Chronic ringing in the ear is a condition commonly known as tinnitus. Ear ringing has a prevalence of 8 to 25.3% in the population of the United States. I suffer from mild tinnitus. Even though it isn’t life-threatening, the condition is most certainly annoying.
Regular usage of Flonase, one of the best decongestants for tinnitus, can affect ear ringing. It might provide some relief. However, it is uncommon for Flonase to be directly prescribed for tinnitus. Let us dive into the topic of Flonase for ear ringing in the following article.
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Flonase for Ear Ringing
Flonase is a non-prescription nasal spray with the generic name Fluticasone. Fluticasone is a type of medicine called corticosteroids. They help tackle allergy symptoms by blocking out natural substances in the body that cause allergic responses.
Flonase is usually used for allergies. Doctors prescribe it to relieve symptoms of rhinitis, which includes sneezing and a runny nose. It also reduces itchy eyes caused by hay fever or other allergens. Non-prescription Fluticasone can also treat rhinitis, which is not caused by allergies.
It would relieve symptoms of a stuffy or runny nose. Moreover, prescription Fluticasone also works great on nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are swelling of the nasal lining. Now comes the question, “Does Flonase work for tinnitus?”.
The thing is, Flonase is not directly prescribed for ear ringing. As you can see, Flonase is mainly prescribed for allergy-like symptoms of sinusitis, rhinitis, etc., as there might be a presence of ear ringing along with an inflamed sinus or nasal lining. So if you ask me can flonase help with tinnitus, I would say partially yes.
Flonase might help subdue the ear ringing while mainly working on allergy symptoms. It acts as an added benefit. Relief from the allergy symptoms might result in a reduction in the annoying sound of tinnitus. But that might not always be the case.
Sinus Congestion and Tinnitus
Reading the first part of this article, you might be wondering how sinusitis has a connection with tinnitus. These two conditions are the troublesome twosomes. However, it might not be as obvious and easy to connect their symptoms.
Tinnitus is usually caused due to exposure to loud noises. It can also appear due to ear damage or conditions like eustachian tube dysfunction. The eustachian tube is a tiny tube inside your ear that plays a part in hearing. However, Sinus infections can influence your ear ringing.
They can aggravate the condition. Ear ringing or any other ear problem due to sinus infection is usually caused due to congestion. When viruses or bacterias attack the sinus cavities, the irritation can cause swelling. There can be a build-up of mucus which in turn forms congestion.
The sinus cavities and the ears are connected. If congestion shows up in your sinuses, then it can spread to the ear cavities as well. This blocks up the eustachian tube. The function of the tube is to connect the middle ear with the upper throat, a.k.a nasopharynx. It maintains the pressure inside the ear canal.
If your ears are congested, then there is a build-up of pressure around the eardrum. This ultimately results in the buzzing or ringing sound. If you have acute sinusitis or a severe case of sinusitis. It may result in having a severe case of tinnitus. Rather than thinking about flonase for ear ringing, you need to consult a doctor soon.
When you treat your sinusitis, your ear ringing might subside. This is where Flonase comes in. As Flonase works to decongest your sinuses, the pressure in your ears reduces. This might provide relief around the eardrums and thus reduces ear ringing.
Other Causes of Tinnitus
Several reasons can cause tinnitus. As told by experts, tinnitus is actually a symptom, not a disease on its own. However, there is ongoing research on pinpointing the exact causes. The appearance of tinnitus can signify underlying ear problems.
Let us look into the causes behind tinnitus besides sinusitis.
Loss of Hearing
In your inner ear, there are tiny, delicate, fine hairs. When a sound wave travels to your inner ear, the hairs send electrical impulses to the nerve. These impulses transfer to the brain, and thus you can hear the sounds.
With old age, trauma, or exposure to loud sounds, the hair can become damaged or bent. Then random impulses would be sent to your brain. This would result in ear ringing.
Ear Wax Buildup
It is usual for the ears to form wax. It helps trap dirt and invading materials. However, excessive formation of ear wax can be a problem. It can block the ear canal and prevent airflow. Thus it may result in excessive pressure formation.
When there is pressure around the eardrums, electric impulses may generate and reach your brain. This would cause an annoying clicking or ringing sound in your ears.
Ear Infection
Infection of the middle ear, aka otitis media, is a common phenomenon seen in children. Adults may also suffer from this, but it is rare. If the infection reaches a severe stage, there might be fluid build-up in the ear.
The fluid would cause blockage causing inflammation or congestion. All of this might lead to tinnitus one ear ringing. In these cases, when Flonase is used for ear ringing, you will get some relief.
Trauma
You may experience ear ringing if you face some sort of ear or head injury. Injury to the head and neck can cause damage to the auditory nerve. The auditory nerve is the nerve that is responsible for carrying sound impulses to the brain. Such type of trauma usually causes tinnitus in one ear.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Eustachian tube dysfunction is a type of condition where there is a constant expansion of the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the upper throat. If there is some kind of blockage or expansion, then your ears may feel full.
