Neomycin Drop Induced Tinnitus?

[StephanieLC]

Hi everyone,

I'm curious if anyone has tinnitus as a result of using neomycin/polymyxin B/steroid ear drops?
How long was your course of drops?

How many days after starting the drops did you notice your tinnitus? Did it gradually get worse or stay the same? Did you have balance problems? Did that start with the tinnitus? Did the balance get any better over time?

Thank you!

 

[Sorien]

No, they just helped my otitis externa. I did get muffled sound from using them, though, but that's natural and goes away. It also moved a little wax onto my drum but that got easily flushed and had no effect on my t.
A few days.
You're not supposed to get balance issues from these unless you took them with, like, a perforated eardrum or maybe took them for more than a couple days. Ofc someone could tell me their freak story of how they were an exception, time will tell.

 

[StephanieLC]

No, they just helped my otitis externa. I did get muffled sound from using them, though, but that's natural and goes away. It also moved a little wax onto my drum but that got easily flushed and had no effect on my t.
A few days.
You're not supposed to get balance issues from these unless you took them with, like, a perforated eardrum or maybe took them for more than a couple days. Ofc someone could tell me their freak story of how they were an exception, time will tell.

That's what happened, unfortunately.. I had an injury to my eardrum (fell onto a skinny piece of a toy that went into my ear). I went to the ER and they gave me those drops. I used them once and then read they shouldn't be used with perforated ear drum. I'm so scared now. About 24 hours later I developed a very mild ringing. I'm terrified it's from the drops and if it is that it could possibly get worse. I spoke to a few doctors who say it's not uncommon for the ringing to start a day or two later after a perforation and they think one dose of the drops shouldn't cause damage. I really hope not..

 

[Aaron123]

That's what happened, unfortunately.. I had an injury to my eardrum (fell onto a skinny piece of a toy that went into my ear). I went to the ER and they gave me those drops. I used them once and then read they shouldn't be used with perforated ear drum. I'm so scared now. About 24 hours later I developed a very mild ringing. I'm terrified it's from the drops and if it is that it could possibly get worse. I spoke to a few doctors who say it's not uncommon for the ringing to start a day or two later after a perforation and they think one dose of the drops shouldn't cause damage. I really hope not..

While it is theoretically possible for neomycin ear drops to cause damage, it is very unlikely with a single dose even with a perforated ear drum. It is more likely that the tinnitus is due to the perforated ear drum or the anxiety about all of this.

You may also need to get a different antibiotic if you need to take one.

 

[StephanieLC]

While it is theoretically possible for neomycin ear drops to cause damage, it is very unlikely with a single dose even with a perforated ear drum. It is more likely that the tinnitus is due to the perforated ear drum or the anxiety about all of this.

You may also need to get a different antibiotic if you need to take one.

Thank you! I'm trying hard to relax now. I don't have an infection so I'm hoping it's ok that I'm not using antibiotics right now. I have an appointment with an ENT on Wednesday and will see if he wants me to take something else.
I really appreciate your reponse!

 

[DebInAustralia]

have you tried garlic mullein ear drops?

 

[StephanieLC]

have you tried garlic mullein ear drops?

No, I haven't. I'm terrified to put anything in there at this point. The ringing seems a bit louder today now. So worrisome!

 

[DebInAustralia]

Make sure you dont have a perforated ear drum then if all is well, consider garlic mullein oil ear drops

 

[StephanieLC]

Make sure you dont have a perforated ear drum then if all is well, consider garlic mullein oil ear drops

I do have a perforated eardrum The tinnitus I'm experiencing is also getting louder everyday. I'm so scared this is being caused by the neomycin drops I was given.

 

[DebInAustralia]

My friend had loud tinnitus with a perf eardrum that has since completely gone away once the drum healed

 

[StephanieLC]

My friend had loud tinnitus with a perf eardrum that has since completely gone away once the drum healed

Good news! Thank you! Do you know if it could still be heard when ears were covered? Someone told me you shouldn't hear it when ears are covered if it's due to perforation and I keep hanging on that..

 

[DebInAustralia]

It completely went away for my friend

 

[StephanieLC]

It completely went away for my friend

I was asking about when the tinnitus was present, if she was still hearing it upon closing her ears or not? Thanks!

 

[Samantha R]

@StephanieLC my sister said she couldn't sleep on the ear with tinnitus as it made the sound louder and harder for her to sleep.
So I guess the answer is yes, in my sister's case, she could still hear it when covering her ears (in the pillow anyway, she said she never blocked her ears intentionally to hear it).

 

[StephanieLC]

Thank you!

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC my sister said she couldn't sleep on the ear with tinnitus as it made the sound louder and harder for her to sleep.
So I guess the answer is yes, in my sister's case, she could still hear it when covering her ears (in the pillow anyway, she said she never blocked her ears intentionally to hear it).

It completely went away for my friend

Do you know how long it took for your friend's tinnitus to calm down? I wouldn't be as worried as I am if I hadn't been given those drops and I'm trying to tell myself it's normal to have ringing with a perforated eardrum! Did your friend's tinnitus get worse before it got better? Or was it the same throughout? Thank you!

