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Has anyone had tinnitus after just starting Rifampin

Posted by Shelly61 @shelly61, Sep 4 2:10pm

Just have had 2 doses and ringing in my ears are very noticeable. Just wondering if it coming from the Ridampin.

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yardsend | @yardsend | Sep 5 7:52am

I had the same experience, and then the tinnitus subsided to previous levels over the next few weeks. I hope yours does the same!

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rbl | @rbl | Sep 6 8:04am

I also had tinnitus but I thought it was from ethambutol, it did subside a few months after finishing meds.

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njlynn | @njlynn | Sep 6 2:36pm

I got bad tinnitus from the Big 3, but I thought azithromycin was the most likely to cause tinnitus? Maybe you don't take azithromycin, In my case after 3 months on the Big 3 I had a 20 decibel loss of hearing in one ear relative to pre-antibiotic baseline, in addition to vertigo and the tinnitus. My dod never mentioned the other 2 drugs as potential causes, said it was the azithromycin.

Sadly, this meant I had to stop the Big 3 -- though it turned out I'm macrolide resistant and should never have been on the Big 3 to begin with. Doctor forgot to order sensitivity test and it only happened, way late, after my insistent inquiries.

Positive news: after one month off the Big 3, my hearing has recovered (not the tinnitus unfortunately, but that's me, others could have a better result)

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Shelly61 | @shelly61 | Sep 6 8:22pm
In reply to @yardsend "I had the same experience, and then the tinnitus subsided to previous levels over the next..." + (show)
Profile picture for yardsend @yardsend

I had the same experience, and then the tinnitus subsided to previous levels over the next few weeks. I hope yours does the same!

Jump to this post

Thank you! That encouraging!

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Shelly61 | @shelly61 | Sep 6 8:27pm
In reply to @njlynn "I got bad tinnitus from the Big 3, but I thought azithromycin was the most likely..." + (show)
Profile picture for njlynn @njlynn

I got bad tinnitus from the Big 3, but I thought azithromycin was the most likely to cause tinnitus? Maybe you don't take azithromycin, In my case after 3 months on the Big 3 I had a 20 decibel loss of hearing in one ear relative to pre-antibiotic baseline, in addition to vertigo and the tinnitus. My dod never mentioned the other 2 drugs as potential causes, said it was the azithromycin.

Sadly, this meant I had to stop the Big 3 -- though it turned out I'm macrolide resistant and should never have been on the Big 3 to begin with. Doctor forgot to order sensitivity test and it only happened, way late, after my insistent inquiries.

Positive news: after one month off the Big 3, my hearing has recovered (not the tinnitus unfortunately, but that's me, others could have a better result)

Jump to this post

Thank you. Glad your hearing has returned. Hope the tinnitus will soon subside for you. I just started the R. Suppose to begin the ethambutol after 10
Days and the later in the azithromycin. Needless to say. It’s not starting out like I’d hoped. Finger crossed and lots of prayer I can get through this. Gonna be a long journey. God bless everyone that has to go through this.

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Shelly61 | @shelly61 | Sep 6 8:30pm
In reply to @rbl "I also had tinnitus but I thought it was from ethambutol, it did subside a few..." + (show)
Profile picture for rbl @rbl

I also had tinnitus but I thought it was from ethambutol, it did subside a few months after finishing meds.

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So glad to hear it subsided for you. Thank you for sharing your experience.

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westcottkm3040 | @westcottkm3040 | Sep 7 11:33am
In reply to @njlynn "I got bad tinnitus from the Big 3, but I thought azithromycin was the most likely..." + (show)
Profile picture for njlynn @njlynn

I got bad tinnitus from the Big 3, but I thought azithromycin was the most likely to cause tinnitus? Maybe you don't take azithromycin, In my case after 3 months on the Big 3 I had a 20 decibel loss of hearing in one ear relative to pre-antibiotic baseline, in addition to vertigo and the tinnitus. My dod never mentioned the other 2 drugs as potential causes, said it was the azithromycin.

Sadly, this meant I had to stop the Big 3 -- though it turned out I'm macrolide resistant and should never have been on the Big 3 to begin with. Doctor forgot to order sensitivity test and it only happened, way late, after my insistent inquiries.

Positive news: after one month off the Big 3, my hearing has recovered (not the tinnitus unfortunately, but that's me, others could have a better result)

Jump to this post

Mine stopped after 3 months off it. But now back on it and it’s back. Lol

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acelaplace | @acelaplace | Sep 7 2:14pm

Tinnitus is usually from either Amikacin or Azithromycin when treating NTM. I developed tinnitus while on IV Amikacin along with the Big 3. Stopping the Amikacin slowed the progression however the tinnitus continued to slowly worsen. My doctor then switched the Azithromycin with Clarithromycin and that stopped the worsening of the tinnitus in my case. I am off the meds at this time and my tinnitus has not improved.

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