Nasal Neomycin Drops for Throat Inflammation — A Bad Idea for a Tinnitus Sufferer?

[Tom42]

Hello all,

I developed noticeable but not unbearable tinnitus about half a year ago, probably a result of years of sometimes listening on higher volumes (headphones, home stereo, home cinema, cinema...) and attending concerts in my youth without hearing protection (though I've protected them the last 10 years).

Anyways, after the 6 months, I was doing pretty fine, was about to actually write a success story here, but then I got an inflammation in my upper respiratory tract. In its worst phase, my left ear started to be muffled/full - some form of ETD. The inflammation got better, but the ear's state stayed the same, no pain though, just feels full and hearing on that side is a bit worse, also pressure leveling is worse when blowing my nose etc. It affected my tinnitus a lot, I suppose mainly due to stress and worries about what it could cause if it doesn't heal. I was expecting it to heal with the inflammation, but after using my prescribed antibiotics (Augmentin, 2 pills a day for a week - didn't seem to affect my tinnitus at all, it got worse before I started using them) and my throat almost healed, the ear did not.

I decided to visit an ENT doctor and she said I still have some inflammation in my throat (also night before the visit, which was yesterday, i started to cough again and also throat started to become sore) but the ear seems fine. She recommended I use antibiotic drops nasally to reach the throat.

After picking up the drops, I discovered they contain Neomycin and Polymyxin B. I searched this forum for Neomycin and got really scared. However, if I use them through my nose, might it be less dangerous than directly through ears?

Thank you. I wish all stay happy and healthy.

 

[Tom42]

I consulted today with my GP and she suggested I do not use the drops... It's amazing how every doctor tells you something else.

 

[Kriszti]

I would not use the drops, I even think it is more dangerous than through an intact eardrum. Through your nose, and ET, the Neomycin could reach your middle ear. No guarantee that it would affect you negatively, but if you have an other option, I would absolutely not use Neomycin.

 

[Quintus]

On the German version of Wikipedia the following is written:

Of particular note is the ototoxicity (damage to the inner ear) of locally and topically applied aminoglycoside antibiotics such as neomycin, kanamycin and framycetin. Even very small amounts that reach the inner ear and enter the hair cells of the cochlea can lead to an irreparable (!) loss of sensory hairs, resulting in hearing loss up to complete deafness and massive balance problems. For example, since neomycin is used in ear drops, these drops must under no circumstances be used in the ear canal if the eardrum is perforated.