Tinnitus Much Worse After Doxycycline

[Diskgrey]

Hello everyone,

My name is Matt, and I've had chronic tinnitus since 2014, likely due to stress and neck/spine issues. I've managed to cope fairly well, despite a few setbacks along the way.

However, I recently hit a breaking point. I developed sinusitis and Chlamydiae pneumoniae, for which I was first prescribed Augmentin (which had no effect on my tinnitus) and then Doxycycline. It's been five days, and now my tinnitus has worsened significantly, leaving me feeling completely overwhelmed.

I spoke with my GP, and the only alternatives are Azithromycin and Clarithromycin. Azithromycin worsens my tinnitus, so I'm scared to try Clarithromycin. I feel really frightened and uncertain about what to do next.

Thank you for any support.

Matt

 

[Diskgrey]

No input from anyone?

 

[MindOverMatter]

@Diskgrey, antibiotics ending in "-mycin" are typically labeled as ototoxic.

Doxycycline, however, is considered one of the safest antibiotics. I recently completed a two-week course myself. If your elevated tinnitus is due solely to the Doxycycline, it should eventually subside.

It's also possible that stress or the condition you're being treated for is contributing to the issue, rather than the Doxycycline. Once you finish the course of Doxycycline—if it had any effect on your symptoms—they should improve.

If you need to take another antibiotic, it's important to consult with your GP or a specialist for advice.

 

[ErikaS]

Hey @Diskgrey, I'm just seeing this now.

I had to take Doxycycline twice in the past year, and both times it caused a spike in my tinnitus. However, once I stopped the medication, the tinnitus subsided within about a week.