posted
Many posts are about azithro and the damage it does to our ears. I have been taking azithro for 8 months and am worried about ear damamge.
What can I do to prevent ear problems? Vitiamins, suppliments
what were the symptoms, and did they last?
Posts: 501 | From Hudson Ticky Valley, NY | Registered: Aug 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Jenn,
I assume your ears are doing fine now or you might have mentioned certain symptoms (such as tinnitus - ringing, hissing, etc.). If fine, that is great. To keep it that way:
* continue to treat infection as safely as possible for as long as it takes -- even if the plan has to change, infection simply must be adequately treated.
* Liver support (i.e Milk Thistle is best for on-going support for liver - and for ears).
* Avoiding all non-essential meds or OTC products that are hard on the liver can help prevent hearing damage (i.e. acetaminophen can damage the liver and the ears).
* Avoiding noise damage. Ear plugs should be worn when near a hair dryer, vacuum, blender, etc. Ears are extremely more likely to be damaged from even lower levels of sound than usual when on antibiotics - and for up to a full year after stopping abx. (as per Neil Bauman's book about Ototoxity).
* It would be excellent to get that book as there is so much detail that simply is not available on any web site. Link is in the thread below.
More here about ear safety:
3/4 of the way down page one, there are lots of LIVER LINKS:
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
[ 06-03-2010, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
My Dr. prescribed me 60 days Zithromax, along with suprax. I have ear problems as it is. Very badly clogged and I have twice lost my hearing completely in one ear. I have not yet started this regimen. Should I seek a better prescription?
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- lymeboy,
While some do okay with this, others don't. Personally, I would never take zithromax if I already had hearing damage. Ever. Bauman explains that once damage has occurred, ototoxic drugs are even more likely to cause further damage.
Be sure to avoid aspirin and OTC pain relievers as they can be toxic to the ears as well (other pain relief suggestions are in the Tinnitus thread).
Also assess your exposure to sound. As mentioned above, levels need not be really loud to cause damage when on abx and even up to a year later.
So often, it's not just a drug that can be ototoxic but the ADDITION of NOISE damage that is the tipping point.
There are some posts in the Tinnitus thread as to other's experiences with Zith. You might look at that.
A lot has to do with the health of one's liver and kidneys regarding the differences in patients' reactions.
In that Tinnitus thread, also see the PubMed cross search, as there are cases of zith causes irreversible hearing loss. You don't want any more damage to any vestibular function as that can affect your balance, reading comprehension, vision, etc.
Ototoxicity--The Hidden Menace; Part I: Lives in Upheaval
� November 2003 by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Excerpts:
What Is Ototoxicity?
To many doctors, ototoxicity just means hearing loss or tinnitus. Others consider only drug side effects that affect the inner ear as being ototoxic. However, Stedman's Medical Dictionary defines ototoxicity as the "property of being injurious to the ear."
Therefore, any side effect of a drug that damages our ears in any way is ototoxic whether it damages the outer, middle or inner ear.
. . . hearing loss . . . tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo and numerous other cochlear and vestibular (balance) problems . . .
There are at least 743 drugs that are known to be ototoxic. Here are just 84 of them:
. . . .
- See list at link above - and then be sure to read Part II of this series. -
[ 06-03-2010, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
I don't have hearing damage. My hearing is fine. But the lyme & co has given me "stuffy" ears with some mild tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Will Zith hurt my ears more? I don't want to damage them.
I also think Bart may be in my ears.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I guess it would depend on the degree of tinnitus, and if it was there before the zith or clearly only after starting it (as that would give some indication, perhaps).
Lyme, itself, can damage ears. So can other infections.
It's a fine balancing act, for sure and no two persons will have the same reaction to the same meds, etc. Sadly, there are no perfect meds that have the power to smash infections without some strain on the body.
Just read all you can - the book above is excellent in explaining so much. Support where you can - and eliminate all "non-essential" negative stressors on the ears, liver and kidneys.
Shield ears from noise. Seriously, ear plugs need to be worn even when near a hair dryer. Much more detail in the Bauman book. It discusses so much more than can be addressed here.
There are just too many variables for a blanket, yes or no, as tinnitus can be either from meds or from infection. But ear damage also comes from so many other fronts.
It's often the total load that's barely holding one and then just one thing (like a loud concert) that tips the scales to a point of no return. Even a cough or sneeze can be the last straw, though.
A gluten-free and dairy-free diet will often help ears to clear from stuffiness. Getting perfumed products and chemicals out of the house is a good move, too. The Tinnitus thread has so much more detail, too. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
This is a big mess for me. I am about to end my IV treatment, followed by the Zithro. My symptoms are not under control yet, and I am hesitant about stopping antibiotics. I will not be able to get to my Dr. again, and he does not call in scripts. The kicker to this is that I start a new job Monday. This job will involve many hours. There is absolutlely NO WAY I can get myself a new script in time....or at all.... I am afraid of damaging my ears further, but I am also afraid of letting this disease regain strength. Anyone have any ideas?
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