I took two rounds of Doxy for my Lyme. The first round was for 4 weeks at 200mg a day. The second round was for 4 weeks at 400mg a day. The second round seems to have done the trick, since I have now been symptom-free for two months.
But one problem that seems to be related to the Doxy is ear ringing/tinnitus. This has continued even though I stopped antibiotics two months ago. Sometimes it sounds like a high-pitched dog whistle, other times like my head is next to a high tension wire. It affects both ears but more so with my left one. It's most noticeable when I am trying to go to sleep at night, and it sometimes keeps me awake. During the day it's not a huge problem.
Has anyone else experienced this? Will it eventually go away? Any suggestions on what to do other than the obvious one to see an ear doctor? I have seen various vitamin/herbal supplements in the store for tinnitus...any of them work?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Sorry, there is no way to know if it's temporary or not but some of the experts might offer some clues. Tinnitus is very common with lyme and with certain antibiotic use and with many other drugs. See the ototoxic links in the treat below.
It's best to avoid using a cell phone and the pods in the ears for music. Actually, all headsets are best to avoid as the impulse is just too close to the inflamed ear nerves.
Magnesium and Fish Oil help. More in thread below about those.
To help prevent hearing damage with certain drugs, LIVER SUPPORT is necessary. More about that 3/4 of the way down page one.
Many links in this thread will help you research your question but you talk with your LLMD about this first and if they think you need to see an ear expert, a LL neurotologist in case there may be something else going on. -----------------------
ALL EARS. Specifically for LYME patients - lots of details about ears and what can help:
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
My take: Tinnitus is a common symptom of Lyme/coinfections. Mine started about 30 years ago. At first it does seem to drive you crazy, especially when severe. However, with time, you learn to live with it and it eventually ends up on the bottom of your list of concerns.
The emergence of tinnitus after starting treatment is probably a herx. treating Lyme is like stirring up a hornets' nest. The borrelia mobilize and end up in different organs.
I myself have experienced a definite reduction in my tinnitus symptoms since treating Lyme. Sometimes it's barely noticeable. Who knows - it may actually go away. But for me, the other Lyme symptoms are much more disabling than this one.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I agree with paulie, I have had Lyme for over 10 years, maybe as far back as 26 years, and developed tinnitus during that time. I still haven't started an abx regimen.
Posted by amberini (Member # 21281) on :
You may be one of the fortunate ones since you took ABX for a relatively short period of time. Maybe this will eventually fade for you, I really hope so.
Tinnitus can disrupt sleep and concentration which in turn can cause us many emotional upsets like depression. I use a sound machine that plays nature type sounds. It has a timer, I set it for 90 minutes. It's very soothing and my dogs love it, too.
There are programs on the internet using either white or pink noise for masking. Some can be downloaded so you can use them when trying to sleep. There are many sounds of Tinnitus. I have a high pitched noise. You might have to experiment before you find the background noise that will mask your internal noise.
Some cannot tolerate sound and for them a fan might provide enough "white" noise to mask tinnitus.
There are hearing aid type devices to mask the noise, I have no idea how effective they are though and they are expensive, relatively speaking.
Improving blood flow to the ear has proven helpful for many people. Some claim Vinpocentine give them relief although some also say at 20mg they experience some palpitations. If you have any heart issues, then you might want to research more before trying it.
Interestingly, it could also be helpful for people with Alzheimers and Parkison's disease.
Here is the link for the recent study using Pycnogenol to relieve tinnitus.
It does help to train your mind to not focus on your ear noise. I have had it a very long time but training and keeping your mind occupied can be very effective.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
I read on this board that some people took a diuretic to get rid of their medication induced tinnitus...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Many Rx diuretics are ototoxic, so be very careful with those. -------------------
There are at least 743 drugs that are known to be ototoxic. Here are just 84 of them:
For anyone with any kind of ear, inner or middle ear symptoms, this book is a must- have, not just for lists, but also for education regarding how we treat our ears. ------------
Topic: How to find an ILADS-educated LL ND (naturopathic doctor), L.Ac. (acupuncturist), etc.
Includes how to find an ILADS-educated LL ND, a L.Ac. (Acupuncturist), a doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.), or a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (D.Ay.), certified herbalists or nutritionists, etc. DO, DC
�� Includes many professional links, articles and books on complementary / integrative methods & RIFE links.
BODY WORK LINKS are also included. -
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Sweet oil has protected mine so far.
But I have lost my super hearing, darn it...
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Its not the abx, it's a toxic state due to a slew of factors.
Posted by apljack (Member # 14233) on :
detox, detox, detox.
Posted by letyourheartwinx (Member # 24736) on :
I have the same problem with doxy. I am on 400mg a day. I'm a little confused, however, about the different responses to the main post. Is the ringing due to the meds, the meds beating the lyme (herx), or toxic situations in the body?
Posted by apljack (Member # 14233) on :
Not sure why lemon water works but it seems to help me. I'm on a very large dose of Zith which would kill my ears if I didn't do lemon water and milk thistle.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Q: "is the ringing due to the meds; the meds beating the lyme (herx); or toxic situations in the body?"
It can be any one or all of the above - PLUS other things such as past noise damage; current noise or even sound exposure; other ototoxic meds; medicines, or OTC products that lower glutathione (such as acetaminophen), etc.
When on abx, even lower sounds can cause hearing damage. Ear plugs should be worn when around anything louder than an 85 decibels. A hairdryer is about 100 db.
Avoid cell phones and in-the-ear pods, even headphones. Links above detail other considerations, of which there are many. -
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
'Thyroid', I'm just going to toss in the fact that if your Lyme disease was diagnosed as anything BUT early-stage, that 4 weeks at 400 mg a day has NOT "done the trick", but only- at best- suppressed the infection for now. It Will be back.
You need to be on an abx at "ILADS-recommended" levels for atLeast 4 to eight weeks BEYOND clearing of all Lyme symptoms. Plus, you should address the latent forms (i.e: cysts) with [an]other drug[s], like Flagyl.
Keebler has good suggests for supplements. And don't forget extended exercise. (Work up to atleast 45 minutes+, every Other day.) It was CRUCIAL in beating MY tinnitus, which was bothersome years before the Lyme.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- About exercise, IF the liver is very much overwhelmed, too much exercise (&/or aerobic) exercise may actually damage the ears from the toxic load circulating in the body.
Detailed explanation of that in both threads below. Also to consider: inflamed ear tissue that can be too irritated from strenuous pulling or tugging during harder exercises.
Movement is very important. However, IF any exercise - or any activity - seems to trigger tinnitus, go back over liver/kidney support and try for non-aerobic exercises such as walking, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga and the like. Sometimes, slower is better.
Listen. If tinnutis sounds its horn afterward, the next time, slow it down. If not, great, still just go for gradual increases until ears (as well as endurance) are more stable. -------------------