posted
I was on Zithromax 500 mg twice a day for 10 days. When I first began taking Zith I noticed a slight buzzing sound in my ears. As I kept taking it the buzzing got worse and worse. At first I thought it was the Lyme but then called my LLMD who took me off of Zith to see if the buzzing would stop. I haven't taken Zith now for 4 days and my ears are still buzzing! Has anybody else had a similar experience? I google searched the possible side effects and found that many people had the same complaint. What worries me is that some people even suffered permanent hearing loss and the buzzing never went away!
-------------------- "One day at a time"
Current: -1.2 IM bicillin three times a week -1.25 IV Vancomycin every day -IV glutathione and IM B12 -Byron White since Jan. 2011 -ALA, Yasko protocal, Adapten-All, thyrosol, Pekano, phosphalipid exchange, probiotics, oregano... Posts: 390 | From FLORIDA | Registered: Jun 2007
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
I didn't get the ringing but did have some temporary mild hearing loss on zith. My hearing is fine now but it did take a while to resolve itself. Zith has a long 1/2 life & can stay in your system a while too.
Hope the buzzing goes away for you soon
Dana
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
It is a side effect of Zithromax. It started for me as well at the time I was on Zith and 3 months later has not resolved. I do so many things it is hard to say 100% sure that it was Zith, but it was enough for my LLMD to take me off of it....
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I had ear ringing with zith for over 2 months.
When I researched it, I saw that it can cause some permanant hearing loss.
Not a good side effect of the meds and one your LLMD needs to be made aware of.
My LLMD took me off zith...Ear ringing stopped about 3-5 days later.
Now I am on Biaxin....horrible taste in mouth, but no ear ringing.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I have the ear ringing too and it is loud. It started right after I began the Zith. I have been pulsing Zith and each time I begin it they start ringing again and when I finish they stop in about a week. I finished the last round on Saturday and they are still ringing today. Hope they stop soon its really annoying.
Think I am going to try what General has done and ask to switch to Biaxin.
Posts: 142 | From Florida | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I was on Zith almost two years ago...woke up in the middle of the night with horrible ear pain and hearing LOSS!
Since it was a weekend I called an advice nurse at a local hospital who was able to look up side affects/cases, etc. She said that the majority of what she saw was temporary and if it didn't clear up in a week to call my doctor.
It did eventually clear up and the hearing came back, but it took longer than a week to do so.
I haven't taken the med since then and hope I don't have to, lol.
Posts: 83 | From us | Registered: Nov 2006
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Remember that Zithromax stays in your blood for several days after you stop taking it. Ringing in the ears is very common with Zithromax. I had it when I was on it, and it went away when I stopped taking it, months later. You may need a reduction in dose if it is severe. I used to listen to music during my IV's to stop the buzz!
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My daughter had ear ringing and ear pain off and on before starting zithromax. When she complained of the pain and ringing after starting zithromax, the llmd switched her to biaxin, because it might be caused by the antiobiotic.
I'm not sure if it was or not. It seemed to be more severe on zithromax. However she continues to have the ringing and stabbing pain occasionally now.
MommaK
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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VelveteenGirl
Unregistered
posted
Here's a page from some of my searching. Ear stuff has been a major area in my quest for treatment.
There's a lot here, but I hope it's broken down enough to sort through. Hope it helps.
I am still seeking something that can protect the ears from toxins, much like milk thistle and other select herbs can help protect the liver.
One consideration for myself, and perhaps for others, is that porphyria is a player.
Porphyria can cause tinnitus - as well as many other symptoms similar to CFS and lyme.
Secondary porphyria can occur in CFS/lyme folks. (that, I think, means that if the toxic load were decreased the body would not be overwhelmed with excess porphyrins).
When the liver can't detox through the Cytochrome P-450 pathway very well, excess porphyrins can accumulate and sort of clog up the works, so to speak.
I've just started taking beta carotene as one treatment, hoping that I can return to allicin soon w/o the tinnitus it brings me.
Glucose, too, helps decrease porphrins and a glucose IV drip is used in acute cases that can be life-threatening. Eating a very small amount of sugar may help if porphyria is a player.
Porphyria is very complex and there are many types.
They have a drug safety database. If a drug on their list is one that causes a person problems, it might be helpful to substitute a drug from their safe list.
