I've been in hospital and on Amikacin for about a week now and just recently I've noticed ringing in my ears. It's not constant, they'll ring for a bit and then stop- but its annoying. I wanted to speak to my doctor about it today, but he was in clinic all afternoon and now he's left for the night and I'm thinking he might not be back until tuesday.... do you think I should stop the Amikacin? I'm just worried that it will become constant, or maybe even worse. This is the 2nd time I've been on Ami in 3 months. Has this happened to anyone else before?
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Ringing Ears
- Thread starter shauna
- Start date
I
IG
Guest
Since Amikacin is an aminoglycoside (one major side effect of this group of drugs is hearing loss) I would really really suggest that you get ahold of your doctor. If not try for a resident doctor on call. If nothing else stop the drug. I believe it is better safe than sorry. Hearing isn't replacable, but you can always start up the medication again. I've heard that ringing in the ears can prelude to hearing loss, or can simply be tinnitus, but like I said, better safe than sorry.
"Amikacin can cause injury to the nerve for hearing (eighth cranial nerve, auditory). Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you feel dizzy, have difficulty walking, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), a roaring sound in your ears, or any decrease in hearing. The drug should be stopped and changed to another effective drug."
"Amikacin can cause injury to the nerve for hearing (eighth cranial nerve, auditory). Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you feel dizzy, have difficulty walking, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), a roaring sound in your ears, or any decrease in hearing. The drug should be stopped and changed to another effective drug."
Scarlett81
New member
I'm glad you brought this up- I don't take that drug, but I'm on Tobramycin about 2x a year. And I get ringing in the ears every once in a while. Now that I'm on it I get a ring 1-2 times per day that last about 30 seconds.
I'm thinking of calling the doctor about it too. It's weird though-I sporatically get ringing in my ears even when I'm not on Tobra, so its the kind if thing that you get used to living with.
Not good though.
I'm thinking of calling the doctor about it too. It's weird though-I sporatically get ringing in my ears even when I'm not on Tobra, so its the kind if thing that you get used to living with.
Not good though.
I have read from a couple people on this sight that they had hearing loss and one is completely deaf from that drug. I was so glad that I had read that - I was going to make sure that they never give that to my son. I know nothing about the drug - is there anything else they can give you? I looked in my drug book and hearing and kidney functions are a couple of risks. I would never want my son to lose his hearing! Hope this helps - best of luck!!
Mother of 9yr old boy wcf
Mother of 9yr old boy wcf
Scarlett81
New member
Not like this was my original thread or anything-LOL-but thanks to Amy and others who posted on the seriousness of this-I decided to call my doctor this morning cause I was 'inspired'.
It really is a big deal-there's nothing as precious as your hearing and senses-I DON'T want to lose it! And I kinda realized-I don't have to live with this-why did I get used to living with this in the first place? I guess there's so many other issues to deal with, this stuff gets pushed to the wayside. And I think I thought-yeah, I've heard of that happening, but it could never happen to me.
So I called-they're probably sick of hearing from me at the doctor's office but, tough. I think they're going to change my Tobra dosage or take me off it all together.
It really is a big deal-there's nothing as precious as your hearing and senses-I DON'T want to lose it! And I kinda realized-I don't have to live with this-why did I get used to living with this in the first place? I guess there's so many other issues to deal with, this stuff gets pushed to the wayside. And I think I thought-yeah, I've heard of that happening, but it could never happen to me.
So I called-they're probably sick of hearing from me at the doctor's office but, tough. I think they're going to change my Tobra dosage or take me off it all together.
thelizardqueen
New member
When I take Tobra I definitly notice that my hearing isn't as good as when I'm not on it. I don't get the ringing, but my hearing definitly decreases a bit.
I
IG
Guest
Scarlett 'I don't take that drug, but I'm on Tobramycin '
Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside. In fact most drugs that end in 'mycin' are in that group. As well as gentamicin.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.abouttobi.com/prescribing/TOBI_US_PI(40-1013-F).pdf">http://www.abouttobi.com/presc...I_US_PI(40-1013-F).pdf</a> If you guys scroll down to the second page under adverse reactions it says this.
Patients received TOBI® in alternating periods of 28 days on and 28
days off drug in addition to their standard cystic
fibrosis therapy for a total of 24 weeks.
Voice alteration and tinnitus were the only adverse
experiences reported by significantly more TOBI®-
treated patients. [...]
Eight patients from the TOBI® group (3%) reported
tinnitus compared to no placebo patients. All
episodes were transient, resolved without discontinuation
of the TOBI® treatment regimen, and were
not associated with loss of hearing in audiograms.
Tinnitus is one of the sentinel symptoms of cochlear
toxicity, and <b>patients with this symptom should be
carefully monitored for high frequency hearing loss. </b>
The numbers of patients reporting vestibular
adverse experiences such as dizziness were similar
in the TOBI® and placebo groups.
This was at that time, my doctor associates my hearing loss with all the years of tobi (along with being on the study) usage. So... you can never be too careful.
Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside. In fact most drugs that end in 'mycin' are in that group. As well as gentamicin.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.abouttobi.com/prescribing/TOBI_US_PI(40-1013-F).pdf">http://www.abouttobi.com/presc...I_US_PI(40-1013-F).pdf</a> If you guys scroll down to the second page under adverse reactions it says this.
