People with tinnitus may experience a worsening of the condition if they are being treated with selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a common class of antidepressants.

Share on Pinterest Researchers say that using SSRIs could make tinnitus worse.

This is the conclusion of a new study recently published in the journal Cell Reports.

Tinnitus is the intermittent or constant sensation of hearing sounds when no such sounds are present. Although tinnitus is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” people with the condition may experience a variety of sounds, including whistling, buzzing, and hissing.

According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 45 million people in the United States are affected by tinnitus. For around 2 million of these individuals, the condition is severe, and it can sometimes interfere with day-to-day activities.

Previous studies have suggested that people with tinnitus are at increased risk of depression, compared with people without the condition.

Some of these individuals may be treated with selective-serotonin repute inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by increasing brain levels of the mood hormone serotonin.

The new study, however, suggests that such treatment may be a double-edged sword; while working to ease symptoms of depression, SSRIs may actually be making the tinnitus worse.