Tobramycin Eye Drops — Now Tinnitus This Morning. Please Help!

Hi all - I was prescribed Tobradex eye drops for eye inflammation. Only on it for 2 days, 2x day.

Last night right after installing 4th drop I began to hear a high pitched hissing sound similar to something electronic. I thought it was the tv or a malfunctioning dimmer switch but it's in my ears!

Then I googled and it's ototoxic. I hoped it would have stopped this morning but no.

Does anyone think this might go away? I'm not taking anymore of the drops. It's such a small amount, how is this even possible? Anyone think it might go away? I'm terrified. Thank you for your help!

 

Yup, it's quite possible it'll go away, but no-one can tell you for sure.
Good thing you stopped taking the drops. Perhaps you could have a discussion with your doc about it.

 

Thank you. My dr is claiming no connection to tobramycin drops and is giving zero feedback. Im really terrified. Thanks again. Any other thoughts, experiences, please post!

 

Some Chemists sell eye infection treatment and will tell you more about them.
Love glynis

 

Have you taken other meds in the past two months?

 

I've taken Advil and Tylenol occasionally. Now I'm on nothing at all. I keep reading that any damage from this class of drug is irreversible?? Does that include tinnitus from a total of 4 eye drops?

 

I could swear it's not the first time I read an anecdotal evidence (in here, actually) about eye drops being correlated with T onset.

It depends what is damaged and the extent of the damage. Cochlea hair cells don't regenerate indeed if they die, but sometimes the systems are "disabled" or "damaged" rather than "dead", and so they manage to recover with time (the ear is notorious for taking a long time to heal).

Perhaps it'd be good to have a hearing test to get a snapshot of your hearing? There could be correlation but no causation...

 

Thank you for your thoughtful replies. Im really hoping it calms down since it was such a small amount of medication but unfortunately that may not matter. Im feeling very anxious. I appreciate the support and not being alone. Its quite a shock when it starts so suddenly. I see many many people are in the same boat and learn to cope. I hope i learn too! Thanks.

 

Yup, there's always that transition moment from "it was all good" to "oh my how can it be that bad?". For some of us it's brutal. I went to bed without T, and woke up in the middle of the night with screeching T that hasn't left me for a second since.

Good luck!

 

Im sorry so to hear that. Wow. Thats awful. Have you learned to cope with it? Do you ever adjust?

 

Not sure I'd say I've learned to cope with it, but I don't have any more anxiety about it.

 

Aminoglycosides do indeed cause permanent damage. However, I've used those drops before without any lasting effects. Very little gets in your bloodstream. I'd stop using them.

Paromomycin is what caused my issue. Also an aminoglycoside.

 

I have been given Tobradex for an ear infection instead of Ciprodex. Is it ototoxic? I already have tinnitus and hyperacusis, and don't need it ramped up. I was using Locacorten but that hasn't done anything.

Should I try this stuff or no? Or go to the doctor tomorrow am for something else? What would be worse, Ciprodex or Tobradex? Is there anything else to use for a very painful outer ear infection?

Thanks.

 

The amount absorbed by the eye won't reach your cochlea. It won't make your tinnitus or hyperacusis worse.

I've used Tobradex in two separate occasions in the past 5 years. No problems!

 

I understand your concern.

I have used garlic mullein oil with some success for ear infections.

Given it is an external ear infection, maybe consider an oral preparation such as Amoxil (Amoxicillin) or Keflex (Cefalexin).

I would avoid 'icins and the fluoroquinolones. A pharmacist friend of mine said recently that even with an intact drum, it is still possible for meds (unsure to what degree) to penetrate.

You could consider immune support too - such as Zinc and liposomal vitamin C.