Advice from my audiologist:
Vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid are also helpful for tinnitus and, perhaps, the herb, Ligustrin. (Two of Dr. Z's patients report that is has helped their tinnitus tremendously. I plan to try it next week.)
Jack Vernon, MD (retired) will talk (at no charge) with anyone on Fridays, Pacific Time 9-12 and 1-5.
503 - 494- 2187 with Oregon Health Sciences University Dept. of Hearing.
His specialty is ototoxicity and tinnitus treatment (not lyme).
--------------------------------
Links below may be of help.
------------------------------------------------------ American Tinnitus Association - Help For Ringing In The Ears www.ata.org
------------------------------------ The Hyperacusis Network consists of individuals who have a collapsed tolerance to sound. Mission statement:. www.hyperacusis.net
1. Two new anecdotal reports on azithromycin (marketed as ZITHROMAX), and additional information
Info here and abstracts of medical events with zith and tinnitus and hearing changes.
Excerpts:
[The author] found 6 articles on azithromycin and hearing (or other ear function) changes. Some noted that:
* a coexisting viral infection may increase the risk of auditory adverse effects of the drug (readers should note that antibiotics are not indicated for viral infections);
* people with liver or kidney problems are probably at greater risk too because blood levels of the drug may build-up, since the drug isn't being eliminated as quickly as it should.
Ress and Gross (Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss as a result of azithromycin ototoxicity; Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol. 2000 Apr; 109(4): 435-437)
------------------------------------------
There is an on-line version of this book (but it's about $30):
Certain drugs and noise team up to really harm your ears. Here are the drugs and chemicals you need to watch out for if you are around noise. See page 101.
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posted
I never reallly got much ear ringing on the oral zith, but I did get it very strongly plus bad hearing loss on the IV zith with plaquenil. I sort of enjoyed it because the world was quiet.
My LLMD immediately took me off the IV zith when I told him.
Later, when I became pregnant, they had to take me off of the abx I was on and they switched me back to zith WITHOUT the plaquneil. No hearing loss or ringing.
When I have tried to add back in the plaquenil, at the full dose of plaq the ringing and hearing loss come back immediately. At 1/2 dose of plaquenil I am fine.
The plaquenil increases the penetration of the zith.
My hearing came back very shortly after they took me off of the zith and I think that is usually the case.
Posts: 588 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Velveteem Girl! Thank you so much for all the info and links. Excellent! More information on Lyme/Hearing here in this post than I've found in 4 years!
I've avoided Zith (had read some bad bad case reports). Doc agreed too risky especially for someone whose first noted Lyme symptoms started in the ear.
Do you know the name of the test to see if you have the cytochrome clearance problems? Bet I do but want to find out.
Only things that have helped me (temporarily) were essential oils and vinpocetine. But I'd try just about anything at this point. Ever feel like you'd sell days of your life just to hear real QUIET?
Does anyone know how blood flow plays out in Lyme-caused tinnitus/hearing problems?
What would be the best tests to find out where the tinnitus and hearing loss are coming from? Surely, ENTs must be able to determine if the problems are lesions on the cranial nerves or on the ear drums or something, don't you think?
Posts: 422 | From Luck home | Registered: Sep 2005
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VelveteenGirl
Unregistered
posted
ohh.... quiet . . . yes . . . such hope.
MJO - I tossed in the stuff about porphyria just in case. It was probably too much.
But, sometimes, if a person can't clear certain drugs, a side-effect may not so much the drug, but the toxicity issue from clearance problems.
If a certain drug causes you trouble, you might just check it with the porphyria lists and if you have to switch, try one on the safe list. It might help.
Zithromax is listed in several places as ototoxic, but it may not be that for everyone.
Sometimes a person has an inherited tendancy or condition regarding liver processing of xenobiotics or certain classes of chemicals that use the cytochrome P-450 pathways.
It has to do with lacking the specific necessary enzymes, most of which are not availble commercially.
If this is inherited, then family members should be alerted and tested to. However, in the CFS literature of years past, a theory was put forth that many folks with Chronic Fatigue sort of develop a secondary porphyria. ------------- for more on that see: http://tinyurl.com/yozppd
It's in an article about CPn (also of interest), but scroll down and you'll see several explanations of it concerning neurotoxins.
interesting points in this article regarding Exercise Intolerance and Post-Exertional Fatigue and it's relation to porphyrin overload.
----------- Sometimes an exposure to heavy metals or to chemicals (short or long term) can cause porphryia.
