Anyone noticed beating sensation in ear after applying olive oil drops

I use Claritin to stop the heart beat I hear in one ear at night when I goto sleep. It takes only a few days of taking Claritin to stop it. After a full work up by a ENT including a MRI, ultrasound etc he could find nothing wrong. My GP then said try Claritin and after a few days the heart beats went away. Came back a few years ago- and took Claritin again and the heart beats stopped. Had no other symptoms that would suggest I have an allergy. Never used drops in my ear like olive oil nor was it suggested as a remedy.

@sjs1 Thank you for your response. I am pleased to hear that Claritin worked for you and the MRI didnt show up anything more severe. I have not even considered taking Claritin but I will definitely give it a go if I experience another episode of beats.

I have tinnitus and with occasional Pulsatile tinnitus and ear infections. I don’t recommend putting anything in your ear. Wax should be removed by an ent to avoid pushing it further in and it becoming impacted. While ringing / buzzing tinnitus is innocuous Pulsatile tinnitus can be from medical conditions that should be looked into by a Dr. if it persists.

There seem to be two types of tinnitus. My ENT did a full workup . Imaging (MRI) → ruled out tumors (like acoustic neuroma) and major structural problems. Ultrasound of neck vessels → ruled out vascular issues that can sometimes cause pulsatile tinnitus. Audiology/ear testing → showed no progressive inner-ear disease like Meniere’s or sudden hearing loss.
When all of that comes back normal, it essentially rules out the “serious” causes of tinnitus. What remains are the far more common, non-dangerous triggers — like fluid/pressure regulation, allergies, sinus, or medicine caused, like with certain diuretics.

If your GP agrees, and you continue without professional removal help, then try a non oil wax remover called Debrox an over the counter remedy. You are apparently sensitive to using an oil base remover and should not continue with it.

@sjs1 Thank you for your reply. I did try Claritin which seemed to work the first time but since then it doesn't appear to have had any effect. I find when I move my jaw repeatedly it sometimes seems to stop for a while so not sure if this indicates it is TMJ? The beats in my left ear only occur upon waking abruptly or burping forcibly but the left ear seems to beat less frequently (every 1 - 2 minutes at times) but it seems to be a daily occurance.

I have booked in with ENT but they do not have any appointments until November...i may have to look into Debrox at least in the interim and let you know how it goes.

@beat16
Thank you for your update. My beats happen only at night when I go to sleep related to what appears to be a vascular issue and allergies apparently. If yours occur as you indicate in the day your condition appears more muscular skeletal and when the ENT rules out the worst I imagine it’s more of a pressure issue like TMJ. I read: The Eustachian tube is a small canal that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose/throat. Its job: open and close to equalize pressure (like when your ears “pop” on an airplane) If it’s not working properly (too stiff, too floppy, or blocked), pressure changes can trigger sounds, popping, or tinnitus. I understand there are tests a ENT uses to test for this condition and procedures to help. Why my ENT only did a MRI and Ultrasound of neck veins and not a Eustachian tube test I don’t know because when I am in an exercise class my ears sounds become muffled for a while but that’s not the heart beats I hear in my one ear, always the right ear at night. I didn’t report the muffled ear to the ENT. If I were you I wouldn’t use anything in the ear to remove wax until I saw the ENT. Document for the ENT when the beats began - was it when you used the oil - and when you hear them. Mine are the beating of my heart heard only in one ear when I go to sleep. I wonder if an elevated pillow would help me too. Tell your ENT all meds you use. My diuretic I take is not good for tinnitus. Even though mine is vascular or blood flow related and allergy related I took a diuretic that caused it to flare up. It changed the pressure in my ear.

@sjs1 I suppose changing the elevation or position you sleep could help your ears at night. I invested in one of those memory foam pillows which supports your neck and helps sleep on your side too. Although I also require a pillow with a hole on top to ensure I dont sleep on my ears as this has been known to trigger the beating sensation usually from 3am in the morning to when I wake up.

I will certainly not be using ear drops as it might be contributing to the ear wax being compacted and will look for other methods until my ENT appointment.

One method that has brought temporary relief is a heat pad heated in microwave for 90 seconds and placed around neck. This seems to soothe the area or at least act as a distraction from the beating feeling.

I've also tried restricting my caffeine intake and now having decaff in hope that this might help although so far it doesn't seem dependent on how much I consume. I also take plenty of supplements although possibly too many at times. I always document every day I have these symptoms and have been keeping a record for the past 3 months or so.