If you google "wellbutrin permanent tinnitus" there are plenty of reports out there, but I feel ethically compelled to add my anecdote to the pile.
About 5 years ago, I started taking generic Wellbutrin and immediately (at least by the 2nd day) the tinnitus started. I checked the warning label and saw it occurs in 7% of people who take it, but naively assumed the side effect would go away after I stopped. After a few months, the tinnitus just became too much, and the relief I was getting from it was minimal, so I stopped.
Five years later, the tinnitus is the same. It's loud, especially in my left ear, and it is 24/7 -- there is never a moment when my ears aren't ringing. Mine sounds like cicadas as I've heard others report. It affects my ability to hear, and also I'm a musician so the fact that I have to hear music "over" the ringing is a really big bummer.
I did contact several law firms, but none were interested. I assume that it's hard enough to prove you have tinnitus, much less prove that it was caused by Wellbutrin/buproprion. And if people thought it could cause a permanent side effect, it would surely materially impact sales, so the drug companies would fight hard against disclosing that.