Sometimes an infection can.
Porphyria tests I had done by my local porph. specialist (now retired and no one else in town). - various bodily fluids were sent off Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
With me it was determined to be 2 types of chronic, so the levels were elevated but not over the top as most porphyria docs are used to.
Great Smokies Lab in Asheville, NC has a very good panel and more specific than the Mayo lab. However, Great Smokies Lab is out-of-pocket. Most natural doctors know this one.
It has a very good reputation in the natural medicine world, but might not be very impressive to the MD world.
As with everything else, this is not cut and dried.
the Canadian Porphyria Fd has some very good info. too.
To put more here would be very boring to everyone - and it's hard to be concise and in order right now.
If you need more info. PM me and I'll go through my files or we could talk.
sorry my posts are so long. I also know I toss in lots of stuff... not to scare you but in my hope of covering the bases . . . this can get better and you have a very good chance of that.
hope this helps. let us know,
for me, the homeopathic ARNICA MONTANA has helped. If you need more info. on that, let me know, or consult a natural medicine doctor, who would have more complete advice. Arnica is useful for repair with certain injuries.
The homeopathic will not interfer with other meds, but should be taken away from it and away from food. IF you have a health food store in your area they can guide you on this, too.
my ear doc told me that if you lie down with your head raised at a 30 degree angle from the waist (propped up, that is) that it is the best position for the inner and middle ear to be in. This may help.
(you - not YOU but a friend - could also put a brick under each of the legs at the head of the bed. Not sure if that is a 30 degree or not, but it would help.)
Tinnitus can come from the ear or the auditory proccesses in the brain - or both. The sooner a condition is addressed the better the chance for resolution.
(However, some pts. report that they managed through months of tinnitus for it to resolve once the treatment had done its job. It does vary some person to person.)
your doctor may have advice for you . . . just some things that have helped me at times and in help of understanding:
Magnesium and Calcium and Zinc may help calm if the NMDA receptors are too high and the GABA too low. GABA, too, might help, but I don't do very well with it as it relaxes me too much.
(HOWEVER - I've just come across something about magnesium and lyme, so I need to learn more. Someone named MARNIE posted some good info. on this a while back. ANYONE ?)
The NMDA receptors in the brain respond in times of toxicity or excitement.
If they go too high out of balance, so do we, so to speak. This may be a contributor to tinnitus and hyperacusis as well.
Fish oil, too, might be of help in repair.
Now that Zith. is stopped, I hope the buzzing calms down.
It may take a while, but REST - for your ears - is the most important thing. A fan on low might help offset the buzzying . . . or soft music.
If you sing, do it only very lightly. No yelling, yodeling or cheerleading for now, okay. No balloon blowing, etc.
If you can, the standard advice is to avoid aspartame, MSG, coffee, chocolate,
also avoid using music headphones (especially in-the-ear types)
and use earplugs when around traffic, lawn equipment, vacuums, dishwashers and even a hairdryer.
postpone any dental work if you can unless the ears are more stable.
Avoiding any strain to your ears, head and neck is important for now, too. All this from various ear specialists over the years, or from trial and error and seeing what helps. Best of luck.
---------------------- Dr. Vernon will on the phone lines Friday if you have questions for him. (okay to print his name . . . he is a published author on tinnitus. Knows not much about lyme, but he knows about ears.)
Jack Vernon, MD (retired) will talk (at no charge) with anyone on Fridays,
Pacific Time 9-12 and 1-5.
503 - 494- 2187 Oregon Health Sciences University Dept.of Speech and Hearing.
His specialty is tinnitus relief.
--
MJO - yeah, others, too, say Vinpocetine has helped tinnitus. Gingko helps some, but, for me it increases the ringing and wires me too much. We're all a bit different in response, though.
posted
Thanks everybody for your replys! I stopped taking Zith last sunday and the ringing has improved. It seems to come and go now so I'm sure it will eventually disipate. I am now on Biaxin and seem so be having no adverse reacion. LuLu
-------------------- "One day at a time"
Current: -1.2 IM bicillin three times a week -1.25 IV Vancomycin every day -IV glutathione and IM B12 -Byron White since Jan. 2011 -ALA, Yasko protocal, Adapten-All, thyrosol, Pekano, phosphalipid exchange, probiotics, oregano... Posts: 390 | From FLORIDA | Registered: Jun 2007
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