Antibiotics for People Who Have Had Joint Replacements

[Rodney Renvyle]

I am interested in what antibiotics can be taken by people who have had hip or knee replacements, that WILL NOT worsen tinnitus. I have been warned that hip replacement requires antibiotics before, during & after surgery. Is there anyone who has had hip replacement & has severe tinnitus who has found antibiotics that are not a problem for him?

 

[Markku]

Hey Rodney and welcome!

There are only so many different antibiotics. I guess the joint replacement aspect isn't the most integral part of this discussion.

Generally speaking...

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tinnitus/DS00365/DSECTION=causes
Antibiotics, including chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, vancomycin and bleomycin

http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/conditions/ototox.aspx
3 – Antibiotics – Aminoglycosides, Erythromycin, Vancomycin
a. Aminoglycosides – Streptomycin, Kanamycin, Neomycin, Gantamycin, Tobramysin, Amikacin, Netilmicin. These medications are ototoxic when used intravenously in serious life-threatening situations. The blood levels of these medications are usually monitored to prevent ototoxicity. Topical preparations and eardrops containing Neomycin and Gentamycin have not been demonstrated to be ototoxic in humans.
b. Erythromycin – EES, Eryc, E-mycin, Ilosone, Pediazole and new derivatives of Erythromycin, Biaxin, Zithromax. Erythromycin is usually ototoxic when given intravenously in dosages of 2-4 grams per 24 hours, especially if there is underlying kidney insufficiency. The usual oral dosage of Erythromycin averaging one gram per 24 hours is not ototoxic. There are no significant reports of ototoxicity with the new Erythromycin derivatives since they are given orally and in lower dosages.
c. Vancomycin – Vincocin. This antibiotic is used in a similar manner as the aminoglycosides; when given intravenously in serious life-threatening infections, it is potentially ototoxic. It is usually used in conjunction with the aminoglycosides, which enhances the possibility of ototoxicity.


What's most important is that one should mention to their surgeon/doctor about the tinnitus and that one would like avoid any medications that might be ototoxic. Might not be always possible, but is good to be let known.

 

[ral]

You might be interested in my Mothers recent experience. She is 83 and had a knee replacement 3 months ago. Before the operation she had suffered for years with regular tinnitus several times a week. Since the operation no tinnitus. She had an epidural and a range of unknown drugs?????????

 

[Markku]

You might be interested in my Mothers recent experience. She is 83 and had a knee replacement 3 months ago. Before the operation she had suffered for years with regular tinnitus several times a week. Since the operation no tinnitus. She had an epidural and a range of unknown drugs?????????

What do you mean she had suffered from tinnitus several times a week?

Did her tinnitus come and go before the operation, too? So there were days she didn't notice any tinnitus?

I don't know about the effects of the surgery, but probably has something to do with the anesthetics...

It's interesting how lidocaine, for example, often reduces or eliminates tinnitus for a while. It's a local anesthetic.


But, good for your mother! Healing thoughts her way.

 

[erik]

amoxicillin is considered to be one of the very few non-ototoxic antibiotics. Also, Penicillin although not commonly prescribed.