Hearing loss

[bloggymom]

I was treating my MAC for the past 6 months.... I had to stop the meds. I have horrible ringing in my ears. I have been off the meds for a month now and I still haven't gotten my hearing back. I was on amikacin for 3 months and zithromyicin for 6 months. The ringing drives me crazy and at times is really loud and painful (totally loose my hearing during the worst of the ringing).

Today I noticed that I cannot hear certain sounds in my home (this is new). Is is possibly getting worse even off the meds??

I had doc check my ears a month ago because I was concerned I was getting an ear infection.... he said the right ear was red inside. I haven't had an audiologist check them yet... super expensive.

I am concerned I will need a hearing aids in both ears.

 

[beautifulsoul]

Amikacin can cause permanent hearing loss. It's best to schedule an appointment with an audiologist asap if you are able to. I'm sorry you are experiencing these side effects. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. Keep us posted. Hugs to you...

 

[megan420]

Hi hun, I too suffer from hearing loss. almost 50% of my hearing is gone and its all because I took Amikacin as well. I am very sorry to hear bout your problem but i would agree with beautiful soul and make an apt w your local hearing specialist!

 

[stephen]

We should always check the side effects of the drugs we are taking!

I also think you doctor should have advised you to report any ear ringing or changes in your hearing when you first started taking the Amikacin.

Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that can cause serious and permanent hearing damage. Tobramycin is in this same category.

Sometimes the damage is not permanent. The ringing can subside and some hearing loss can return. It did for me thank G-d, but I did stop the Tobramycin soon after experiencing the hearing problems.

Note: TOBI is also known to cause hearing problems, but to a lesser extent.

Hoping you get some hearing relief. It can take considerably more than a month.

 

[shay]

My daughter has occasionally noticed some ringing in her ears...Is there anything the audiologist can do other than tell you to avoid Tobramycin and Amikacin which is just not an option for my girl?

 

[MichaelL]

As noted above, IV Amikacin can cause permanent hearing loss. I've been told that Azithromycin can cause temporary hearing loss. Both can cause ringing in your ears. You need a hearing test. I was on IV Amikacin for an extended period and went for monthly hearing tests. I did lose some of my hearing in the upper registers, but not enough to affect my day-to-day life. I switched to inhaled Amikacin once the hearing tests started to show hearing problems.

I had a lot of ringing in my ears while I was on the IV Amikacin. That went away after I went off the drug although I don't think it was immediate. I can't remember how long it took, though. Hopefully this will go away soon -- I know how annoying it can be.

I hope you have the ringing go away soon and find the hearing loss is minor.

 

[leona.mccauley]

You should go for hearing loss test from an Audiologist see the extent of hearing loss you are currently suffering. Depending upon your current situation your Audi would suggest you for hearing aids.

 

[CyrilCrodius]

Amikacin can cause permanent hearing loss. It's best to schedule an appointment with an audiologist asap if you are able to. I'm sorry you are experiencing these side effects. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. Keep us posted. Hugs to you...

ASAP here means go to the ER if you need to before it gets even worse. Really. Hearing loss issues are very time sensitive.