Patients received TOBI® in alternating periods of 28 days on and 28
days off drug in addition to their standard cystic
fibrosis therapy for a total of 24 weeks.
Voice alteration and tinnitus were the only adverse
experiences reported by significantly more TOBI®-
treated patients. [...]
Eight patients from the TOBI® group (3%) reported
tinnitus compared to no placebo patients. All
episodes were transient, resolved without discontinuation
of the TOBI® treatment regimen, and were
not associated with loss of hearing in audiograms.
Tinnitus is one of the sentinel symptoms of cochlear
toxicity, and <b>patients with this symptom should be
carefully monitored for high frequency hearing loss. </b>
The numbers of patients reporting vestibular
adverse experiences such as dizziness were similar
in the TOBI® and placebo groups.
This was at that time, my doctor associates my hearing loss with all the years of tobi (along with being on the study) usage. So... you can never be too careful.
Scarlett81
New member
Yeah, I'm on TOBI- but I'm also on IV Tobra which I hear is even more damaging then the inhaled form.
My doctor just called me back-and she is going to take me off it for 2 days and then reduce the dosage. She said let's give it 2 days back on at the most and if there any more ringing, time to retire me off of Tobra IV for good.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">
Which is not great news either b/c of my cepacia. But I guess there's some solution.
My doctor just called me back-and she is going to take me off it for 2 days and then reduce the dosage. She said let's give it 2 days back on at the most and if there any more ringing, time to retire me off of Tobra IV for good.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">
Which is not great news either b/c of my cepacia. But I guess there's some solution.
i had the hearing/ear issues, fullness and slight ringing the last few times i did tobra. i ended up with ototoxicity(not sure if it was due to one series of tobra or the fact that i had been taking it for 10 years when i would get sick). it is serious, my vestibular system, basically my ability to balance, was destroyed by tobra i.v.'s. being off balance most of the time sucks and if i had paid attention to the signs it may have been preventable. it basically affects everything i do in my waking life and makes it much more difficult, tiresome, or just plain impossible. i had just picked up my new custom surfboard about a week before all of this hit...it now sits in my closet and will probably never be used by me.
from <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/specific-disorders/ototoxicity.php">vestibular.org</a>
Ototoxicity
Ototoxicity ("ear poisoning") is due to drugs or chemicals that damage the inner ear or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, which sends balance and hearing information from the inner ear to the brain. Ototoxicity can result in temporary or permanent disturbances of hearing, balance, or both.
Many chemicals have ototoxic potential, including over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications, and environmental chemicals. If you are taking any drugs on the advice of your physician, do not stop taking them just because you see them listed below. Speak with your doctor or other health care advisor about your concerns.
Substances that may cause ototoxicity include:
Aminoglycoside antibiotics, including gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tobramycin, neomycin, amikacin, netilmicin, dihydrostreptomycin, and ribostamycin. All members of this family are well known for their potential to cause permanent ototoxicity. They can enter the inner ear through the blood system, through inhalation, or via diffusion from the middle ear into the inner ear. They enter the blood stream in largest amounts when given intravenously (by IV).
from <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/specific-disorders/ototoxicity.php">vestibular.org</a>
Ototoxicity
Ototoxicity ("ear poisoning") is due to drugs or chemicals that damage the inner ear or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, which sends balance and hearing information from the inner ear to the brain. Ototoxicity can result in temporary or permanent disturbances of hearing, balance, or both.
Many chemicals have ototoxic potential, including over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications, and environmental chemicals. If you are taking any drugs on the advice of your physician, do not stop taking them just because you see them listed below. Speak with your doctor or other health care advisor about your concerns.
Substances that may cause ototoxicity include:
Aminoglycoside antibiotics, including gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tobramycin, neomycin, amikacin, netilmicin, dihydrostreptomycin, and ribostamycin. All members of this family are well known for their potential to cause permanent ototoxicity. They can enter the inner ear through the blood system, through inhalation, or via diffusion from the middle ear into the inner ear. They enter the blood stream in largest amounts when given intravenously (by IV).
Scarlett81
New member
MY Lord,
If people had any clue how much we have to deal with....this stinkin illness affects so much its unbelievable. You really have to keep yourself informed.
Thanks for that info, "S".
If people had any clue how much we have to deal with....this stinkin illness affects so much its unbelievable. You really have to keep yourself informed.
Thanks for that info, "S".
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Scarlett81</b></i>
this stinkin illness affects so much its unbelievable. You really have to keep yourself informed.
.</end quote></div>
That's why we're here<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
this stinkin illness affects so much its unbelievable. You really have to keep yourself informed.
.</end quote></div>
That's why we're here<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Scarlett81
New member
Just saying hi, Jane. How are you? I've been thinkin of you.<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">
thanks everyone....the resident dr actually came in this morning, and i was planning on asking him about it until he asked me "so how long have you had CF?" can you believe it?! so i called my dr and he told me stop amikacin for the time being and i'm going to have some tests done over the weekend to see how my kidneys are holding up...he said that problems with hearing/the ears is often related to kidneys. so thanks for encouraging me to call my doc, sometimes i feel stupid calling because i never know whats a big problem and what's not so much!
Hope you're ears are doing alright now too Christian! (and I don't mind you taking over hehe! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> )
Hope you're ears are doing alright now too Christian! (and I don't mind you taking over hehe! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> )