I'm in Hospital with Asthma and a Possible Chest Infection Following the Flu...

Hi all,

I am in hospital with asthma and a possible chest infection following the flu...

My specialist wants me to trial doxycycline.

Experiences with doxy appreciated. Have a penicillin allergy, so amoxicillin isn't an option, and he wont consider IV cephazolin (a cousin of pen) because he doesn't feel I need IV antibiotics at this stage. Explained to him about my concerns of worsening my tinnitus, but he flicked me off.

He mentioned a cousin of erythromycin starting with c (not normally this dense) but I think I'll stay well away from it.

I'm already on steroids and bronchodilators and not feeling much better. Lung function testing tomorrow.

Prayers would be appreciated. Quite scared.

Thank you.

 

You are in my thoughts and prayers..Get well soon

 

Thankyou fishbone. I very much appreciate your prayers. dont mind saying i feel quite rank. so hard dealing with drs who have no appreciation of ototoxity issues.

 

This intrigued me because other than anecdotal references, I cannot find concrete data on whether doxycycline is ototoxic. I know it's a tetracycline, maybe it's guilt by association? I was given two weeks of oral doxycycline HCL when I first lost my hearing (doctor originally thought I had only an ear infection). It did not impact my hearing or tinnitus.

What was the C medication? There is one that's very safe, I just can't recall the name right now.

Sorry this isn't very helpful, just wanted to offer a little support. Whatever you and your doctor decide, try not to worry (I know, easier said than done). Wishing you a healthy recovery!

 

For what it is worth, tinnitus is not on the list of side effects on
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/doxycycline-side-effects.html

It is also not mentioned on
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/515901

Oh, wow, it is not even listed in
http://hlaa-sbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Ototoxic_Brochure.pdf

There is also
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/Doxycycline/ototoxicity/

For comparison, see
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/aspirin/ototoxicity/

It looks like it is not a huge offender, as far as ototoxicity is concerned.

Get well soon!

 

Thank you for posting this! I appreciate the data. It seems like everything is claimed to be ototoxic, kind of how it seems like everything can be linked to cancer. But when you look at actual data, it can tell a different story.

 

Ehealthme.com's information is interesting, but I am not completely sure how to interpret it.

According to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/515901
"Neomycin is the worst offender relating to cochleotoxicity."


"76 people reported to have side effects when taking Neomycin And Polymyxin B Sulfates And Hydrocortisone.
Among them, 2 people (2.63%) have Hearing Loss"

http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/neomycin and polymyxin b sulfates and hydrocortisone/hearing loss/

I don't know whether the above means there is a problem with ehealthme.com's data. Perhaps it means that when the drug is said to be ototoxic, fewer than 2% will notice any problems... (And of course it is 2% of people who had side effects, not 2% of everyone who took the drug.)

 

I was reading up Dr. Budwig Diet, it is diet for cancer, electric activity in the body. My ears are electric shocks charges, this diet is susposed it all out. It cottage and flax seed oil. 3 times a day. I don't if it is for tinnitus. It covers electric crap in the ear. nervous system. flaxseed oil is omega 3. i think.

 

Ehealthme.com provides information about tinnitus as a side effect. Here is the information for prednisone:
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/prednisone/tinnitus/

More than 60% of the 0.29% who had tinnitus after taking prednisone, took it for more than a month.

Here is what it has to say about doxycycline
http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/doxycycline/tinnitus/

"117 people reported to have side effects when taking Doxycycline.
Among them, 2 people (1.71%) have Tinnitus"

Keep in mind that this is not 1.71% of everyone who took doxycycline, it is 1.71% of the people who reported side effects.

 

@DebInAustralia, get well soon and try not to worry too much. You'll be back home and well before you know it.

 

Hi @DebInAustralia ,
I understand everything your going through and how scary it feels and so glad your getting taken care of and if that's not bad enough naughty ears too...
Stay strong and don't worry about nothing ! Get well soon
.love glynis

 

Hi @DebInAustralia , get better soon !
Sending good wishes and prayers your way
Dominic

 

Well, you were right on one front. I am home, but I am still NOT well!

 

@DebInAustralia ,
How are you duck ?
Is it your asthma ?
Love glynis x

 

hi Glynis,

suspect atypical pneumonia.
not asthma. lung function tests normal.
lots of tests. all normal.
ongoing fever since stems and flu in May.
probably will have to start doxy when another test for chlamydial and myco pneumonia is back.
have you had doxy? any issues with it?

i know t sucks but suffocating really sucks!!

 

Wretched Southern winter. So glad not to be down there anymore.

 

@DebInAustralia ,
Had Doxy many times and went on ok.
I know how you feel it's not nice at all.
Love glynis

 

Thanks Glynis,

Feelings of suffocation arent fun. T is a walk in the park in comparison.

 

Have they given you anything to open your airways ?
Love glynis x

 

I didnt fall ill in Victoria. WAs in sydney at the time

 

im.on flixotide..

but my.LFT is completely normal sooo...?????

 

@DebInAustralia
I just saw this post now, otherwise I would have commented sooner.
I heard Australia had a very bad flu season....my heart goes out to you Deb, hope you are feeling better.
I will definitely be getting my flu vaccine this week.
Are you well now Deb?

 

Thank you...

I'm still ill...

Heart and lung problems...

Might be lyme/coinfects

How are you?

 

Get well soon.

 

Get well soon

 

See if you can change to fostair ...love glynis x