing remained.

It has now been 2 weeks since I stopped and I still have a constant buzzing sound in my ear. I am hopeful that with a bit more time, it will completely disappear.

If like me 2 weeks ago you're reading this after googling Ramipril & Tinnitus, don't lose hope, it will get better. Of course call your doctor before stopping a prescription (I didn't, it was that bad).

I am going to try more natural habits to lower blood pressure instead of taking random poisons.

UPDATE: it has been a month since I stopped ramipril and the pulsating heartbeat noise is completely gone, but I still have a constant low-pitch whistling in my left ear, which is very annoying. Will update later.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am sorry you have had a bad experience with Ramipril I get Tinnitus which I know drives you mad when you do especially when it gets louder and nothing will block it out

We can all react differently to medications and sometimes if it is not listed or says it is rare some Doctors can be reluctant to take you seriously

Personally though I would have seen my Doctor and not asked to come of it but would have told them I was coming of it and asked them what alternative medication they could offer but good luck trying to to get your BP down naturally I never had any luck and needed BP meds but do not leave it to long if natural ways do not work as we know that is not good for our hearts

Let us know how you get on x

[Ken6]

Hallo Jersa,

Like you i had strange/unusual experiences after being prescribed statins ramipril and other meds after a mild heart attack (one stent fitted).

I am always wary of medicines which cross the blood/brain barrier after being given antihistamines twenty odd years ago. They gave me very strange dreams. Of course with alcohol and pain killers we are very careful.

ken