Bone Stiffening
Your ears have tiny bones inside them which move as the sound wave reaches them. There is a condition called otosclerosis, which results in stiffening of the bones in your ear. It can appear due to abnormal bone growth. This condition usually runs in the family.
If you know someone in your family having otosclerosis, then your tinnitus may have a connection with it. And you can forget about flonase for ear ringing.
Conditions Related to The Blood Vessels
There might be a fat deposit in your blood vessels. This is known as atherosclerosis. Then again, there might be some problems with the blood vessel wall. This might increase blood flow to the ear. All of this might lead to an increase in pressure. If there is a rise in pressure, then the ear ringing might be prominent.
Problems in Your Jaw
The joint in your jaw is known as the temporomandibular joint. It is situated right in front of your ears. If there is some problem with your joint or dislocation, then it might lead to tinnitus.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is an underlying ear condition that might lead to ear ringing. In this condition, there is an increase in fluid pressure in the middle ear. It affects your hearing ability and can cause ear ringing.
Remedies for Ear Ringing
Ear ringing is a more or less permanent condition. However, it can certainly be managed. By taking specific measures, the sound can become tolerable. You can become more accustomed to the situation. Let’s take a look at a few remedies.
Sound Therapy
Different acoustic methods are used to create sounds that drown out the ear ringing. White noise is played to make the ear ringing less noticeable. Thus it helps you become habituated with the sound. Air conditioners, TVs, speakers, etc. devices are available that provide white noise.
Medication
If your ear ringing is connected to sinusitis, then using Flonase for ear ringing can provide some extent of relief. Flonase is not directly prescribed for ear ringing. But it helps to manage sinusitis and has a collateral effect on ear ringing.
Tinnitus related to Meniere’s disease can be treated with steroid injections. Dexamethasone is a choice of steroid. It has proven to reduce symptoms of ear ringing up to 85%.
Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be used to make the experience more bearable. Drugs like Xanax, Vivactil, Pamelor may be used to calm you down. They have proven to reduce ear ringing to some extent.
Try These 7 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Tinnitus
Using Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can help manage ear ringing. Tinnitus might be caused due to gradual hearing loss. Thus hearing aids might become a necessity. Hearing aids have amplifiers, speakers, and a microphone that modify the perception of external sounds.
Some hearing aids have tinnitus management features. Besides that, research has proven that the better you hear, the easier it would be for you to tune out the ear ringing. So, you might consider getting a hearing aid with the consultation of your doctor.
Surgery
Surgery might sound scary, but with the correct diagnosis, it can provide relief to you. If your ear ringing connects to acoustic neuroma, then surgery might be the best option. Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that forms in the nerves that travel from your inner ear to your brain.
This condition affects your balance as well as your hearing. With the removal of the tumor, you might find a reduction of pressure in the ear. As a result, tinnitus might be reduced.
Customized Devices
Customized devices are available to tackle ear ringing. You can get these set up for you according to your needs. They are usually worn for a certain amount of time. But the effects may last long after you take the device out.
Therapy and Consultation
Tinnitus can be associated with high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. If these conditions remain unchecked, then it might affect tinnitus. You can always consult your doctor if you think you are suffering from any of these conditions.
Hospitals and different organizations dedicated to this cause offer different types of therapies to manage ear ringing. There are cognitive therapies, self-help methods, progressive tinnitus management, and many more.
You can consult with them to choose a therapy according to your needs. They might perform some tests that would help pinpoint the diagnosis and cause behind your problem.
Alternative Treatments
There are many nutritional supplements in the market that claim to help manage tinnitus. Though they cannot replace traditional allopathic solutions, they most certainly can provide some relief. These supplements mostly contain a combination of vitamins, zinc, ginkgo, etc.
Here is a review of a tinnitus-reducing supplement that might help you out. You can consult your doctor before choosing a supplement for yourself.
FAQ
Can nasal spray help the ear ringing?
Different nasal sprays are prescribed for specific conditions. Flonase is usually prescribed for sinusitis. Flonase used for ear ringing can, however, indirectly provide some form of relief. However, Oxytocin nasal sprays have proven to reduce tinnitus to a greater extent.
Does Flonase help with ear congestion?
Flonase is used to treat sinus congestions. Ear congestion might be relieved to some extent through Flonase. Using over-the-counter antihistamines is a better option.
What is the best medicine for ear ringing?
The drugs used to treat ear ringing depend on the underlying cause. Steroid injections have been used to provide relief to patients. Antidepressants, along with steroids, have proven to work well for people suffering from tinnitus.
Final Thoughts
Tinnitus is an annoying condition on its own. When it is related to sinusitis, it just adds to the problem. When you use Flonase for ear ringing, it can provide some form of relief. However, it mainly works to treat the congestion in your sinuses.
There are other forms of treatment and remedies available for your ear ringing. The best way to start is by consulting your doctor first. Once you have the underlying condition diagnosed, it will be easier for you to choose a treatment method.
