Can Sertraline cause tinnitus?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss whether Sertraline can cause tinnitus. We will also talk about the incidence of this side effect and some treatment or management strategies used in clinical settings.
Can Sertraline cause tinnitus?
Sertraline can cause tinnitus in some individuals, but it is not considered a common side effect of this antidepressant. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is listed as a rare side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Sertraline (1,2).
It’s essential to be aware of this potential side effect, but also remember that it’s not common and not everyone taking Sertraline experiences this side effect.
Additionally, people could have underlying factors that may make them more susceptible to certain side effects associated with antidepressants, including tinnitus. If you do notice any unusual symptoms like tinnitus while taking Sertraline, it’s crucial to discuss them with your doctor.
What does research suggest?
There is limited research on the direct relationship between Sertraline and tinnitus. However, some cases have been reported. Research suggests that tinnitus can be a rare side effect of antidepressants like Sertraline.
It doesn’t affect everyone, as people respond differently to medications. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, is involved in how we perceive sounds (3).
A case was reported where a woman developed tinnitus while taking Sertraline, and it improved after she stopped the medication (3). This suggests that tinnitus could be related to how serotonin receptors work in the auditory system, and since Sertraline can affect serotonin levels – it may cause tinnitus (3,4).
Other SSRIs like Escitalopram can also trigger tinnitus. However, some studies have indicated that Sertraline and other SSRIs can actually be used to manage tinnitus triggered by depression or anxiety.
A study included 76 people with severe tinnitus. The participants were randomly given either a placebo or Sertraline for 16 weeks (5).
The results showed that Sertraline was more effective than the placebo in reducing the severity of tinnitus and how loud it sounded. It also helped with depression and anxiety symptoms (5).
However, some participants stopped taking Sertraline within the first two weeks due to side effects. In simpler terms, this study suggests that Sertraline might help with severe tinnitus and related mental health symptoms for some people, but it may not work for everyone, and there can be side effects.
Another study looked at the connection between depression, anxiety, and tinnitus. It explored how antidepressants might help with tinnitus, both by treating depression and anxiety that often come with it and through a direct impact on the brain’s serotonin system (6).
The review also examined various antidepressants, including Sertraline, for the management of tinnitus. However, the study concluded that more research is necessary to determine the proper doses of antidepressants and their safety for the management of tinnitus (6).
What to do if Sertraline causes tinnitus?
If you experience tinnitus while taking Sertraline, it’s crucial to speak with your doctor about it. Tinnitus can sometimes lead to the need to stop Sertraline treatment, and it’s worth noting that other antidepressants like Lexapro may also have this effect.
Your doctor can guide you on managing tinnitus, which might involve therapy or using noise-cancelling devices to alleviate the symptoms.
Importantly, don’t abruptly discontinue Sertraline without discussing it with your healthcare provider. Your doctor can help you make informed decisions about your treatment and manage any side effects effectively. Just don’t make any changes to your prescription on your own.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed that Sertraline can cause tinnitus rarely. We have also talked about the incidence of this side effect and some treatment or management strategies used in clinical settings.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
2.-
National Library of Medicine. Sertraline: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697048.html#overdose
3.-
Miller CW. Development of Tinnitus at a Low Dose of Sertraline: Clinical Course and Proposed Mechanisms. Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:1790692. doi: 10.1155/2016/1790692. Epub 2016 Sep 15. PMID: 27703829; PMCID: PMC5040800. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27703829/
4.-
Singh HK, Saadabadi A. Sertraline. 2023 Feb 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31613469. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689 v
5.-
Zöger S, Svedlund J, Holgers KM. The effects of sertraline on severe tinnitus suffering–a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Feb;26(1):32-9. doi: 10.1097/01.jcp.0000195111.86650.19. PMID: 16415703. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16415703/
6.-
Robinson SK, Viirre ES, Stein MB. Antidepressant therapy in tinnitus. Hear Res. 2007 Apr;226(1-2):221-31. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2006.08.004. Epub 2006 Sep 14. PMID: 16973315. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16973315/
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