My husband has had mild tinnitus for years. It has slowly been getting worse recent months. He's been sick now 10 days, food poisoning morphing to veryigo. This evening tinnitus in right ear got severly worse, almost unbearable. Took 6 bismuth things last Friday ... No chronic use or overdose. What is the mechanism it causes tinnitus?
Why does bismuth subsalicylate cause ringing in the ears?
Question posted by pipmama on 18 Dec 2012
Last updated on 19 December 2012
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Answers
kaismama
18 Dec 2012
All salicylates can do this, including aspirin. Probably not a good idea for your husband.
meyati
20 Dec 2012
Exactly, for years it has been known that salicylates causes tinnitus. This includes Pepto Bismo, Ibuprofen, Motrin, etc. A person must be careful with OTC meds. The tinnitus can take 3 forms, ringing, buzzing, and frying, and a person can suffer from one or more of these at the same time. Some people have their lives disrupted from this. Some suffer partial to total hearing loss that might be temporary to permanent.
Inactive
18 Dec 2012
Hello pipmama, & welcome to the site. The ringing in the ears is considered a serious side effect of taking bismuth subsalicylate. See below, & call his doctor at once...
For the Consumer
Applies to bismuth subsalicylate: oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet chewable
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking bismuth subsalicylate: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
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hearing loss or ringing in your ears;
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diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days; or
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worsened stomach symptoms.
Less serious side effects include:
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constipation;
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dark colored stools; or
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black or darkened tongue.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Related topics
tinnitus, bismuth subsalicylate, food, food poisoning
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