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Three days ago, I woke up and everything sounded "off." When I listen to music, hear the clock chime, hear the phone ring, or watch tv, the pitch of everything is much lower than it usually is. There's no difference in volume or distortion or anything. I used some earwax removal stuff, but it didn't change anything. I don't feel anything in my ears or my head. I had a recent CT scan that didn't show anything. My balance and vision are also normal. Well, as normal as normal is for me. XD

Three days prior to this happening, I started taking Flexeril (10mg twice a day) and upped my dosage of Tegretol (300mg to 400mg daily) per my doctors' instructions, and I wonder if either of those had something to do with it. I'm going back to my old med regime to see if anything changes, but until then, does anyone have any ideas on what could have caused my hearing to get messed up like this? It's horrible to not enjoy my music like I used to.

I'm going to try to find an ENT who will work with me (I don't have insurance right now), but if I can avoid the cost, that would be awesome.

Thanks!

I'm no doctor, but the time difference between changing meds and your loss of hearing seems to be an unlikely coincidence. Since it was at your doctor's request, ask if it might be a possible side effect. Or perhaps it isn't a known side effect, and you get to be 'lucky'.

I'm not quite sure what to suggest (is the change in medication necessary or just preferable?) but I'd first eliminate the meds as the cause before looking at other options.

Maybe you have a sinus infection. That could cause some congestion and ear cloggage.

Sometimes those ear wax removers aren't good enough to get everything. I knew a guy in college who had to get his ear flushed out by somebody at the health clinic.

From Wikipedia in regards to Tegretol:
There are also reports of an auditory side effect for carbamazepine use, whereby patients perceive sounds about a semitone lower than previously.[11][12][13] Thus, middle C would be heard as the note B3 just below it, etc. The inverse effect (that is, notes sounding higher) has also been recorded.[14][15] This unusual side effect is usually not noticed by most people, and quickly disappears after the person stops taking carbamazepine.

That's smart Lindsay. Well, I guess you should notice that it "quickly disappears after you stop taking carbamazepine".

Thanks, everyone! I must have skipped over that part when I was reading about the Tegretol. I'll talk to my neurosurgeon because my TN is flaring pretty badly again, which is why I've had to up my dosage. I feel a lot better knowing that it's not me going crazy!

Good news! Turns out that it was the Tegretol. I went back to my old dose and everything is normal again. That was really weird, though.

Glad to hear its better! Weird changes like that can be really scary.

(02-13-2010 09:42 PM)Nadleeh Wrote: [ -> ]Good news! Turns out that it was the Tegretol. I went back to my old dose and everything is normal again. That was really weird, though.

So sorry to be late posting, but better late then NEVER. I am so happy you found out what was causing it, and was able to find a solution.
I know things like that can get very scary indeed.
I am very happy your back to normal.