have been in treatment for almost a year now- was on biaxin for most of that time and past 2 months mepron/zith. i have tinnitus now.
not sure when it started- thought i had a clogged ear, so i finally decided to see ENT doctor and he mentioned tinnitus. it has probably been going on for at least a few months.
not sure what to do now that i am treating babesia with mepron/zith. is there something else i can take with mepron? i can't talk to my llmd until monday now.
i hope this isn't permanent. my ear has a pulsing sensation in it. i think my hearing is fine- don't notice hearing loss.
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
I get ringing of the ears from both Zith and Biaxin. I have it anyway just from lyme itself I guess. But it definately gets worse with both Zith and Biaxin.
Posted by maureen2174 (Member # 11471) on :
when you are not on biaxin or zith. is it much better? i never had this before taking the biaxin and zith.
Posted by CraigC (Member # 13732) on :
I too am on Biaxin, and have more pronounced tinnitis. I've had a slight case for the past several years, but it has definitely been heightened due to something. Maybe Biaxin is the culprit. I haven't noticed a hearing loss, just more pronounced ringing. I would also like to know if it subsides, after the course of abx is complete.
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
Zithromax causes tinnitus that can be permanent. It can also lead to permanent hearing loss. Please inform your LLMD because my doctor stopped me on Zith and my hearing didnt come back to normal for months.
Lindsay
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
For me, I had ringing before I started the abx, but it definately gets worse while on them. It goes back to the normal ringing when I stop.
Posted by Nebula2005 (Member # 8244) on :
Noises in my ears has been one of my worst symptoms, along with pain and nerve spasms in my ears and face.
It got much worse on doxycycline. IV Rocephin helped it, but I had to be switched to oral meds after my PICC line came out too far during dressing changes (nurse's mistake.)
Now that I'm on Zithromax and Tindamax, it's been pretty bad. My doctor pulses ABX, so I'll soon be on a break and will be able to gauge any improvement.
It gets really loud, like a air raid signal. It's "alarming" at times!
I take Lyrica for pain, this has helped me tolerate the noise, too.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
Sorry to hear of the ear stuff. It certainly can alter one's life.
You might be interested in a current similar thread.
Caution: Lots of stuff here. You may want to get some tea and snack and take a few deep breaths.
Hopefully, the posts will show you how to search for stuff you are taking, including over the counter products.
Protection and prevention is great, if that can be achieved. Be sure to ask your doctor if there is more - or less - you can do so that your ears can be happy.
Topic: Ear Ringing from Antibiotics - does it go away when you stop them?
posted 02 March, 2008
Of particular importance: links to OTOTOXIC DRUG research and links to vestibular organizations and the descriptions of various inner/middle ear conditions.
-------------------
and Daise has posted this: a personal journey of getting rid of tinnitus:
[ 04. March 2008, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
My doc also stopped Zith immediately when I had some ringing in my ears and said that it could be permanent. I would not continue without talking about that issue with your doctor.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Do what Scott said, let your doctor know. For some it is temporary, but it can be damaging.
Be careful.
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi Maureen,
You poor thing.
You mentioned: "... my ear has a pulsing sensation in it. i think my hearing is fine- don't notice hearing loss."
Tinnitus can be due to multiple things going on: metabolic mayhem! For one, it can be a symptom of Lyme.
It could also be vascular anomalies: a pulsing sound could be pulsatile tinnitus--pulsatile tinnitus, with Lyme. Add in Zithro ...
Add in a herx ...
Everyone: It's really good, on this thread and others, that you guys are getting out the word on Zithro and tinnitus.
Maureen: What we Lyme patients go through is hideous.
I'm glad you'll inform your LLMD.
Did the ENT know about the pulsing sound?
daise Posted by maureen2174 (Member # 11471) on :
is there anything else besides zith or biaxin that you can take with mepron for babesia? Something that does not cause a problem with your ears?
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
I don't know, Maureen. You could ask your LLMD.
daise Posted by CraigC (Member # 13732) on :
I read about the side effects of Biaxin, and it does say that tinnitus is one of them. However, it says that this should subside, once the medication course is over. I sure hope that's the case, since it seems to be a double-edged sword, when treating this stuff.
Posted by 11yrs-nowitsLyme (Member # 13737) on :
I have had tinnitus for about 2 years. I was diagnosed with Lyme in Sept. 2007. Maybe it's a bit worse- like cicadas in my head, singing all the time. I have been on Minocin, and now biaxin/zithromax.
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