Tinnitus Increase While on Azithromycin for MAC

Not been treated for NTM MAC but I have been on multiple courses of z-pack over my adult lifetime, which I believe resulted in ear ringing. I ultimately got a hearing aid in the ringing ear, which helped, but did not eliminate the ringing.

I took Azithromycin for a very long time for one of my MAC infections. The ringing in my ear did get worse but I've never been treated for it. I don't like it, but it isn't the worse thing that has happened over the course of my bronchiectasis and MAC journey!

I do too have bad tinnitus caused by almost 3 years on Azithromycin. It got worse after I began my treatment with Arikayse. It’s been almost 2 years since I stopped the meds but the tinnitus didn’t go away. It is one of the side effects I was told it could happen.

I was on Azithromycin and Ethambutol for 18 months and developed terrible tinnitus, that only increased after stopping. I finally gave in and now have hearing aids. Audiologist said my hearing was very bad as a result. I still have tinnitus and the hearing aids help that cannot eliminate it.

Thank you for your input, appreciate it.

@brettdf Thanks for your input, appreciate it.

@loveu Thank you for responding, appreciate it.

@june72 Increased tinnitus can be a primary side effect of Azithromycin, or it can be a sign of irreversible hearing damage. In any case, it should be reported to you pulmonologist or ID doc.
Did you have a baseline hearing test when you started the antibiotics?

@sueinmn I had a baseline and was monitored every 6 months . My tinnitus wasn’t bad at first but kept escalating. I did not want to stop the medication, and was told there was a likelihood it would reverse when I stopped the meds. It has only gotten worse unfortunately, but I am now testing negative for MAC.

@brettdf Over and over and over again we say here "We are all different, and our results may vary."
I have had tinnitus for over 40 years, so when it got worse with the azithromycin, I was very concerned. But the meds were not optional based on the severity of my infection, and I was encouraged by the fact that my (already compromised) hearing was not getting any worse at my frequent exams. Now, over 6 years later, my tinnitus never want away or got any better, so I live with it. My hearing is slowly declining, probably due to age and heredity as much as the meds. At each visit, we discuss whether it is time for hearing aids...grrr.