The eustachian tube connects your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat, and it is normally closed unless you are swallowing or yawning. But for people with patulous eustachian tube (PET), that tube stays open, meaning that they can hear their own voice, heartbeat, and even breathing.
While this may not sound like a huge issue, the constant sound can be very annoying, even distressing, and is often accompanied by heavy bouts of dizziness and nausea, along with feelings of anxiety and depression. While there are conventional treatment options available, they do not work for everyone.
Medical cannabis is one of the complementary treatments available that patients may find helpful in managing some of the co-occurring symptoms of PET.
Read on to find out more.
0.3 to 6.6%
of the population is affected by patulous eustachian tube, though it goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed quite often.
10 to 20%
of patients with PET are bothered enough by thier symptoms to seek medical attention
Around 2x
more women are affected by PET than men, with the symptoms often coming to a fore between the ages of 20 and 30
97%
of the 1,669 Releaf medical cannabis patients who took part in our 2025 patient survey, the largest of its kind at that point, reported improved quality of life.
Symptoms
A feeling of your ear being blocked
Anxiety/depression
Autophony (hearing your own voice very clearly)
Dizziness/vertigo
Headaches
Muscle tension
Nausea
Sensory overload issues
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek tailored advice from a medical professional.
Treatment options:
Standard patulous eustachian tube treatments patients may have tried:
Dietary changes
Oestrogen nasal drops
Oral potassium iodide
Prescribed medical cannabis to help manage co-occurring symptoms
Pressure equalisation techniques
Saline nasal spray or drops
Staying well hydrated
Surgical intervention
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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“Patulous Eustachian tube is an often-overlooked condition that can be surprisingly distressing to live with.
I’ve had patients tell me how hearing their own voice, breathing and heartbeat echo inside their head can be incredibly disorientating.
Since the symptoms can vary so much as well, individual assessment is crucial to ensuring they are targeted and managed effectively.”
Dr Alex Van Heerden
Clinical Director/Consultant Emergency Medicine
24. 04. 2025
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The eustachian tube is a canal that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat and nose, with the primary job of keeping the air pressure in your middle ear equal to the outside pressure, draining mucus and secretions into the throat and blocking internal sounds.
Patulous eustachian tube is a condition in which the tube does not function as it should, staying open when it should be closed, leading to being able to hear, often in an exaggerated or booming way, your own breathing, heartbeat and voice (autophony).
As well as being able to hear your bodily functions, which many patients find very distressing, symptoms also include a potentially painful, clogged sensation in the ear, dizziness/vertigo, nausea, headaches, anxiety, depression, muscle tension, and sensory overload
Constantly hearing your own heartbeat, voice and breathing, as well as having outside hearing muffled or fluctuating, can cause severe distress, profound social isolation, anxiety and depression.
Many people stick to simple strategies at home to manage symptoms of patulous eustachian tube, including staying well hydrated and attempting to reset pressure equalisation by forcing exhalation against a closed mouth and nose.
Saline nasal sprays may also be prescribed. In some severe cases, surgical intervention may be required, such as inserting a ventilation tube into the eardrum, inserting custom silicone plugs or injecting fillers into the walls of the tube.
Medical cannabis can also be prescribed for patulous eustachian tube to help manage some of the uncomfortable physical and mental health symptoms.
A huge 97% of the 1,669 Releaf medical cannabis patients who took part in our 2025 patient survey, the largest of its kind at that point, reported improved quality of life.
Here's a quick overview of the main treatment options available for patulous eustachian tube:
|
Type of treatment |
Clinical Context |
|
Saline nasal drops |
Although the primary purpose of saline nasal drops is to combat dryness, in the case of patulous eustachian tube these drops are used to induce temporary swelling to help seal the tube closed. |
|
Estrogen Nasal Drops |
Compounded, topical estrogen drops may be prescribed in some cases of patulous eustachian tube to swell the mucus membrane of the Eustachian tube. |
|
Potassium Iodide (SSKI) |
Oral potassium Iodide is sometimes prescribed to induce swelling and temporarily close the tube. |
|
Prescribed medical cannabis |
Medical cannabis can be prescribed to help manage co-occurring symptoms of patulous eustachian tube, such as nausea, dizziness and anxiety. |
Medical cannabis is generally not recommended for the treatment of patulous eustachian tube, and some studies have found cannabis can exacerbate certain symptoms. One study noted that taking nonprescribed cannabis is associated with greater odds of obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction. That said, the cannabis was likely smoked, and in the UK, it is illegal to smoke cannabis, even when legally prescribed.