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC my sister said she couldn't sleep on the ear with tinnitus as it made the sound louder and harder for her to sleep.
So I guess the answer is yes, in my sister's case, she could still hear it when covering her ears (in the pillow anyway, she said she never blocked her ears intentionally to hear it).

Do you know if your sister's tinnitus got louder before it got better? Or did it stay the same until it went away?

 

[Samantha R]

@StephanieLC
I asked my sister, she said it gradually got quieter, she said it didn't get louder and then go quieter.
It was loud to start with though.

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC
I asked my sister, she said it gradually got quieter, she said it didn't get louder and then go quieter.
It was loud to start with though.

Thank you again!
So glad it got better! It seems like tinnitus from perforated eardrums typically settles down but you do see the stories when it doesn't. Yikes. How long did she have the tinnitus? My first day was quiet, then it got to this level, which I can hear over daily noises and makes sleep difficult, and has stayed this way.. on day 7 now I think.

 

[Samantha R]

@StephanieLC
Her tinnitus lasted for nearly 3 months.
My sister said her's was loud too, if that helps.
It was loud for a while as well, 7 days isn't long enough to expect it to go down, it's hard when it's so annoying but just try to stay positive while things heal.
I think you'll be fine.

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC
Her tinnitus lasted for nearly 3 months.
My sister said her's was loud too, if that helps.
It was loud for a while as well, 7 days isn't long enough to expect it to go down, it's hard when it's so annoying but just try to stay positive while things heal.
I think you'll be fine.

Thank you for asking! You've been so helpful. I can't stop worrying this is the beginning of damage from those drops I shouldn't have been given which is making it even harder to ignore, but knowing this is normal for a perforated eardrum is good! So glad you could share your sister's experience with me! I really appreciate it!

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC
Her tinnitus lasted for nearly 3 months.
My sister said her's was loud too, if that helps.
It was loud for a while as well, 7 days isn't long enough to expect it to go down, it's hard when it's so annoying but just try to stay positive while things heal.
I think you'll be fine.

I'm beginning to feel very bothersome by now. So sorry! I tried to message you but it wouldn't let me.
But was your sister's tinnitus very high-pitched? Did she have hearing loss with it or did her hearing seem alright? Thank you again!

 

[Samantha R]

@StephanieLC you are not bothering me at all, don't worry.
My sister described her tinnitus as a 'roar' and not high pitched. She didn't lose any hearing that she noticed (she did not have a hearing test though).

 

[StephanieLC]

@StephanieLC you are not bothering me at all, don't worry.
My sister described her tinnitus as a 'roar' and not high pitched. She didn't lose any hearing that she noticed (she did not have a hearing test though).

Thank you! My hearing is also fine but the tone is high pitched.

 

[mysterygal]

@Samantha R My eardrum was inflammed due to an external ear infection, and it has completely healed. Been several weeks now. Do you know if your sister's tinnitus was the last symptom to go after the eardrum healed completely? If yes, do you know after how much time after the eardrum perforation was healed. Thanks for your help.

 

[Samantha R]

@mysterygal
Her tinnitus stayed for about 3 months give or take.
After the initial perforation, she saw a doctor but that was the only time so she's not sure at what point in time it was 'completely healed'.
Hope that helps somewhat.

 

[mysterygal]

Thanks, @Samantha R. Your sister's recovery story is very reassuring. Appreciate you sharing this information.

 

[mysterygal]

My ENT told me that ears looked fully healed from the infection about a month ago. However, I continued to have sensitivity to loud sounds and fullness in the ear. Those symptoms have reduced after Medrol about a week ago; hoping it stays that way. Only the ringing remains. :-(

 

[StephanieLC]

My ENT told me that ears looked fully healed from the infection about a month ago. However, I continued to have sensitivity to loud sounds and fullness in the ear. Those symptoms have reduced after Medrol about a week ago; hoping it stays that way. Only the ringing remains. :-(

How are you doing? My eardrum is healed but the ringing still remains. I feel pain if I move my ear so there must be some irritation left and my ENT said I still have dried blood in there and that hopefully the noise will subside once the blood is gone.
I talked with a woman who had a perforated eardrum with high-pitched ringing and it went away completely in about 2-4 months.
Is yours high-pitched? I hope you're starting to feel better!

 

[StephanieLC]

While it is theoretically possible for neomycin ear drops to cause damage, it is very unlikely with a single dose even with a perforated ear drum. It is more likely that the tinnitus is due to the perforated ear drum or the anxiety about all of this.

You may also need to get a different antibiotic if you need to take one.

Hi Aaron,

Would you happen to know anything about systemic absorption of neomycin? My ear was bleeding when I used the one dose (3 drops) and both of my ears feel funny. Tinnitus in both, fullness, etc. I calculated the amount of neomycin to be about 0.5 - 0.7mg total in the 3 drops I used in my bleeding ear. Should I be worried about ototoxicity from neomycin in my bloodstream? I've read that even minute amounts of neomycin used on large and small surgical sites have caused deafness but I can't figure out what's considered a minute amount, or what level is considered toxic. My ENT shrugs me off but I can't stop worrying and can't figure out why my unaffected ear feels so bad. I have thumping in my ear drum, fullness, sharp shooting pains. So weird. Can't stop worrying!