LymeNet Flash: Tinnitus and antibiotics?

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Tinnitus and antibiotics?

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Author

Topic: Tinnitus and antibiotics?

Bobidor
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 14453

posted

Lately I've been experiencing more and more tinnitus. At first, it was just when I went to bed and when the house was quiet, but now I sometimes have it when there is noise around.

I'm taking zithromax (500 mg), doxycycline (400 mg), and plaquenil (400 mg).

Is this a common side-effect of the antibiotics? If so, will it go away once I stop taking them?

Has anyone developed permanent tinnitus or ear damage because of these drugs?

Thanks in advance for your replies,

Julie

Posts: 209 | From Montreal, QC, CAN | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged |

daise
Unregistered

posted

Hi Bobidor,

It's miserable, I know.

You'll find information on this site about tinnitus. Lyme can certainly cause it and Zithro can, too. [Frown]

When in herx, it typically gets worse.

I'm sorry. [group hug]

Very loud noise may--be permanent. But that's may. OK?

Here is the link to keeblers wonderful help:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=064047

My journey:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=060660

Tinnitus is no fun. For some, like me, it took a journey to figure out my particular causes of tinnitus.

Stay with it, OK? If there are other causes contributing to your tinnitus, you'll get it figured out, with a bit of detective work.

Good treatment for Lyme cures it, to the extent that it's caused by Lyme.

daise [Smile]

IP: Logged |

WildCondor
Unregistered

posted

Zithromax causes ringing in the ears, and it's a common side effect. It does go away once you stop taking it. [Smile]

IP: Logged |

shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436

posted

Lyme itself can cause hearing loss, and so can Zithromax. Please check with your doctor, as permanent loss is no fun.

-- Shaz
(has mild-to-moderate loss due to Lyme)

Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged |

Bobidor
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 14453

posted

Thanks for all your replies!

I've decided to take a 3-day break from the zithromax to see if the tinnitus fades away...

Hope it'll work [Smile]

Julie

Posts: 209 | From Montreal, QC, CAN | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged |

LuLuFlorida
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 12066

posted

My ear ringing was directly caused by ZIthromax. At first I only noticed it when it was very quiet and when trying to sleep like you... but it got louder during treatment. Zithromax can cause permanent hearing damage so please contact your doctor.

You can take a 3 day break but Zith has a really long half life so my ear ringing didnt begin fading for a week. Itdidnt complely go away for a few months after stopping it.

Hope this helps,
Lindsay

--------------------
"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 | IP: Logged |

Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134

posted

I already had tinnitus, and Zithromax didn't make it worse. Doxycycline did, however. That damage is now reverted (whew!!), but not just by stopping it.

There have been many posts about ototoxic drugs here--do a search for that.

As was posted earlier, Zith stays in the body for a long time, so three days off isn't going to be difinitive about the tinnitus issue.

Best,

Cass A

Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007 | IP: Logged |

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