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Taking Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin And Cefalaxin. Developed Tinnitus. Can It Caused By These Medicines?

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Posted on Thu, 4 Oct 2012
Question: Hi I have been taking varoius antibiotics - Trimethoprim for 5 weeks , Ciprofloxacin for about a week and now Cefalexin for a couple of days , after taking Ciprofloxacin , I developed tinnitus ( I think that there was a direct cause and effect ) , can these drugs cause tinnitus ? and is it reversable ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sudarshan (2 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing in.

Ciprofloxacin is known to cause
nausea, vomiting;
dizziness or drowsiness;
blurred vision;
feeling nervous, anxious, or agitated; or
sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares).

also tendon ruptures/skin rashes/diarrhea.

Tinnitus is not a side effect attributed to ciprofloxacin.

It is also not associated with trimethoprim and cephalexin.

Even if it is caused by drugs it is self limiting.

It will go away in week or two if is caused by drugs.


Also are you on any other drugs?like aspirin?

Any other ear complains?like wax in ear /pain in ear?

Age related changes can cause tinnitus after 60 years of age.

Age related and wax in ear are most common causes of tinnitus.


Hope this helps.

I will be available for follow up.

Wishing you good health.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sudarshan (13 hours later)
Very many thanks for this swift response , following your response I have read the information sheet that comes with ciprofloxacin and it seems to refer to a rare side effect that can cause tinnitus - I also understand that Cefalexin is ototoxic ..
I am on Simvastatin 40mg and Bendroflumethiazide - 2.5mg but nothing else

I went onto ciprofloxacin a couple of weeks ago and found that it created high heart rate - so came of this and went back to Trimethroprim - did though return to ciproflaxacin last week , did not get high heart rate but did get tinnitus ...

Your observations would be greatly appreciated

AAA
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sudarshan (12 minutes later)
Hi XXXXXXX

Antibiotics can cause tinnitus as a rare side effect.

Cipro causing it is very rare.

There is nothing to be worried as it is self limiting.

Hope this helps.
If you dont have any further queries please accept my answer and rate it at the end.

regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Sudarshan

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 1385 Questions

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Taking Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin And Cefalaxin. Developed Tinnitus. Can It Caused By These Medicines?

Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing in.

Ciprofloxacin is known to cause
nausea, vomiting;
dizziness or drowsiness;
blurred vision;
feeling nervous, anxious, or agitated; or
sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares).

also tendon ruptures/skin rashes/diarrhea.

Tinnitus is not a side effect attributed to ciprofloxacin.

It is also not associated with trimethoprim and cephalexin.

Even if it is caused by drugs it is self limiting.

It will go away in week or two if is caused by drugs.


Also are you on any other drugs?like aspirin?

Any other ear complains?like wax in ear /pain in ear?

Age related changes can cause tinnitus after 60 years of age.

Age related and wax in ear are most common causes of tinnitus.


Hope this helps.

I will be available for follow up.

Wishing you good health.

Regards