Ototoxicity (Aminoglycosides, in Particular Gentamicin) and Tinnitus

[IvanRus]

Hello, colleagues. Does anyone here have or have had tinnitus or hearing loss due to the ototoxicity of aminoglycosides, particularly Gentamicin?

Are you aware of any success stories related to Gentamicin-induced tinnitus?

Does anyone know the mechanism of inner ear damage caused by aminoglycosides? Is it similar to noise-induced trauma? Do they only kill outer hair cells, or are other parts of the inner ear affected as well?

 

[tiniturtle]

Paromomycin. An aminoglycoside. Just a single dose. No detectable hearing loss. But tinnitus for months now. It seems to have improved after the 3 month mark, but still not full recovery. I may not fully recover. NAC has helped. I've done some research on the mechanism of damage. There is research out there on this specifically. Apparently it gets into the inner ear and kidney tissues and cell death occurs due to oxidative stress and excitotoxicity. This is mitigated or prevented a great deal by supplementing with antioxidants. Gentamicin is the worst offender. It almost always causes hearing loss.

And yes, the mechanism is similar to noise trauma, except usually the outer hair cells are affected first. It causes damage in a different place. As for optimism, I feel I am recovering. You will recover to some extent. It always gets better, maybe just not fully. Antioxidants, time. Some studies have pointed to immediate prednisone administration to reverse ototoxicity.

 

[Ryan Edwards]

Hi all,

I had a cystoscopy yesterday and it was only when I was on the operating table that the anaesthetist told me he was going to be give me an antibiotic. When I asked which one because I had tinnitus, he said Gentamicin and gave it to me anyway. Currently I don't feel like it has worsened my tinnitus or caused me any hearing loss but from reading about this antibiotic, it appears to be one of the worst offenders.

My question is whether there is anything I can do or take proactively now to ward off any damage and how long could it be for potential damage to become apparent? And how likely is it that this antibiotic causes problems?

Thanks all.

Ryan

 

[Tweaker]

Hi all,

I had a cystoscopy yesterday and it was only when I was on the operating table that the anaesthetist told me he was going to be give me an antibiotic. When I asked which one because I had tinnitus, he said Gentamicin and gave it to me anyway. Currently I don't feel like it has worsened my tinnitus or caused me any hearing loss but from reading about this antibiotic, it appears to be one of the worst offenders.

My question is whether there is anything I can do or take proactively now to ward off any damage and how long could it be for potential damage to become apparent? And how likely is it that this antibiotic causes problems?

Thanks all.

Ryan

The half life of Gentamycin is 2 to 3 hours, so quite short. Obviously, it depends on the dose you were given but it should be out of your system by the next day. Hopefully you will be OK. My brother was given it intravenously for a few days in hospital with no effect on his hearing.

 

[Ryan Edwards]

My brother was given it intravenously for a few days in hospital with no effect on his hearing.

Did your brother suffer from tinnitus already though? I think mine has worsened a little unfortunately.

 

[Tweaker]

Did your brother suffer from tinnitus already though? I think mine has worsened a little unfortunately.

No he doesn't have tinnitus or any pre-existing hearing loss.

 

[Tweaker]

Take Alpha-Lipoic Acid. There is scientific evidence it reduces ototoxic effects of Gentamicin. Take antioxidants such as vitamin E and NAC.

Attenuation of aminoglycoside-induced cochlear damage with the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid

 

[Ryan Edwards]

3 weeks on and I have balance issues and nausea!