Hi, about a month ago I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and my doctor put me on 500mg of Metformin twice a day. I now have roaring sounds in my ears. Sometimes a ringing sound and sometimes it sounds like a fog horn or something. My friends and family tell me I have tinitus. I know that a lot of older people and people on certain medications can get tinitus. But, could Metformin have caused this. Is a side effect of Metformin tinitus? Does anyone have any idea. If that's the case, I'm thinking about stopping Metformin. Has anyone else on Metformin developed tinitus? Thanks
Tinnitus is fairly common such that millions of people have it. There are many causes of tinnitus such as high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and various medications. Studies have been done on Metformin and tinnitus. Developing tinnitus while taking Metformin (whether it is a Metformin problem or not) is rare. Nearly10,000 patients on Metformin were examined for tinnitus. The results returned 7 people. It seems unlikely that taking Metformin caused your tinnitus but rather it is a coincidence. You might be taking other medications that brought tinnitus about. Something as simple as aspirin can cause tinnitus. Some individuals take Garcinia cambogia (botanical) that increases blood flow to the brain and ear. For many people, this gets rid of the ringing. Garcinia also improves your memory, concentration and focus which is an added plus.
I have been on Metformin for some time. I have developed Tinnitus on and off in the last few months with the constant ringing for the past 2 weeks. In investigating I found out that increasing B12 and Vitamin D3 will help with the tinnitus. After a general check up by my GP I was told to take Vitamin D3; this was before the tinnitus started again. I also read that Metformin negates the Vitamin B12 and its effects in the body. Some people on Metformin end up having to take B12 shots in order to get the full benefits in the body. You should check with your GP re the B12. At this point I am trying the vitamin therapy and also decreasing my salt and caffeine intake. Hopefully, this will work.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is not a commonly reported side effect of metformin, either in its immediate-release or extended-release form. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it can't happen; everyone's body is different and may react to medications in unique ways.
There's also a chance that the tinnitus could be coincidental and unrelated to the metformin. Many things can cause tinnitus, including exposure to loud noise, certain medications, high blood pressure, earwax buildup, or even stress and fatigue.
Nonetheless, if you strongly suspect the metformin is causing the tinnitus, you should discuss this further with your healthcare provider. It might be possible to switch to a different medication for your blood sugar control, or they may have other suggestions for managing the tinnitus.
In terms of regular vs extended-release metformin, it's unlikely there would be a significant difference between the two in terms of side effects. The main difference between these forms is the speed at which the medication is released into your body. The extended-release form is designed to be released slowly over time to provide a more constant level of medication in your system.
Do you have any other health problems?