posted
Since I started doxy 3 weeks ago the ringing in my right ear has been driving me crazy. Is it from the doxy or it is a herxing reaction? I have a doc appointment a week from tomorrow. Should I call sooner? Thanks mom of boys
Posts: 18 | From long island | Registered: Oct 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
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It can be from the doxy. I get that. But not as badly as from zith or mino.
Are you taking magnesium, B-6, fish oil? NAC? All this can help.
Being sure your liver support is in place is good as if the liver is too stressed, that can create a backwash of toxins and affect the ears.
And, adrenal support can help, too, as high levels of cortisol (as are common with lyme) can contribute to tinnitus. The spirochetes are stressed by the meds, therefore, stressing your body more.
Yes, it can be a herx reaction but also from other things, too. Be sure to use hearing protection when even around a hair dryer or vacuum. The threshold at which noise can damage ears is lower with on abx.
This may work out over time. Lyme, itself, can cause the tinnitus so it's important to keep addressing lyme. However, hearing experts would advise you informing your doctor and, perhaps, switching meds if this one creates too strong of a ringing.
Minocycline and Azithromycin, though, present worse problems with tinnitus for many patients. Some do fine, even great, though.
With the precaution of B-6, magnesium, NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) and fish oil . . . and whatever liver support your doctor has suggested . . . hopefully, this will improve.
Oh, be sure to avoid aspirin. It can cause tinnitus for some.
And, I assume you do not consume even a trace of aspartame/Nutrasweet/Equal or MSG (in any of it's names - you can google). All that is toxic to the brain cells and can cause tinnitus, too.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Oh, what I have found that helps me the most is andrographis.
I can't take any abx for various reasons - and a few months ago began the Buhner protocol with just andrographis at first to see how I did with that.
Some LLMDs do incorporate this into their protocols.
Andrographis helped measurably to lower tinnitus for me. It is mentioned in Singleton's book and thoroughly discussed in Buhner's.
There are no articles linking andrographis and tinnitus but there is literature on its neuroprotective and antimicrobial properties. One side note, it makes me much more tired but, after reading about it, that is understandable. For me, benefits are already outweighing that. (I also deal with seizures from even soft sounds - andrographis is really helping to dampen the set-point for that.)
Gingko helps many people but I've found it too stimulating and to actually increase tinnitus in my case. Allicin, too, seems to buzz me. But I've only heard that from one other person. Most do fine.
Oh, be sure your B-vitamins and folic acid are all adequate. THAT will help a great deal. MAGNESIUM, too, as mentioned in post above. That is the best thing. You can take magnesium to bowel tolerance and then back off a bit.
I can't say whether you should call your doctor about this or not - depends on how bad it is - and if adding anything is okay with your protocol. At your appointment next week, be sure to make this a point of discussion.
Tinnitus can increase stress and that makes healing all the harder. A massage can help all this, too.
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