Terrible Tinnitus; Suspecting Ototoxicity from Polydexa (Neomycin and Polymyxin B)

@FGG I'm curious about the ototoxicity indicators. I had an ear infection which is when my tinnitus started but I also took neomycin for two weeks (did not know it was ototoxic) to clear the infection.

You mentioned that ototoxicity causes UHF hearing loss?

If I have only have 5 dB dip at 4 kHz and 8 kHz, that's normal then? Perhaps I should also find a extended test. Do you know what indicators there are for tinnitus caused by ear infection and then one caused by chronic headphone use? I know it's kind of pointless but I really want to know the real cause of my tinnitus. Thank you.

 

Ototoxicity depends on the ototoxin and is unique with each one. With aminoglycoside antibiotics (what this thread is about), you almost always see audiogram changes because it damages outer hair cells. Sometimes, you will see the damage in the ultra high frequencies first.

A 5 dB dip is normal but it might be a good idea to get an extended audiogram.

There is no definitive diagnostic test for cause of tinnitus in many cases but history usually suggests one cause over another. For example, if you were on certain antibiotics and got tinnitus during treatment or immediately after, it's suspicious for ototoxicity. However, an ear infection in and of itself can sometimes be a cause. As can chronic head phone use.

 

He said the hearing loss I have in these frequencies are considered normal for my age 15-20dB. I will go for extended test this week, will post it here.

 

I am terrified, my normal tinnitus was stable ringing in the left ear and hissing noise in the right ear, it's been like that for the last two months. But recently I started to realise chainsaw like noise coming in my right ear, at first I was thinking it's coming from some machine out of the house, but as day pass the sound become more permanent and loud in my right ear, today I wake up and it's definitely here in my ear and there has been pain going on for the last for days so this all happened in a week.

My question is what should I do? Is there any way to reverse this? Anything that I should do immediately? like taking cortisone? I can't habituate to this one it's resonating and not stable, really distracting and sound is very aggressive.

Thanks in advance, looking forward for advice.

 

Is the pain in response to noise (noxacusis) or consistent?

 

It's consistent like burning feeling deep in my ear, I was getting habituated to my previous sounds but not I feel like I'm back at start and this sound is not so stable so hard to tune it out, it's like resonating metallic sound. Is there any chance to reverse this? Also I've been drinking couple beers at night lately because it helps with the sleep, do you think it might be related?

 

I think you need a second opinion from another ENT or ideally an otologist (an ear subspecialty within the ENT umbrella). From what i understand consistent ear pain that does not vary with noise is not a usual presentation of noxacusis. You might have something treatable like an infection or TMJ. I would definitely get more heads in on this and a bigger work up.

 

I visited ENT doctor yesterday. He checked both ears. No mechanical problem He wanted MRI with contrast medication to see the nerves behind the ear, I'm still not sure if it's good idea to get injected with that medication but I don't see any alternative at this point, almost 3 month in, tinnitus still there. I thought it would settle but instead it increased...

 

Can he refer you to an otologist?

 

Did Prednisone help?

 

Every time I take it, my tinnitus gets lower (back to baseline). As for it preventing damage from acoustic trauma, although I don't have any factual data, it feels like it does help me.

 

How many milligrams do you take and for how long? I might give it a try.

But be careful. I also heard that it has bad side effects. I don't trust any medicine anymore after having tinnitus because of ear drops. I know a guy who also got tinnitus from Neomycin, then used Cortisone and got bad eye sight.

 

I got tinnitus from Neomycin.

I take 40 mg of Prednisone for a week, then I taper.

 

Did it help? I got tinnitus 4 months ago but haven't used prednisone, I know time is important but I'm still considering to try.

 

I got tinnitus from taking Augmentin for a UTI for three weeks.

My tinnitus is so loud. I'm really afraid that I damaged my hair cells. I took NAC but the ringing is still loud, for five days now I'm devastated and Augmentin didn't even work

 

So sorry you are going through this. Mine has gotten louder lately, too, and I'm trying to figure out why. There are so many things it could be, like taking calcium citrate, estradiol, progesterone. Not sure if any of those could do it, but am taking NAC for something else. What is it supposed to do for tinnitus? Hope you feel better soon! <3

 

So sorry to hear that. What kind of ear drops?

 

Wish I had known about Prednisone for otoxocity. I got ototoxicity from using Azithromycin back in August, saw my ENT in September. He brought it up as an option but was hesitant to prescribe because my hearing tests were normal (although I had some small loss at high frequencies).

 

Did it get better? I’m also a victim of Neomycin and suffering incredibly.

 

Has it gotten any better, Aline?