Walgreens: DJ Sues ... Your Earplugs Screwed My Hearing

A DJ claims Walgreens sold him defective earplugs and the results were catastrophic.

Joseph Alpern says in a new lawsuit he bought the plugs in 2013 because he was about to start working at a Brooklyn club known for its powerful sound system.

Alpern claims he used the plugs for several hours and when he left the club he removed them, only to experience "an immediate sharp pain, accompanied by a ringing sound."

He says the pain didn't go away, and 6 months later he realized the damage wasn't going away either ... he had constant ringing in both ears and couldn't sleep on his right side.

Alpern went to a specialist, who gave him bad news ... he had permanent nerve damage and blames it on the plugs. The doc said the plugs were sealed so tightly, when he pulled them out it severely pulled his eardrum.

Alpern says now he suffers headaches, he's constantly fatigued and can't even listen to music at regular volumes.

He's gunning for $640,000 ... minimum.