When medical cannabis is taken as prescribed by a specialist clinician, some patients may find it helpful in managing the headaches, anxiety, depression, nausea and dizziness, which can go hand-in-hand with the condition.
Here’s a quick overview of what the key studies relating to patulous eustachian tube symptoms have found over recent years:
|
Name of study |
Year of publication |
Results |
|
Cannabis and the immune response: A comprehensive review of therapeutic potential and concerns |
2025 |
The immunomodulatory properties of THC and CBD offer promising avenues for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Patulous eustachian tube is primarily driven by inflammation and chronic inflammation can indirectly contribute to it. |
|
The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea |
2022 |
Nausea relief was found to be statistically significant at 5 minutes post administration of cannabis, and by 1-hour post-consumption, 96.4% of people had experienced symptom relief. |
|
2025 |
Administration of THC-dominant medicinal cannabis was associated with acute reductions in anxiety and depression, and sustained reductions in overall symptom severity over a 6-month period. |
|
|
Potential effects of cannabinoids on audiovestibular function: A narrative review |
2022 |
The present review shows that the endocannabinoid system regulates audiovestibular function. Compounds that activate the ECS (such as cannabinoids) have neuromodulatory effects which would act on symptoms as diverse as dizziness, nystagmus, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus or headache across different vestibular syndromes |
Although no studies that show a direct link between the endocannabinoid system and patulous eustachian tube, the ECS is being increasingly researched in relation to conditions affecting the ears, nose and throat.
It’s known that the ECS plays a critical role in regulating homeostasis within the nasal, sinus cavities and tissues of the ear, helping to modulate inflammation and regulate mucus production. Inflammation, allergies, and changes in mucus consistency are common co-factors or triggers for PET symptoms. CB2 receptors in particular are studied for their potential to alleviate inflammatory pain and auditory issues.
So far, the very limited research looking at cannabis and patulous eustachian tube only focuses on smoking and the negative impact of that. There are broader studies looking at cannabis in otolaryngology, tinnitus being one with the most positive results.
A 2023 study found that out of 45 patients, 80% were actively taking cannabis and reported that it helped with tinnitus-related symptoms, such as dizziness, anxiety, bodily pain, and sleep disturbances.
Medical cannabis for patulous eustachian tube can be prescribed by Releaf clinicians in various forms, including cannabis flower to vaporise, THC vapes, cannabis oil, cannabis capsules and cannabis pastilles. Our world-class clinical team is always on hand to answer any questions you may hav.
It’s easy to find out if you’re eligible for a medical cannabis prescription. Simply head to our fast and free medical cannabis eligibility checker.
No, medical cannabis cannot cure patulous eustachian tube, but it may help to manage co-occurring symptoms including nausea, anxiety and dizziness.
Smoking cannabis can worsen symptoms of patulous eustachian tube, including autophony, but it is illegal to smoke medical cannabis. It’s important to take your medical cannabis prescription as advised by your Releaf clinician for the best experience.
To access a medical cannabis prescription in the UK, you need to have already tried two standard treatments. If you’ve given various treatments a go but are still having a problem with symptoms of patulous eustachian tube, medical cannabis may be worth considering.
Yes, medical cannabis is known for helping with social anxiety.
A recent review of 57 studies found that, among the 13 highest-quality studies, 70% reported a positive improvement for disorders including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another 2019 Neuropsychopharmacology trial of CBD for anxiety found that cannabis oil containing 300 mg CBD daily significantly decreased anxiety after being taken daily for 4 weeks.
