Furosemide & Effect on Tinnitus?

[Greg Sacramento]

My general care doctor wants me to take one tablet of furosemide 20 mg daily for at least 5 days. It's for a slight bit of water on the heart.

I just had a bad increase of tinnitus and hyperacusis a month ago.

I'm afraid to take any meds that shows both mixed positive and negative reactions with tinnitus.

Asking if anyone has used furosemide with tinnitus and what effects it had on their tinnitus. Thanks

 

[tinniwalker]

I would suggest to be careful with this drug as it has ototoxic side effect.

Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide) affect the potassium gradient of the stria vascularis, as well as the electrical potential of the endocochlear structure.[2,3] These medications produce tinnitus and hearing loss. The hearing loss may be perceptible to patients or may be apparent only with audiometric testing. Their toxicity is dose-related.[12]Thus, ototoxicity is more likely when the patient receives a rapid infusion of injectable loop diuretics in renal failure, which allows the medications to accumulate. Furosemide-related ototoxicity is usually reversible but may be permanent in rare instances (e.g., in patients with renal failure).[7] Ethacrynic acid is virtually obsolete, partly due to the potential for ototoxicity, especially when it was given intravenously to patients whose regimen also included aminoglycosides.[7]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/515901

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Thanks and I agree. I came across similar while doing research, but with the negatives, some research suggested possible positives. My doctor like so many doctors don't consider ototoxicity for tinnitus patients. My doctor is well aware of my T, but according to him, I'm his only patient with T. When I questioned him about the possible ototoxicity with furosemide, he said that I will be fine, but don't take a chance with your heart. I guess all I needed was someone else that has tinnitus to agree with me, so I thank you.