Muscle Relaxer Tinnitus: What You Need to Know About the Link
When you take a muscle relaxer, a medication used to ease muscle spasms and pain, often prescribed for back pain, neck stiffness, or injuries. Also known as skeletal muscle relaxants, these drugs work by calming overactive nerves in your muscles—but they don’t just stop at your back or shoulders. Some people report a strange side effect: ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, a persistent noise in the ears like ringing, buzzing, or hissing, not caused by an external sound. It’s not listed on every label, but it’s real enough that doctors have seen it happen—especially with drugs like cyclobenzaprine, the active ingredient in Flexeril and other common muscle relaxants.
Why does this happen? Muscle relaxers affect your central nervous system. They slow down nerve signals, which helps loosen tight muscles, but that same effect can mess with how your brain processes sound. Tinnitus isn’t always about damaged ears—it’s often about how your brain interprets signals. If a muscle relaxer alters neurotransmitters like serotonin or GABA, it can trigger or worsen that internal noise. Studies have shown that people on long-term muscle relaxants report higher rates of tinnitus than those not taking them. It’s not guaranteed, and it doesn’t happen to everyone, but if you start hearing ringing after beginning a new muscle relaxer, it’s worth connecting the dots. Some users notice it within days; others say it creeps in slowly over weeks. The good news? For many, the ringing fades after stopping the drug.
Not all muscle relaxers carry the same risk. Cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol have the most reports linked to tinnitus. Others, like baclofen or diazepam, might affect hearing too, but the evidence is thinner. If you’re already dealing with tinnitus from another cause—like loud noise exposure, hearing loss, or even stress—adding a muscle relaxer could make it worse. You don’t need to panic, but you do need to pay attention. Keep a log: when did the ringing start? Did it get louder after you started the pill? Did it get better when you skipped a dose? This kind of tracking helps your doctor decide if the drug is the culprit.
What can you do? Talk to your doctor before stopping anything. They might switch you to a different muscle relaxer with fewer ear-related side effects, or suggest non-drug options like physical therapy, heat therapy, or stretching routines. Some people find relief with magnesium supplements or reducing caffeine, but those aren’t fixes for drug-induced tinnitus—they just help manage symptoms. The key is catching it early. If you’re on a muscle relaxer and notice new or worsening ringing in your ears, don’t wait. Get it checked. Your hearing matters, and so does your comfort.
Below, you’ll find real-world stories, comparisons, and expert insights on how medications like Flexeril and others connect to hearing issues—so you can make smarter choices without guessing what’s causing your symptoms.